Consulting on the Run: Performance Psychology and the Preparation of USA Track and Field Athletes for the Olympics

Abstract

Members of the executive committee of the Psychological Services Subcommittee of USA Track and Field share their experiences working with a National Governing Body preparing athletes and coaches for performances at the Olympic Games. This paper highlights the lessons learned from nearly 30 years of service delivery by the USA Track and Field sport and performance psychology team. The mission of the Psychological Services Subcommittee is to provide education and related psychological support services to athletes and coaches participating in track and field. We share the philosophical model that guided the development of the Psychological Services Subcommittee and continues to guide our present work. The avenues for service delivery to the breadth of the national governing body are described. Additionally, issues related to using a team approach to providing performance psychology consulting are addressed.

KEYWORDS:

• performance psychology
• professional practice
• Olympics
• track and field

Notes

1. Based on the work of Aoyagi, Portenga, Poczwardowski, Cohen, & Statler (2011), we refer to what has traditionally been termed sport psychology as performance psychology. This reflects the opinions of the authors regarding the nature of our applied work and regarding the future of the profession.