Applied Sport Psychology: A Case-Based Approach

Over 400 million people will watch the football World Cup final in Johannesburg this summer, yet one of the most important contests will be taking place before the players have walked onto the pitch as each athlete battles to win the psychological edge over their opponents. Now Brian Hemmings’ and Tim Holder’s pioneering new title Applied Sport Psychology: A Case-Based Approach takes us inside these inner battles to reveal the science behind sporting success.

While traditional textbooks and course guides focus purely on theory Applied Sport Psychology: A Case-Based Approach draws from real case studies to demonstrate this theory in action.

Expertise has been drawn from thirteen internationally renowned contributors such as Jonathan Katz, the consultant psychologist to the ParalympicsGB team in the Athens, Turin and Beijing Paralympics games, and Chris Shambrook who has consulted with the England and Wales Cricket board, and the Oxford and Cambridge boat race crews

The featured case studies cover a broad range of sports and psychological applications, from enhancing the confidence of young golfers, to managing distractions in test cricket, and providing ringside support during a world-championship boxing contest. Each reveals how an individual, a squad or support staff can use mental skills to gain a vital psychological edge.

“These examples will open the eyes of the reader to real world issues and allow students to understand the problems and challenges that a sport psychologist is faced with, and is employed to solve,” said co-author Brian Hemmings.

Chapters include:  

• Creating positive beliefs
• Enhancing confidence
• Team goal setting
• Increasing focus
• Managing distractions
• Controlling anxiety

The practical lessons illustrated by these chapters are not reserved for the sporting elite, but can be used successfully by millions of amateur players to up their game and achieve their goals making Applied Sport Psychology: A Case-Based Approach a uniquely valuable title to amateur and professional alike.