Essential competencies in contemporary applied sport psychology: Comparative perspectives from SA and the United Kingdom.

Jooste, Julius, Kruger, Ankebe and Steyn, David J (2016) Essential competencies in contemporary applied sport psychology: Comparative perspectives from SA and the United Kingdom. African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences, 22 (1.1). pp. 1-32. ISSN 1117-4315

[img]
Preview
Text
Authors_copy_Jooste_Kruger_Steyn_and_Edwards_pp_1_32.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (198kB) | Preview
Official URL: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajpherd/article/vi...

Abstract

Investigation of essential competencies in present-day sport psychology practice is critical to keeping the training, education and regulation standards of applied sport psychology (ASP) practitioners at the forefront of research (Fletcher & Maher, 2013). Moreover, investigation is also needed to offer a new rationale for promoting academic inquiry in developed and developing contexts. This study identified essential competencies in contemporary sport psychology practice and explored the comparative views of a purposefully selected sample (n=9) of expert ASP practitioners/psychologists. Data were gathered by means of semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in South Africa (SA) and the United Kingdom (UK). Interview data were analyzed using thematic content analyses. Main findings suggested that a relational and dependable character, a client-centred focus, an all-encompassing counselling skills-set (facilitative and restorative), and explicit expertise in the domains of psychology, sport and sport science are indispensable to current sport psychology practice. Views generated by both stakeholders were remarkably similar and overlapped considerably, which indicated the advanced levels of sport psychology praxis in both contexts. It was recommended that behavioural indicators (personal character) and certain skills prerequisites merit special consideration for candidates entering ASP training and practice. An interdisciplinary training model in ASP with acquired competency in both kinesiology and psychology-based training should become the accepted standard in the training and development of practitioners for the purpose of garnering an inclusive capacity to render client-centred services.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Applied sport psychology, competencies, contemporary practice, practitioners
Subjects: C600 Sports Science
C800 Psychology
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User: Elena Carlaw
Date Deposited: 26 Nov 2019 14:01
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 20:18
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/41607

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics