Division 47: Society for Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology

ABOUT Founded in 1986, Div. 47 represents the field of exercise and sport psychology; an interdisciplinary specialization that cuts across psychology and the sport sciences. Our main goals: - For practitioners, to serve as a place to hone skills, gain ethical awareness, and network with other interested exercise and sport psychology service providers. - For scientists, to promote ethical and relevant research, and to provide networking opportunities with others with similar interests and ideas. - For students, to provide support, networking opportunities, mentoring and information about how to become a competent and ethical exercise and sport psychology professional. - For interested APA members, to provide information about this exciting niche within the world of psychology, and to encourage exercise at the annual APA conference through the coordination of Ray’s Race. - For the public, to inform about the basics of exercise and sport psychology, and act as a referral source for competent practitioners. Div. 47 seeks to further the clinical, educational and scientific foundations of exercise and sport psychology. Through Div. 47, both practitioners and scientists with common interests have the opportunity to interact and to further their personal and professional capabilities. Applied service interests include promoting best practices in mental training techniques, ethical considerations in sport psychology service provision, practitioner self-care and clinical issues such as mood disorders and disordered eating with athletes. Areas of scientific inquiry include motivation to persist and achieve; psychological considerations in sport injury and rehabilitation; counseling techniques with athletes; assessing talent; exercise adherence and well-being; self-perceptions related to achieving; expertise in sport; youth sport; and performance enhancement and self-regulation techniques. Individuals interested in the fields of exercise and sport psychology are encouraged to join Div. 47 to become connected to our vibrant community. Our division facilitates communication among our members through our quarterly newsletter, division email list and programming at the annual APA conference. MISSION APA Div. 47 is a professional organization whose members are engaged in the science and practice of psychology within sport, exercise and human performance. The division develops, promotes and disseminates information to professionals and the public related to: 1. Standards for competent and ethical practice 2. Models of graduate and postdoctoral training 3. Scientific knowledge that informs and guides practice HISTORY An important look back at Div. 47’s history to recognize people, events and milestones that have contributed to the birth and continued growth of our division. Div. 47 was officially formed in 1986, but the roots of the division go back much further in APA’s history in its attention to the psychology of sports, exercise and physical activity. Since its formal inception in 1986, Div. 47 has bolstered support for the study of sport, exercise and performance psychology within APA, contributed significant and valuable research to the field and encouraged enjoyable physical activity and exercise among APA members. The resources provided here give a more thorough understanding of the broad scope of Div. 47’s work and its important contributions to sport psychology. In knowing the history of Div. 47, we can better move forward as a division to continue fostering our research and increasing our understanding of the psychology of sports.