Combining your love and knowledge of sports with your will to help others is a noble pursuit, and no job provides opportunities for both, like sports counseling. It’s a job that will challenge you while paying nearly $80,000 per year to do something you love. You’ll use your empathy and sports knowledge to connect with athletes and help them overcome life’s hurdles.
The facets of the job extend from the playing field to the classroom and beyond. Your job is to assist student-athletes with any issues they’re struggling with in life. It’s one of the most fulfilling careers you’ll find in the sports world.
Luckily, you’ve found this enlightening guide to learn how to become a performance psychologist and start your career helping others. Continue reading to join the ranks of sports therapists today!
What Does Sports Counseling Entail?
Learning what sports counseling entails is wise before furthering your education and earning your sports psychology certification. Most of your responsibilities involve helping athletes reach their peak performance. You can help the athletes set goals to improve their mental and physical health.
Your advice could also help athletes improve their eating habits and make better decisions for long-term health. Another vital aspect of the position is helping your athletes develop pre-game routines. These routines will help them get in the proper frame of mind to compete at the highest level.
Sports psychologists who work in a more clinical setting focus more on the mental side of athletics. Their work helps athletes overcome issues like depression and anxiety. It’s an essential part of raising athletes’ abilities across the board.
How to Become a Sports Counselor
There are specific steps you must take on your journey to become a sports counselor. It’s best to start with your college education to earn a degree that helps you gain the knowledge and skills to assist athletes. Psychology is one of the best majors you can study if you dream of working in sports counseling.
You can double major in psychology and sports science or minor in sports science. Your undergraduate education will provide the scope and baseline skills needed to progress in your career. The sports psychology research topics will help you understand human behavior and its impact on athletic performance.
Give yourself five years of school if you double major in sports psychology and science. It’s best to pursue a master’s degree to make yourself a qualified candidate for job openings.
You’ll also need to obtain your license to practice your new skills after graduating from a master’s program. Get your license through the state you’re operating in to offer clinical services to athletes.
Sports counselors also require plenty of training to hone their skills. It’s one of the most prominent professions for continuing your education to stay at the top of the field.
Choose this career path if you’re a lifelong learner who loves sports and helping others. It’s the perfect option when you find out is ndnu closed.
What Skills Are Necessary?
You’ll need several skills to succeed with sports counseling and helping your clients. Some skills are lifelong skills like empathy and effective communication. Others you’ll learn as you gain your degrees and bolster your education.
Here’s a closer look at the skills you should have to succeed as a performance psychologist.
Interest in Sports
A strong interest in sports is essential to pursue a career in sports counseling. You’ll have a much easier time relating to your clients when you understand what they’re experiencing on the field. Athletes will struggle to form a connection or bond with you if you don’t have a sports background.
You’ll also relate to their unique struggles and experiences since you’ve been there before. Your ability to empathize will help you provide sound advice and guidance on several sports psychology topics. Combine your love and knowledge of sports with your desire to help others.
Motivate Others
You’ll also need the ability to motivate others to improve their lives and mental health. Knowing how to inspire athletes of all ages and from different backgrounds is helpful. Knowing how to work with these athletes and encourage them to work harder is a crucial skill to develop for a sports counselor.
The most significant component of your job is helping the athletes build the mental strength to overcome adversity. Helping them break through mental barriers helps them take their performance to new levels.
Problem-Solving Skills
The rarest skill to have when working as a sports psychologist is the ability to problem-solve. Your clients need you to understand and analyze their struggles and circumstances. Your sports psychology certification qualifies you to combine their struggles with therapeutic information for future success.
You can use your problem-solving skills to create solutions to the issues your clients face. The treatment plan will help your athletes reach new heights in athletic and academic performance.
Stress Management
It helps to learn healthy ways to manage the stress your job causes. Sports counseling is a fast-paced and stressful occupation. You’ll need to be equipped to handle your stress in healthy ways.
An athletic background is beneficial because you’ll know how to operate under stress. You’ll face deadlines, with hopes resting on your skills. Managers and athletes will have expectations you must meet when helping them heal and succeed.
Pursue a Sports Counseling Career
Sports counseling is a dream job for many retired athletes who want to use their skills to benefit others. The best way to start your career is to get an undergraduate degree and pursue a master’s in sports psychology. You’ll use your experiences and skills to relate with athletes and boost their performance on the field and in the classroom.
Ensure you have stress management and problem-solving skills when pursuing this career. It’s best to be interested in sports and able to motivate others.
Finding the ideal career is challenging, but the best job starts with finding things you love doing. Explore more of our Career and Education blog content to plan the perfect future today!
