The study of how psychological factors influence athletic performance, exercise, and physical activity, and how sports participation affects psychological well-being.
From Old French 'desport' (amusement) + Greek 'psychologia.' Psychology applied to sport and physical performance.
Sports psychology is the mental game — visualization, confidence, focus, and handling pressure can be the difference between winning and losing at the highest level.
Sports psychology (1960s-1990s) centered male athletes; female athletes were often discouraged from psychological training and their mental performance was attributed to hormones rather than skill/strategy. Investment in female athlete mental health lagged decades behind male programs.
Use 'sports psychology' but ensure equal resources and research for female/non-binary athletes. Recognize that gendered expectations about toughness, emotionality, and competition differ and affect psychological support needs.
["inclusive sports psychology"]
Sports psychologists working with female athletes have documented how psychological training accelerates performance; centering female athlete mental health is both equity and performance-driven.
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