This love has led to the continued interest in Sports Psychology. This field addresses the interaction between psychology and sport performance. It includes working with athletes to optimize performance as well as the psychological well-being of athletes and those involved with athletes (e.g., coaches). 

Optimizing performnace can lead Sports Psychologists to better understand what motivates athletes. Thus, Sports Psychologists work with athletes who might have issues that hamper their performance to helping athletes on methods of mental conditioning (e.g.visualization, concentration and relaxation). In this way, a Sports Psychologist works from the perspective that success in sports relies on both mind and body. 

How do you become a Sports Psychologist? To begin, you will need an undergraduate degree, typically in Psychology. Keep in mind, however, that there are more and more colleges that offer an undergraduate Sports Psychology major. Such a major combines courses in Psychology with those in Physical Education/Kinesiology. Moving forward, most individuals who want to be a Sports Psychologyist must earn an advanced degree. Typically, this advanced degree is in a Sports Psychology program. You can, however, earn your graduate degree in a clinical or counseling doctoral program, and then take additional classes--kinesiology, physiology, sports medicine, business and marketing. One thing to keep in mind is that it is best to be certified as a Sports pPychologist by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.