Sport and Exercise Psychology Review - Sport Psychology Goes to ...

Sport Psychology Consulting with Athletes
in the form of a chronic injury (Wheeler et
al., 1996). A small body of literature about
transitions out of sport for athletes with disabilities
exists (Martin, 1996, 1999b, 2000).
Summary
Sport psychologists can increase their effectiveness
by being aware that the athletes they
work with may not train optimally. Issues
associated with leaving sport may indirectly
impact on current athletic performance as
well as influence post sport quality of life.
Sport psychologists familiar with these issues
will be better equipped to offer quality service
to their clients.
Conclusion
Athletes with disabilities have typically been
underserved by professionals in sport psychology.
Sport psychologists can play an
important role in helping athletes with disabilities
achieve personal excellence in life
and sport. Similar to the challenge of being
familiar with both psychological principles
of athletic behaviour and the sport sciences,
sport psychologists desiring to work with athletes
with disabilities have the additional
challenge of understanding the world of disability
and disability sport in order to be
effective (Sachs, 1993).
The author
Jeffrey Martin (aa3975@wayne.edu) is an
Associate Professor in the Division of Kinesiology,
Health, and Sport Studies at Wayne
State University in Detriot, Michigan.
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