NCAA Athletic Administrators’ Preferred Characteristics for Sport Psychology Positions: A Consumer Market Analysis
in The Sport PsychologistClick name to view affiliation
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This study used a consumer marketing approach to investigate the market for sport psychology positions in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions. Athletic administrators’ (AA) preferences for various sport psychology positions were compared based on time commitment, affiliation, payment, services, and clients. Results indicated that AAs were most attracted to positions that included (a) part-time commitment, (b) athletic department employment, (c) payment via annual salary, (d) both performance and mental health related services, and (d) work with athletes, teams, and athletics staff members. Over two thirds of the 478 AAs sampled were interested in hiring a sport psychology professional to fill that position. It was concluded that the field of sport psychology collaborate across disciplines and emphasize multiple options for meeting the perceived needs of NCAA athletic departments.
Connole is with K-State Athletics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Shannon is with the IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL. Watson and Etzel are with the Dept. of Sport Sciences, and Schimmel the Dept. of Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling and Counseling Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
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