Introduction and Overview

In this book, we adopt a very simple definition of sport psychology: the application of the scientific process to the mental aspects of athletes and sport performers. Notably, this can entail performance enhancement, supporting participation, educating groups about sport psychology, supporting psychological well-being and managing transitions (e.g., to the elite level, or into retirement). The particular wording of this definition can entail both research and applied practice because, in reality, it can be quite misleading to try and distinguish between the two. Even the purest of researchers must produce findings with applied relevance, and present their findings in a way that will inform applied practice. Likewise, even the purest of applied practitioners must remain aware of developments in research, and be able to critically evaluate the relevance of research findings before adopting them into applied practice. As such, this definition is a departure from those listed at the beginning of Kontos and Feltz (2008), but is perhaps closest to that of Weinberg and Gould (1995, p. 8): ‘The scientific study of people and their behaviour in sport and exercise settings.’