"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
— Jack Dempsey
"Goooooooal!" In 1987, our 5-year-old daughter and her friends swarmed like bumblebees around the soccer ball and cheered wildly when the ball went into the net. A dozen parents whooped it up on the sideline. Chocolate milk, oranges and pizza were the postgame treats. Competition, exercise and food make good companions on a weekend day.
Unknown to my daughter at the time was how she and other girls and women were benefiting from advocacy by psychologists and others that led to Title IX, the federal law passed in 1972 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity.
Today, APA's Div. 47 (Exercise and Sport Psychology) continues that advocacy in another area important to psychology and athletes: understanding concussion. Working with other APA divisions, including those representing neuropsychology, rehabilitation and the military, as well as state, provincial and territorial psychological associations, they have developed a Web-based "Concussion Toolkit," which includes empirically based general information on assessment and treatment, information on "lessons learned" with regard to legislation-based advocacy and a state-by-state repository of concussion law to help psychologists protect competitors. You can find the toolkit online.
APA's Div. 47 is also deeply involved in the scientific study of the psychological factors associated with participating in physical activity. Sport psychologists help athletes use psychological principles to achieve optimal mental health to improve performance, and study how physical activity affects psychological development, health and well-being throughout the lifespan.
Sport touches central psychological issues in physical and emotional development, self-appraisal, self-esteem, belongingness and learning to overcome adversity. Sport psychologists have a broad portfolio, focusing on behaviors such as goal setting, training regimens, health enhancement, concentration and attention, dealing with injury and rehabilitation, advocacy, mental training and visualization, and teamwork. These psychologists also work to address a hurt some of us may have experienced as kids: being picked last for a team at recess, which can devastate a child's emerging self-esteem.
Athletics and exercise have always been an important part of our family life. From bumblebee soccer to hiking to skiing, we enjoyed the family bonding and time outdoors. Early morning and late evening practices taught the kids how to manage their time wisely. Both of our children were college athletes, where they learned self-discipline and team commitment that helped to shape their values as adults. They, and we, learned to cope with the frustration of injuries, losing and winning, and experienced the special bond that athletes and their families can develop.
It is well known that sport and exercise can significantly enhance health. Dr. Sarah Stimps, in her dissertation research, found that California licensed psychologists who exercised more than 60 minutes per week were more likely to recommend exercise to their patients to reduce anxiety and depression.
But athletics are much more than personal health enhancers. People live vicariously through their allegiances to their teams. In fact, you don't even need a real team, you can now create your own fantasy team.
Teams can bond society in dramatic ways. The Seattle Seahawk's 12th Man jerseys and flags can be seen regularly in the Northwest on Fridays before games.
APA also celebrates athleticism with our annual "Ray's Race" at convention to honor former CEO Raymond D. Fowler. So let's take a moment to recognize the work of our Div. 47 colleagues and our colleagues who appreciate the value of sport and exercise in our lives.
Go, Hawks!
