Sports and Performance psychologists focus on helping athletes maximize their talents and results through optimal mental focus. While having the skills and physical attributes to succeed in a particular sport is important, most outcomes are not determined by these but by the athlete’s mental prowess.
In the following sections, we help aspiring sports and performance psychologists start their careers properly by providing a detailed overview of the steps involved. We don’t just stop there; we also explore the key job requirements, possible work environment, and certification options.
Lastly, readers will find out the projected annual salary for sports psychologists based on relevant factors and the career outlook projected by relevant organizations across the coming decades.
What is Sport and Performance Psychology?
Most sportspeople have to perform under the scrutiny of a crowd in a highly charged atmosphere. Mental awareness and control are paramount at this time.
Sports and performance psychologists work closely with athletes to ensure they can handle these conditions and produce their best despite the challenges.
Sports and performance psychologists may be hired directly by athletes or sports teams. They can also work in private practices, rehabilitation centers, or schools.
Furthermore, sports psychologists may also support military personnel and police officers who want to increase their performance. The following section explores how to become a sports and performance psychologist.
How to Become a Sport and Performance Psychologist
Below is a step-by-step overview of how to become a sports and performance psychologist.
Developing Fundamental Qualities
A sports and performance psychologist must possess several soft skills to perform their duties at the expected level. These include communication, active listening, critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving.
A sports psychologist must also take on a leadership role, showing empathy and flexibility when required.
Earning a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for becoming a sports psychologist. This is because time spent in a bachelor’s degree program will provide the fundamental knowledge and skills in psychology that will set the groundwork for further specialization. Candidates who have finished their bachelor’s degree may pursue a doctoral program specializing in sports and performance psychology.
Earning a Doctorate
The American Psychological Association recommends that candidates looking to become sports and performance psychologists earn a doctorate for optimal opportunities. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be designated as a Sports and Performance Psychology program, as most candidates often choose to complete a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, or School Psychology.
Of course, those who find a program that offers specific Sports and Performance Psychology education may also go with this approach.
Practical Experience
As with most psychology disciplines, aspiring sports and performance psychologists must gain practical experience before working. Usually, this includes completing a supervised internship in a sports psychologist setting before finishing a doctorate program.
Candidates are expected to gain more experience after completing their doctoral programs before receiving a license.
Certification & Networking
After receiving a license following the steps highlighted in the section below, aspiring sports and performance psychologists may proceed to improve themselves and take advantage of career growth opportunities.
One way to do this is to become certified by a professional organization. Organizations such as the Association for Applied Sports Psychology and the American Psychological Association all have highly rated credentials for sports and performance psychologists.
This will also allow candidates to build relationships with athletes, coaches, and other sports professionals, boosting their careers even further.
Continuing education is another effective way to achieve these objectives.
Sport and Performance Psychology Licensure & Certification Requirements
The licensing requirements to become a sports and performance psychologist vary from state to state. As with most psychology disciplines, several states across the country expect candidates to have a doctorate before starting their careers.
The American Psychological Association, as touched upon above, also recommends a doctorate as the basic educational qualification in this field. After meeting the educational requirements, candidates are expected to meet the supervised experience requirements. In this regard, they are to complete a certain number of hours of supervised experience on the job before acquiring more experience once they earn their doctorates.
The exact duration and split of these experience requirements will depend on individual states. Of course, some states may also allow candidates to work as sports and performance psychologists with only a Master’s degree.
Lastly, sports and performance psychologists must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), just like all psychologists.
Sport and Performance Psychology Salary & Career Outlook
Data revealed by ZipRecruiter shows that sports and performance psychologists typically earn an annual average salary of $92,813 at the median point. The data also showed that candidates may earn as high as $22,499 once they have become among the highest earners in the profession.
On the other hand, those who are among the lowest earners take home around $46,500.
Sports and performance psychologists in California are the highest-paid in the country based on yearly average. Professionals in San Francisco, for instance, take home an annual average salary of $114,566, while those in Oakland earn an annual average salary of $108,498.
Other notable locations include Brooklyn, where the annual salary for sports and performance psychologists is $100,705, and West Palm Beach, where the annual average salary is $93,174.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for sports psychologists over the coming decades is quite impressive. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 7% increase in employment for psychologists nationwide between 2023 - 2033.
While the BLS does not specifically log data for sports psychologists, the prediction is expected to hold within the same range.
