The sport psychologist/athletic coach dual role: Advantages, difficulties, and ethical considerations

Abstract

The purposes of this article are: 1) to discuss, from the perspective of a person working both as a sport psychologist/coach and as a sport psychologist/non-ch, the ethical considerations in tenns of dual relationships, and 2) from the same perspective, to discuss the advantages and difficulties that may be present when the same person is blending both roles. It is argued that the successN blending of both roles requires a person who is properly qualified as a psychologist and as a coach. In this case, the welfare of clients should be protected by the psychologist/coach in most instances and only in a minority of occasions should the option of not accepting the dual role be considered. It is proposed that the adoption of the two roles may bring important advantages that would benefit both athletic and psychological work with athletes.