Smartphones: How can mental performance consultants help athletes and coaches leverage their use to generate more benefits than drawbacks?

Abstract

Smartphones and social media are an extension of teens and young adults in today’s society. Athletes are included in this demographic, yet research regarding the impact of smartphones on athletes’ performance, learning, and well-being is scarce. Consequently, there are no evidence-based guidelines to optimize the use of smartphones in the sporting environment. Based on our consulting experiences and preliminary research findings, we explore in this article the potential implications of athletes’ smartphone usage, and suggest practical ways that mental performance consultants may help athletes and coaches regulate the use of smartphones.

Keywords:

• Athletes
• consultant
• mental performance
• self-regulation
• smartphone
• sport psychology