“My whole life, people have doubted me. People told me in high school I was too short and not fast enough to play basketball. They didn’t know my story. Because if they did, they’d know that anything is possible.” -Jimmy Butler
The world of professional sports has legions of heroes! If we dig deeper, we find stories of underdogs who evolved into star athletes. Most recently, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat comes to mind. Butler has led Miami to the NBA Finals twice and taken his game to new heights throughout the process. People doubted him along the path to greatness, but his drive was unstoppable. He is now often compared to Michael Jordan for his tenacity.
In the world of Sport Psychology, we explore relentless mindsets like that of Butler. This is the psychology of a winner. How can it be crafted in all athletes? How can underdogs come back for the big win? How can champions emotionally recover from loss?
Imagine: It’s 2011, and Rory McIlroy was expected to win at the Augusta Masters. He was leading on the final day but had a catastrophic round. After playing well the previous three days, he tied for fifteenth place. How, just eight weeks later, did he win the U.S. Open?
Sport Psychologists seek to understand how athletes like McIlroy overcome their mental barriers. Studies show an athlete’s ability to succeed is 80% mental, and top athletes concur. Maintaining mental health for competitors at every level is what Sport Psychology is all about!
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, once said, “The biggest thing I think that separated me throughout my career is my mental game. Everything that was in between my ears. I eventually got to the point where I was competing against myself because I was so hard on myself. For me to improve, I had to get stronger mentally, and I had to find a way to do it …”
At Parker University, you’ll be submerged in the world of Sport Psychology and learn how to improve athletes’ mental game. Parker University’s degree in Sport Psychology investigates emotional cycles of winning, losing, and mental health. Earning a degree in Sport Psychology will teach you to identify the intangible assets of talented athletes.
In the real world, Sport Psychologists work with athletes to develop healthy perspectives. Motivational techniques for each athlete are unique, so Sport Psychologists customize strategies for each type of competitor. Sport Psychologists often coach athletes to identify personal sub-goals to self-mastery and often mentor athletes through their setbacks, comebacks, and retirement.
Parker University offers a bachelor’s degree in Sport Psychology, and the program can be completed 100% online.
Our comprehensive and practical curriculum prepares you to work in the exhilarating, competitive world of sports. Are you interested in learning more? Check out Parker University’s program and fast facts here!
