Understanding and applying psychology within youth sport settings is key to maximising young athletes' enjoyment, wellbeing, and sporting performance. Written by a team of leading international researcher-practitioners, this book is the first to offer an evidence-based introduction to the theory and practice of sport psychology for children and young athletes. It provides practical strategies and guidance for those working in or researching youth sport, demonstrating how to integrate sport psychology effectively in a variety of youth sport contexts.
With real-life case studies that demonstrate psychological theory put into practice, it discusses a wide spectrum of issues faced by young athletes and recommends the best approaches to addressing them. Key topics covered include:
- the cognitive, social, and physical development of young athletes
- optimising fun, motivation, and self-confidence
- enhancing young athletes' relationships with coaches, parents, and peers
- managing stress, injuries, and transitions
- effectively developing talent and long-term engagement in sport
- encouraging organisational culture change.
The most up-to-date and authoritative guide to sport psychology for young people, this is essential reading for anyone working in youth sport.
About the Author:
Camilla J. Knight is Associate Professor of Sport Science at Swansea University, UK. Her research interests are concerned with understanding and enhancing the psychosocial experiences of children in sport, with a particular focus upon the influence of parents. Camilla is co-author of Parenting in Youth Sport: From Research to Practice (Routledge, 2014), as well as 10 book chapters on topics such as youth sport participation, sport psychology, parent-coach relations, and parenting. She has published over 25 articles on similar topics and her work has been presented at more than 60 national and international conferences. Camilla's work has been funded by various organisations including the International Olympic Association, the International Tennis Federation, the Lawn Tennis Association, Sport Wales, and the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. She is currently the Youth Sport lead on the Welsh Institute of Performance Science and the lead of the Welsh Research and Evaluation Advisory Group of the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit. Camilla is also a British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist and has consulted with a number of national and international sports organisations regarding parental involvement in sport. Camilla has had the pleasure of working with numerous young athletes, parents, and coaches to help enhance their experiences and performance within youth sport.
Chris G. Harwood is Professor of Sport Psychology at Loughborough University, UK. His research interests lie in the study of psychosocial factors pertaining to athlete development and performance. His work reflects a specific focus on the roles and responsibilities of coaches, parents, and the wider social environment with respect to the performance, health, and wellbeing of young people. He has served as Vice-President of the European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC), and as Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology before returning to the Editorial board. He currently acts as Section Editor in Sport Performance for the International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology and an editorial board member for The Sport Psychologist, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, and the Journal of Sport Psychology in Action. Beyond his academic work, Chris is an HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist and holds dual accreditations with the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and British Psychological Society (BPS). He is currently serving a second term as Chair of the Psychology Division for BASES. Chris has held the position of Lead Psychologist within both professional football and in British tennis for the Lawn Tennis Association, with strategic responsibilities for the youth psychological support programmes and development programmes of elite players. He continues to consult with coaches, athletes, and parents, as well as compete as a veteran tennis player for Leicestershire men's team.
Daniel Gould is Director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports and Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University, USA. Dan's current research focuses on how coaches teach life skills to young athletes, the psychology of coaching, and developing youth leaders through the sport captaincy experience. Dan has over 200 scholarly publications and over 50 applied sport psychology research dissemination-service publications. Dan has co-authored two books, Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology (with Bob Weinberg) and Understanding Psychological Preparation for Sport: Theory and Practice of Elite Performers (with Lew Hardy and Graham Jones) and he served as one of the founding coeditors of The Sport Psychologist. Dan has been invited to speak on sport psychology topics in over 30 countries and has delivered over 200 regional, national, and international scholarly presentations. In addition to his research interests Dan has dedicated much of his career to applied sport psychology efforts as a mental skills training consultant, coach educator, and author. Dan is a certified consultant and active fellow in the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). He was also honored to serve as President of AASP.
