TY - JOUR
T1 - BPS DSEP Position Statement: psychological skills training in youth sport
AU - Thrower, Sam
AU - Barker, Jamie B.
AU - Bruton, Adam
AU - Pete, Coffee
AU - Cumming, Jennifer
AU - Harwood, Chris
AU - Howells, Karen
AU - Knight, Camilla
AU - McCarthy, Paul
AU - Mellalieu, Steve
PY - 2024/7/15
Y1 - 2024/7/15
N2 - Young athletes have become an increasingly important client group for sport psychology practitioners and a population whose physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development should be carefully considered by a practitioner when delivering their services (Visek et al., 2009). The aim of this British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) position statement is to summarise existing knowledge about psychological skills training (PST) interventions and discuss optimal service provision of PST in youth sport. In the first section of this position statement, we provide a brief overview of the literature exploring PST during childhood (5-11 years), early adolescence (12-15 years), and mid-to-late adolescence (16-18 years). Within each sub-section, key developmental considerations (i.e., physical, cognitive, emotional, and social) are provided followed by short summaries of research on basic single strategy (i.e., goal setting, imagery, relaxation, and self-talk) and alternative strategy interventions (e.g., mindfulness, music, perceptual training, and self-modelling) with young athletes. In the second section, optimal service provision of PST is discussed by drawing upon practitioners’ experiences of working with young athletes, concluding with 10 recommendations for youth sport organisations, training and accrediting bodies, researchers, and practitioners.
AB - Young athletes have become an increasingly important client group for sport psychology practitioners and a population whose physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development should be carefully considered by a practitioner when delivering their services (Visek et al., 2009). The aim of this British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) position statement is to summarise existing knowledge about psychological skills training (PST) interventions and discuss optimal service provision of PST in youth sport. In the first section of this position statement, we provide a brief overview of the literature exploring PST during childhood (5-11 years), early adolescence (12-15 years), and mid-to-late adolescence (16-18 years). Within each sub-section, key developmental considerations (i.e., physical, cognitive, emotional, and social) are provided followed by short summaries of research on basic single strategy (i.e., goal setting, imagery, relaxation, and self-talk) and alternative strategy interventions (e.g., mindfulness, music, perceptual training, and self-modelling) with young athletes. In the second section, optimal service provision of PST is discussed by drawing upon practitioners’ experiences of working with young athletes, concluding with 10 recommendations for youth sport organisations, training and accrediting bodies, researchers, and practitioners.
KW - sport psychology
KW - applied practice
KW - Great Britain
KW - children
KW - adolescents
U2 - 10.53841/bpssepr.2024.19.1.4
DO - 10.53841/bpssepr.2024.19.1.4
M3 - Article
SN - 1745-4980
VL - 19
JO - Sport and Exercise Psychology Review
JF - Sport and Exercise Psychology Review
IS - 1
ER -