Ever wondered what gives top athletes and sports performers the edge? The science of sport and exercise psychology could provide an answer. Sport psychology is a sub discipline of psychology which focuses on essential psychological/mental skills that complement the tactical skills and technical skills of sport to enhance performance.
Sport Psychologists can provide assistance to people involved at different levels in sport from participation to elite performance, from those wanting to improve their skills, enjoyment and social interaction. Sport Psychologists also work with various people in a sporting system including individual athletes, coaches,teams, high performance directors, selectors, support staff, and work alongside other multi-disciplinary sport science and medicine team providers such as doctors, physiotherapists and nutritionists.
Some of the ways Sport Psychologists help include : goal setting; anxiety and arousal control; concentration and focus skills; getting “mind on side” with self-talk strategies, visualization skills; helping with pre-competition and competition preparation; working with injury prevention and rehabilitation; planning and/or coping with elite sport retirement; managing team dynamics, developing effective interpersonal strategies; and dealing with adjustment and changes in your sporting career.
Paula Dennan, a Clinical Psychologist has been working in elite sport for over 17 years. She is a director of Sport Psychology Associates www.sportpsychologyassociates.
For further information please contact Paula on 027 282 1940 or via email paula@
