Get "Psyched" About a Sports Psychology Career

Sports psychology is growing in its acceptance around the country, and a psychology degree is essential to building your psychology career.

What is Sports Psychology?

According to the American Psychology Association's Division 47-Exercise and Sport Psychology Division, "sport and exercise psychology is the scientific study of the psychological factors that are associated with participation and performance in sport, exercise, and other types of physical activity."

This growing branch of psychology focuses on two main areas.

• Performance Enhancement. Teaching athletes about psychological principles to improve mental health and performance



• Long-term Psychological Health. Helping people understand how sports, exercise, and physical activity affect their health throughout their life.

A Rewarding Psychology Career

In sports psychology, you would get to help people perform better and prepare mentally for competition. You can provide psychological assistance with people overcoming injuries and rehabilitating, and sports psychologists also work with individuals and groups to develop exercise motivation programs aimed at maintaining health or losing weight.

Psychology Online Degree and Certification

Being a sports psychologist will require a strong dedication to continued learning. To start, you can get an online degree in psychology. This is an industry where the more education that you have, the better you will be able to compete for jobs. If you are serious about your psychology degree, you will want to earn not only your master's degree but your PhD, as well.


There are a number of certifications that you will probably be required to get, depending on state and other regulations. You can gain more information about certification from the American Psychological Association and the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology. Undoubtedly, an online degree program can help you get a bachelor's degree in psychology. Before you know it, you will be on your way to a rewarding psychology career and helping people enjoy their experience in exercise and sports.

About the Author

James Tolles is the Assistant Editor at HQ Publications. He has worked on a successful political campaign for a local city council member and written press releases, ad copy, and campaign literature. During his time in politics, he helped write and edit the successful application for Sparks, NV that earned the city honors as a 2004 All-America City Finalist - a title held by only 30 cities in the nation. He attended a four year liberal arts college and holds two B.A. degrees, one in Creative Writing and the other in History.