The International Society of Sport Psychology Registry (ISSP-R) ethical code for sport psychology practice

ABSTRACT

The International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) aims to be the leading international and inclusive organisation focused on the development of sport psychology in all regions and cultural areas of the world. In 2019 with the advent of the ISSP – Registry, a renewed need for an up-to-date code of ethics for practitioners that reflected the mission of the registry and supported the international community of sport psychology practitioners became apparent. As such, a group of 24 scholars and practitioners from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania collaboratively worked on the development of this code of ethics. Each of the 22 contributors was asked to develop a principle or a standard that could be embraced and implemented by practitioners in their country and wider geographical area of work, within the reasonable limits imposed by cultural, legal, and professional differences. Once all the contributions were received, the two first authors of the Code reviewed, modified, completed, re-organized, standardised, compiled, and finalised the final version. The edited final copy was then submitted for a cultural review to a small sub-group of contributors located in different geographical areas around the world. Once finalised, the code was presented to the ISSP Managing Council, for approval. The resulting Code of Ethics aims to embody the mission and the value of the ISSP and its Registry.

KEYWORDS:

• International Society of Sport Psychology
• registry
• ethics
• professional practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The ISSP registration is an endorsement of the professional competence that practitioners have developed and demonstrated throughout the registration process regulated by the ISSP. ISSP recognize that the terms “psychologist” is a protected term in many countries and that the training and qualification required to earn this title widely change around the world. For this reason, ISSP encourages all ISSP-R practitioners to ensure the appropriate, lawful, and ethical use of their title in their country as well as the boundaries of their professional practice. Each ISSP-R is responsible for the appropriate ethical and legal use of their title.

2 This power differential could be even stronger in cultural context where the ISSP-R practitioner is enrolled, presented, or perceived as part of the coaching staff by their clients. It is responsibility of each ISSP-R practitioner to identify way to clarify their role, title, and professional activity within the organization they work and in harmony with the cultural context within which the professional relationship unfolds.

3 Particular attention needs to be placed when working with children and minors.

4 ISSP is not a legislative body. The recommendation of at least two year before engaging in any romantic or sexual relationship is a guideline. Each ISSP-R is responsible to be aware and follow the legal and ethical regulations of their country of practice as well as regional or national professional organization

5 The ISSP encourage each ISSP-R practitioner to explore the laws and regulations in their own country about the possible needs for age related document.

6 This may include when an ISSP-R practitioner find themselves to work with teams or athletes competing against each other. The ISSP-R must clarify their role with both clients. If possible and feasible in their cultural context, the ISSP-R practitioner may begin a process of referral for one of these clients to another ISSP-R practitioner or other professional.

7 In case of existing multiple relationships between supervisee and supervisor (e.g., thesis supervisor), the latter must provide the former with a way to file complains outside of the supervisory relationship.

8 ISSP recognize the cultural difference and the societal traditions and customs that characterize each cultural context. For this reason, ISSP encourages ISSP-R to consider these ethical guidelines within the cultural context of their practice.