Delivery and Monitoring (… and Knowing When You’re Finished)

Following on from the previous chapters, sport psychologists can choose to actively monitor an intervention (set and monitor goals, compare to benchmarks, pre to post) or they can choose to be much more passive, assuming their advice has worked perfectly unless they hear otherwise. This chapter will explore the various options for the delivery and monitoring of an intervention. The available options and their advantages and disadvantages are reviewed and analysed. The consequences of failing to monitor, or monitoring inappropriately are considered in relation to the impacts on the client, the practitioner and the discipline as a whole. In addition, the preceding chapters set a clear precedent for ‘asking the right question’. Rather than simply asking ‘does it work?’, practitioners are encouraged to ask specific questions in relation to their core assumptions, the aims of the service delivery process, the client’s aims and the aims of the specific intervention. If you were seeking to enhance motivation and enjoyment, then why look for a performance improvement? If you were looking for improved communications and working relationships, how exactly should this be ‘measured’ — what would constitute acceptable evidence that the practitioner has been effective?