2.2 Specialisation in sport psychology (750 hours, or 30 ECTS)

Rationale 

A specialisation in sport psychology provides specialists with science-based knowledge that is specific to sport psychology. It complements their initial qualification with knowledge of subject areas not otherwise sufficiently covered. Therefore, applicants are invited to document further education, postgraduate study, and/or continuous professional development (CPD) including conferences, in areas complementary to their qualification (see Table 1). This means that applicants with a HE in sport science are required to document courses in sport psychology or psychology; meanwhile applicants with a HE in psychology need to document courses in sport science or sport psychology. This criterion is compulsory for those applicants who have an MSc in psychology or in sport science. This criterion is optional for applicants with an MSc in sport psychology, as well as for applicants with two degrees (i.e., sport science and psychology). 

Requirement 

Applicants are invited to document 750 hours or 30 ECTS in the following activities: 

  • Accredited postgraduate courses or workshops or legally established programs, or workshops led by SASP, a certified sport scientist, or (sport) psychologist (min. 450 hours); 
  • Attending or presenting at a professional or scientific conference (max. 150 hours); 
  • Authorship of publications or editorial work (each worth 75 hours, max. two publications = max. 150 hours).

Submission 

The portfolio should include a statement of activities specifying the number of hours for each activity, as well as participation certificates and front pages of published work as applicable. 

 

Table 1 – Content in sport science, sport psychology and psychology. Indicative content for each of the three areas of complementary knowledge and specialisation. Applicants with a background in psychology must complement their training with specialisation in the areas of sport science and/or sport psychology. Applicants with a background in sport science should complement their training with specialisation in the areas of psychology and/or sport psychology. The following topics are examples and may differ by country, degree and specific modules. 

Sport science area Sport psychology area Psychology area
Introduction to sport sciences Introduction to sport psychology Introduction to psychology
Motor learning and motor control Skill acquisition / Skill training Cognitive psychology
Physiology Attention Social psychology
Training methodology and periodization Motivation Clinical psychology
Biomechanics Team dynamics & Leadership Assessment – Diagnosis
Nutrition Stress/Anxiety and coping Counseling and intervention
Sport medicine Assessment – Diagnosis Neurosciences
Teaching and training practice Counselling & Intervention Psychopathology
Sport sociology Clinical issues Educational psychology
Sport organization / Management Ethics Organizational psychology
Strength and conditioning Career development Developmental psychology

 

FEPSAC