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skillsets. Sports psychologists have the unique opportunity to be a member of the team, helping athletes to reach higher levels, even if the psychologists do not have to break a sweat. Starting Off: Undergraduate and Graduate School Some professional psychologists face a relatively brief pathway toward beginning a career in their field. That, however, is not the case for sports psychologists, who will require many years of education and training before they can provide professional advice and receive compensation. While a handful of positions related to sports psychology, like physical trainers, may not need much of an education at all beyond specialized training, a sports psychologist must complete nearly a decade of education. Like other psychologists, they first require a college degree. A two-year associate’s or four-year bachelor’s degree in psychology are usually a fundamental first step on the pathway toward this career, given that it will help a future psychologist to understand everything from the scientific protocols of psychology to the application of psychological research. Given that some schools specifically provide an undergraduate degree in sports psychology, this can provide an excellent beginning for someone who is interested in this career. Even a lower level degree in psychology may not always be a requirement, because all sports psychologists must complete graduate-level schooling in psychology, and some graduate schools will accept students with a previous background in a similar field, such as sociology or sports science. A double major may be helpful but is also more stressful. Regardless of degree choice, any incoming graduate student to a psychology programmust have the necessary coursework prerequisites so that they understand the methods needed in advanced study; an undergraduate degree in psychology will fulfill the prerequisites. Undergraduate

Chapter 1: Becoming a Sports Psychologist

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