“Riding the Wave”: Transforming Sport and Exercise Psychology Within an Interdisciplinary Vision

Abstract

A metaphor of riding the wave is used as a means of envisioning the future of sport and exercise psychology given what we know about past and present waves in the field. First, I review the waves of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s to understand critical issues in the field and to evaluate the waves as smooth, choppy, or turbulent today. Second, Christina's (1989) model that views basic and applied research as interdependent and reciprocal is used to situate sport and exercise psychology research. Third, discussion revolves around misperceptions of the term “applied sport psychology” as synonymous with performance enhancement, and a case is made for dropping the term “applied” to be more inclusive of all types of applied research that sport and exercise psychologists do. Fourth, integration among theory, research, and practice is featured as a central and recurring theme that must be sustained for the field to survive and thrive. Finally, I advocate for transforming sport and exercise psychology within an interdisciplinary vision over the coming years in an effort to elevate impact on scientific research and professional practice. This interdisciplinary vision, I believe, is the wave of the future for advancing knowledge, translating research to applications, and maximizing professional development of our students.