Sports Psychology

Sport psychology is an interdisciplinary science that draws on knowledge from many related fields including biomechanics, physiology, kinesiology and psychology.

Performance science is the multidisciplinary study of human performance. It draws together methodologies across numerous scientific disciples, including those of psychology, physiology, sociology, and economics, to understand the fundamental skills, mechanisms, and outcomes of performance activities and experiences.

Surprisingly little evolutionarily informed research has been done on our species' strange love affair with sports. Why do we care so much about such arbitrary and ostensibly functionless displays of physical and mental prowess?

At a time when brain trauma has become front and center of a national conversation about safety, sports can too often be a masking agent that hides deeply rooted mental health issues.

The physical strain athletes undergo is well-documented and commonly discussed. But what about the serious mental struggles athletes face?

When an athlete experiences physical injury, there is often a team of medical personnel including doctors, trainers and physiotherapists employed to ensure a speedy recovery. However, when an athlete experiences a mental health issue, the treatment process is often not quite as similar.

Health means both physical and mental health: they are two sides of the same coin, with one often affecting the other. Physical problems, including sport injury, often have psychological or emotional consequences.

Are you struggling with a seemingly mysterious performance problem? Have you or your athlete suddenly lost BASIC abilities? FINALLY understand where this FRUSTRATING problem comes from and what you can do about it!

When elite athletes like three-time Olympic volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh and daredevil spaceman Felix Baumgartner are in a slump, they go see Los Angeles sports psychologist Michael Gervais. Sometimes boosting your performance requires sitting on a couch.

Let's take a look at the field of sport psychology and discover how it can help you as an athlete, parent of an athlete, or as a coach.

Discover information about Sports Psychology.

Being a successful athlete is about more than just physical strength and agility - your mind plays a key part in your winning performance.

Sports psychology is the study of how psychology influences sports, athletic performance, exercise and physical activity. Learn more about the history of sports psychology and the influence it has today.

Applied sport and exercise psychology involves extending theory and research into the field to educate coaches, athletes, parents, exercisers, fitness professionals, and athletic trainers about the psychological aspects of their sport or activity. A primary goal of professionals in applied sport and exercise psychology is to facilitate optimal involvement, performance, and enjoyment in sport and exercise.

Exercise and sport psychology are the scientific study of the psychological factors associated with participation and performance in physical activity.

Some athletes seek help from a sport psychologist or other exercise and sport psychology professional when they have a problem. They might become anxious or lose focus during competition, for example.