Career Pathways and Pitfalls in Sport and Exercise Psychology: Model applications from the UK settings

Abstract

In recent years, a growing interest is undoubtedly best reflected by not only the increasing importance of sport, but also the explanatory role and exponential expansion of sport and exercise sciences. As noted in the literature, one of the most important areas of these is sport and exercise psychology (Loucbaum and Gottardy, 2015). However, questions such as "Who are the employees in this field?", "What kind of education process is involved", "What steps should be taken further?" are frequently emerged and remain in Turkey. The aim of this review is to contribute to the development of sport and exercise psychology by seeking the answers to these questions.

The Society of Sport Sciences (SBD) and the Association of Exercise and Sport Psychology (ESPDER) in Turkey are the most recognized institutions that are a mission driven organization working for the improvement of sport sciences and also sport and exercise psychology. The SBD and also ESPDER ought to assist the scientific development and professional dignity by providing institutional support to the field of sport and exercise psychology and its employees as well as other sub-disciplines of sport sciences. In this study, the focus is the investigation – in order to establish a new and unique system, not a simple replication − of the scientific and legal legislation of two associations (BASES; BPS in the UK) in the field of sport and exercise psychology. Thus, these studies will contribute to establish and protect the professional title of the sport and exercise scientist especially in the field of sport and exercise psychology and therefore will increase its professional recognition and reputation in Turkey. 

Keywords

• Sports,exercise,psychology,accreditation,profession

Spor ve Egzersiz Psikolojisinde Kariyer Basamakları, Güçlükler ve Tehlikeler: Birleşik Krallık’tan Model Uygulamalar

Öz

Son yıllarda spora olan ilginin artması ile birlikte, sportif performansın açıklanması ve geliştirilmesinde önemli bir etken olan spor ve egzersiz bilimlerindeki gelişim ve ilerlemenin de bu ilgiyi arttırdığı düşünülmektedir. Alanyazında belirtildiği gibi, spor ve egzersiz bilimlerinin en önemli alanlarından biri spor ve egzersiz psikolojisidir (Loucbaum ve Gottardy, 2015). Ancak ülkemizde “bu alanın çalışanları kimlerdir?”, “Nasıl bir eğitim sürecini kapsar?”, “Hangi aşamalardan geçilmelidir?” gibi sorular ile karşılaşmaktayız. Bu derleme çalışmasının amacı; bu ve benzeri sorulara yanıtlar arayarak ülkemizdeki spor ve egzersiz psikolojisi alanının gelişmesine katkı sağlamaktır. 

Spor biliminin ülkemizdeki gelişimine yardımcı olmayı amaç edinen en önemli kurumların başında Türkiye Spor Bilimleri Derneği (SBD), Spor ve Egzersiz Psikolojisinin gelişimine yardımcı olmayı amaç edinen ‘’Egzersiz ve Spor Psikolojisi Derneği (ESPDER)’’ gelmektedir. SBD ve ESPDER spor ve egzersiz psikolojisi alanına ve bu alanın çalışanlarına kurumsal olarak destek vererek (örneğin; akreditasyon sistemi oluşturarak), bilimsel gelişimin ve mesleki saygınlığın artmasına yardımcı olabilir. Bunun yanı sıra, bu çalışmada − birebir olmasa da bazı önemli yönleri ile örnek olarak ülkemize özgü yeni bir sistemin oluşturulabilmesi için – gelişmiş ülkelerden Birleşik Krallık’taki spor ve egzersiz psikolojisi alanında akredistasyon sistemleri olan iki derneğin (BASES; BPS) bilimsel ve tüzel yapısı incelenmektedir.

Sonuç olarak, bu çalışmalar ülkemizdeki, özellikle spor ve egzersiz psikolojisi alanında spor bilimci meslek unvanının belirlenip korunmasına, mesleki itibar ve tanınırlığın artmasına katkı sağlayacaktır. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Spor,egzersiz,psikoloji,akreditasyon,meslek

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