Sport psychology is an interdisciplinary science that draws on knowledge from the fields of kinesiology and psychology. It involves the study of how psychological factors affect performance and how participation in sport and exercise affect psychological and physical factors. Sport psychologists may also work with athletes, coaches, and parents regarding injury and rehabilitation, communication, team building, and career transitions. Generally, there are two different types of sport psychologists: educational and clinical. Educational sport psychologists emphasize the use of psychological skills to motivate, educate and instruct their respective clients to be most effective during performance situations. Clinical and counseling psychologists view sport psychology as an application of psychological theories to a unique population and are able to treat severe psychological problems, such as depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders.
For those seeking to work in sports and obtain a Masters in Sports Psychology it is suggested to have an undergraduate degree in a related field, such as psychology or sports management, 3.0 GPA, and 1500 or better GRE score and experience in sports training, coaching, participation or counseling work. Such a program will cover topics such as motivation, inspiration, goal-setting, the use of rituals, and more, and the program will likely also include general advanced psychology courses. Most masters degree programs additionally require you to complete an internship or research/thesis project to graduate.