The role, benefits and selection of sport psychology consultants: Perceptions of youth-sport coaches and parents

Abstract

Running Head: The role, benefits and selectionThe role, benefits and selection of sport psychology consultants: Perceptions of youth-sport coaches and parents Abstract 1 Objectives: With practitioners needing to be 'more things to more people', it is essential to 2 understand third-party consumer perceptions of the role and benefits of sport psychology 3 consultants (SPC), and the characteristics that may influence such services being sought. 4Design: A qualitative thematic analysis approach was used in Study 1 and a cross-sectional conjoint 5 analysis approach was employed in Study 2. 6Methods: In Study 1, 22 participants (11 youth-sport coaches, 11 parents) took part in semi-7 structured interviews to investigate, a) understanding the SPC role, b) the benefits of seeking the 8 services of an SPC, and, c) the salient characteristics of an SPC that would influence judgments on 9 preference and likelihood to seek consultant services on behalf of their athlete/child. In Study 2, a 10 total of 115 participants (51 youth-sport coaches, 64 parents) rated 32 practitioner profiles 11 generated from Study 1, with a conjoint analysis employed to determine the relative importance of 12 SPC characteristics. 13Results: SPCs were viewed by youth-sport coaches and parents as practitioners who can help 14 athletes enhance their performance and well-being, which would be of benefit to athletes. The SPC 15 attribute most important to coaches and parents was interpersonal skills, with a preferred SPC 16 profile also including a high level of experience and training, and a known reputation. 17Conclusions: SPCs are viewed by youth-sport coaches and parents as experts regarding 18 performance enhancement and well-being. SPCs with strong interpersonal skills, extensive 19 experience and training, and a known reputation are preferred by coaches and parents. Findings 20 reinforce the importance of educating those responsible for the ongoing development of athletes to 21 the role and benefits of SPCs, and for SPC training to ensure that interpersonal skills development 22opportunities are available. 23 24

Emotional Intelligence, Motivational Climate and Levels of Anxiety in Athletes from Different Categories of Sports: Analysis through Structural Equations

“…Currently, sports psychology focuses on the analysis of diverse psychological variables and cognitive processes affecting the athletes’ performance, concentrating on improving their cognitive abilities with the intention of maximising efficiency. In this sense, it makes it necessary to study certain variables such as motivational climate, leadership, anxiety, emotional intelligence or resilience due to their great influence on athletes’ performance, making these factors a fundamental object of study for specialists in sports psychology [ 1 , 2 , 3 ].…”

Motivation, Anxiety, and Emotional Intelligence Are Associated with the Practice of Contact and Non-Contact Sports: An Explanatory Model

“…Previous research has shown that psychological preparation strategies can be successfully utilized to combat negative emotional states often experienced by athletes as anxiety, and to prolong high levels of adherence and performance throughout the sporting season [2]. A better understanding of the predictors of anxiety, motivational climate, and mental health enables efficacious strategies to be designed for various sport modalities [2][3][4]. The influence of the specific characteristics of various types of sports (including their internal dynamics, ways of association, or forms of contact between rivals and peers, etc.)…”

Emotional intelligence and motivation in athletes of different modalities

“…Currently, psychology of sports has become particularly relevant, focusing on analysing factors and psychological processes in athletes, during training sessions, precompetitive training or during the competition (Thelwell, Wood, Harwood, Woolway & Van Raalte, 2018).…”