Things You'll Need:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Thinking Cap
- Open mind
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Step 1
Do you like School?
If you don’t like school – sport psychology is not for you. Entry level positions with a bachelor’s degree are vary rare. You will find that most positions within this field require at least a master’s degree. Thus, to be able to call yourself a Sport Psychologist you must have a masters or doctorate degree, sport psychology training and the proper licensing your state requires. Licensing helps maintain "quality standards" in the field and insures that someone who calls themselves a Sport Psychologist has the necessary qualifications.
If you like school and believe obtaining a masters/doctorate degree is something you would like to do, give yourself three points. If you don’t like school and know you have no desire to enroll in a master or doctorate program, give yourself a point. -
Step 2
Do you like working in a team?
Sport Psychologists spend much of their work day in a team environment, working together with physicians, clinical psychologists and counselors. If you enjoy collaboration and spending your days around people, give yourself three points. However, if you like working alone and don’t like having tasks that require team work and collaboration, give yourself a point. -
Step 3
How do you feel about teaching/research/consulting
Sports psychology encompasses a number of things allowing you to choose and tailor a career to your liking. You could work in academics, teaching and conducting research. You could also work directly with athletes to increase their motivation, goal orientation and performance. You could also conduct client and athletic counseling. If any of these career paths seem interesting to you and look like something you may want to do, give yourself three points. Otherwise, give yourself a point. -
Step 4
Add up your points
If you have more “3s” you should consider a sport psychology degree in more detail. It may be a perfect fit for you. I would suggest joining the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP). This will allow you to receive their newsletters and journals and to become aware of new things going on in the world of sport psychology.
If you have more “1s” keep on searching as a sport psychology degree may not be well suited for you. To get you started you may want to gather more information on different career options and examine what is out there to choose from.
