PSY FPX 6830 Assessment 2 Interview and Summary

Student Name

Capella University

PSY FPX 6830 Applied Sport Psychology

Prof. Name:

Date

Interview

I began the interview by asking some background questions. The first question was, “When I tell people my degree is in sport psychology, many of them seem confused because they are unfamiliar with the field. How do you, or would you, explain sport psychology to others?” This was followed by, “In your honest opinion, what is the main goal of sport psychology?” I also asked, “Do you see any current challenges in this field?” Another question was, “From when you first started to now, has sport psychology changed over time? How? Has your perspective changed?”

Additionally, I asked, “Do you have any specific experience with an athlete that made you think: this is why I do what I do?” The second part of the interview focused on research and trends, aiming to draw comparisons between seasoned professionals and younger individuals in the field. I asked, “Besides LinkedIn, do you use any other technology in your work? Such as social media, text, or email?” If they used these in interventions, I followed up with, “Are they helpful, and how?” I also inquired, “Even with advancing technology, have you encountered a research question or problem that you were unable to solve?” Lastly, I asked, “Are there any trends or areas of sport psychology that you consider more significant compared to others?”

PSY FPX 6830 Assessment 2 Interview and Summary

The next set of questions revolved around coaching perspectives, diverse populations, and ethical issues. For instance, I began by saying, “Since you’ve coached both on Long Island and in Rochester, when working with a team as their coach rather than a consultant, do you think certain interventions should be used by all coaches?” I continued, “How would you describe your approach to working with diverse populations?” I also asked, “When working with athletes, have you faced any ethical considerations? If so, what were they?” Further questions included, “What is the most valuable tool in youth sports compared to elite-level sports?” and “When resolving ethical dilemmas, what is your initial process?” I also touched on the topic of LGBTQIA+ athletes, asking, “As the LGBT→LGBTQIA+ community has evolved, are you familiar with these changes, and have they affected your work?”

Regarding transgender-athlete participation, I asked, “How would you handle this situation concerning performance?” Lastly, I asked, “In terms of other diverse populations, such as age, race, skill level, and culture, have you encountered any ethical dilemmas in your career? If so, how did you handle them, and have they influenced your approach to athletes?” I concluded with rapid-fire questions, designed to gain quick insights into their thoughts. These questions included, “How can sport psychology and performance be improved?” “Is an advanced degree important to your top executives?” “What are the primary requirements to be successful in your role?” and “How can I learn more about this industry?”

Outline

Out of all the questions, those relating to LGBTQIA+ topics, coaching perspectives, and social media platforms stood out the most due to their ambiguity. Dr. Rich shared his thoughts from both a personal and professional perspective without being prompted, leading me to explore these topics further due to the lack of available information. What I found particularly intriguing was the definition of sport psychology. Winter and Collins (2016) examined the professional status of sport psychologists, finding that while the research variables used to determine this status were supported, the definition of sport psychology remained unclear. Dr. Rich encountered a similar challenge, suggesting that this limitation is common among both practitioners and researchers. The connection between these findings underscores the need for further research into defining sport psychology for both professionals and the general public. The knowledge I gained from this will help me in my practice, as a clearer definition of sport psychology could lead to a new perspective on the profession.

Limitations

One notable aspect of the interview was Dr. Rich’s approach to ethical decision-making. While he could not recall a specific ethical dilemma, his response to the LGBTQIA+ question was particularly insightful. From a professional standpoint, he emphasized that it is irrelevant to discriminate against transgender athletes, as his role is to act in the client’s best interest. However, from a personal or coaching standpoint, he expressed support for the Division III ruling, which requires a certain hormone level to ensure fairness and athlete eligibility. He also mentioned an event held in a location with laws he disagreed with, where he and his colleagues petitioned to relocate the conference. The ethical divide between his roles as a practitioner and a coach is worth noting.

Sharp and Lodge (2013) researched the development of relationships between sport psychology consultants and coaches. Their study identified three key components necessary for effective relationships: consultant knowledge, trust, and friendship (Sharp & Lodge, 2013). Dr. Rich’s limited experience with ethical dilemmas may leave him vulnerable to ethical consequences if he fails to act in the client’s best interest or if he overlooks his professional knowledge, which is essential for ethical practice (APA, 2022). While the research highlights the importance of these three components in building relationships, it is reasonable to conclude that a coaching perspective may influence practitioners’ decision-making, as their priorities may differ (Sharp & Lodge, 2013).

References

Association for Applied Sport Psychology. (2022). Ethics code: AASP ethical principles and standards. http://www.appliedsportpsych.org/about/ethics/ethics-code/

Sharp, L., & Hodge, K. (2013). Effective sport psychology consulting relationships: Two coach case studies. The Sport Psychologist, 27(4), 313–324.