Sport psychology traces its roots back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when pioneering psychologists began to explore the psychological factors influencing human performance in various domains, including sports. One of the earliest figures in this field was Norman Triplett, whose research in 1898 on the social facilitation effect laid the groundwork for understanding how the presence of others can impact athletic performance. The early 20th century saw further advancements in sport psychology, with researchers like Coleman Griffith delving into topics such as motivation, attention, and anxiety in athletes. Griffith is regarded as the ‘Father of American Sport Psychology’ for his groundbreaking work at the University of Illinois, where he established the first sport psychology laboratory in the United States in 1925.
The mid-20th century marked a period of growth and expansion for sport psychology, as researchers and practitioners began applying psychological principles to enhance athletic performance and address the mental challenges faced by athletes. The latter half of the 20th century witnessed the integration of sport psychology into mainstream athletics, with sports teams and organizations recognizing the importance of mental training alongside physical conditioning. The field experienced significant advancements in areas such as goal setting, visualization, and arousal regulation, leading to the development of comprehensive mental skills training programs for athletes.
Today, sport psychology and mental performance coaching stands as a presence in athletic performance enhancement, offering a wide range of services to athletes, coaches, and sports organizations. In the mid 1980s, the recognized profession of applied sport psychology became apparent with the establishment of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). AASP provides the gold standard for applied sport psychology and mental performance coaching, that being a Certified Mental Performance ConsultantÒ (CMPC).
