What is life really like for the elite athlete? How does the experience of being a professional sports person differ from the popular perceptions of fans, journalists or academics? Why might elite sports people experience mental health difficulties away from the public gaze? In the first book-length study of its kind, Kitrina Douglas and David Carless present the life stories of real elite athletes alongside careful analysis and interpretation of those stories in order to better understand the experience of living in sport. Drawing on psychology, sociology, counselling, psychotherapy and narrative theory, and on narrative research in sports as diverse as golf, track and field athletics, judo and hockey, they explore the ways in which the culture of sport interacts with the mental health, development, identity and life trajectories of elite and professional sports people in highly pressurised and sometimes unhealthy environments. By casting light on a previously under-researched aspect of sport, the book makes a call for strategies to be put in place to minimise difficulties or distress for athletes, for support to be tailored across the different life phases, and highlights the potential benefits in terms of athlete well-being and improved performance. The book also considers how these important issues relate to broader cultural and social factors, and therefore represents important reading for any student or professional with an interest in sport psychology, coaching, sport sociology, youth sport, counselling, or exercise and mental health.

Uses personal narratives to highlight the development of feminist sport studies.

The last two decades have witnessed a proliferation of qualitative research in sport and exercise. The Routledge Handbook of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise is the first book to offer an in-depth survey of established and emerging qualitative methods, from conceptual first principles to practice and process. Written and edited by a team of world-leading researchers, and some of the best emerging talents, the book introduces a range of research traditions within which qualitative researchers work. It explores the different methods used to collect and analyse data, offering rationales for why each method might be chosen and guidance on how to employ each technique successfully. It also introduces important contemporary debates and goes further than any other book in exploring new methods, concepts, and future directions, such as sensory research, digital research, visual methods, and how qualitative research can generate impact. Cutting-edge, timely and comprehensive, the Routledge Handbook of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise is an essential reference for any student or scholar using qualitative methods in sport and exercise-related research.

Research can be a challenging but rewarding activity. All degree-level students studying sport, and all effective professionals working in the sport sector need to have a sound understanding of research methods and how to critically interpret research findings. This broad-ranging, in-depth and practical textbook introduces research methods for students on sport-related degree courses, outlining the knowledge and practical skills needed to undertake meaningful research and to become a knowledgeable consumer of the research of others. The book explores every element of the research process, from the fundamental ‘what, why and who?’ questions, through research plans, literature review, qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and data analysis, to the communication of research results. It offers a critical appraisal of alternative methods, including mixed methods, as well as clear guidance on how to use each particular method. Every chapter contains test questions and practical exercises, detailed case studies, a clear chapter summary and extensive guides to further sport-related study resources, to enable students to check their understanding and develop, extend and apply their practical skills. Step-by-step introductions to the use of the key statistical packages Excel, SPSS and NVivo in sport research are included. On-line support materials include some 400 PowerPoint slides and copies of data-sets used in the book. With deeper and broader coverage than any other sport-related research methods textbook, and a clear focus on ‘how to do it’, Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management is an essential companion for any sport-related degree course.

The use of psychological interventions and counselling strategies has become a central part of injury prevention, rehabilitation, and return to participation process. The Psychology of Sport and Performance Injury: An Interprofessional Case-Based Approach is the first book to offer students, academic scholars, and practitioners case studies that are grounded in psychological theory and empirical evidence, with a specific focus on addressing psychological aspects of sport and performance injuries in an interprofessional manner. This book presents nine "real-life inspired" fictional sport and performance injury cases. It demonstrates the viability and effectiveness of adopting an interprofessional, person-centered approach to injury, rehabilitation, and return to participation process. Each case is focused on a particular phase of rehabilitation, with specific attention placed on relevant biopsychosocial concerns. Within each chapter, a theoretical, conceptual, and empirical analysis of the case is presented followed by detailed accounts on how a range of professionals and significant others can work alongside each other to provide a holistic care for the injured performer within their own competencies. The Psychology of Sport and Performance Injury: An Interprofessional Case-Based Approach emphasizes the importance of holistic, interprofessional approach to sport and performance injury rehabilitation. This book is a vital resource for upper-level students, academic scholars, and applied practitioners from a range of sport and performance related disciplines such as athletic training, kinesiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, sport psychology, sports therapy, and strength and conditioning. It offers a valuable reading for a range of individuals and professionals who are involved in sport and performance injury prevention, rehabilitation, and return to participation process.

Contemporary sport psychology is a rapidly developing and theoretically rich discipline, and a sophisticated and challenging profession. The Routledge International Handbook of Sport Psychology offers a comprehensive and authoritative guide to contemporary sport psychology in all its aspects. Written by a team of world-leading researchers and practitioners from five continents, including both established scholars and the best emerging talents, the book traces the contours of the discipline of sport psychology, introducing fundamental theory, discussing key issues in applied practice, and exploring the most important themes, topics and debates across the sport psychology curriculum. Uniquely, the book presents comparative studies of the history and contemporary practice of sport psychology in ten countries, including the US, UK, China, Japan, Brazil, Russia and Israel, helping the reader to understand the cultural and contextual factors that shape international practice in sport psychology. As well as covering in depth the core pillars of sport psychology, from motivation and cognition to group dynamics, the book also includes a full section on cultural sport psychology, a vital but under-explored sub-discipline that is having a profound influence on contemporary theory and practice. With 56 chapters and unparalleled range, depth and currency, the Routledge Handbook of International Sport Psychology is an essential addition to any library with a serious holding in sport psychology.

This volume brings together a collection of essays from leading global scholars working in diverse areas as sport sociology, sport management, sport media, and sport communication to illustrate how sociological approaches are imperative to enhancing our understanding of sport and social media and digital technology.

Recognition of concussion as a serious injury, informed by neurological and physiological research, is now commonplace in sport. However, research on the psychology of concussive injury—its psychological implications and outcomes, and psychological interventions for prevention and recovery—has largely been overlooked. This is the first book to explicitly and authoritatively set out the psychological aspects of sport-related concussion from a multidisciplinary and global perspective The book attempts to offer a global understanding of the injury by presenting an historical overview; exploring the psychological implications of sport-related concussion and the influence of gender and sociocultural context on concussive injury and recovery; setting out practical guidance on working with special populations suffering from concussive injuries; and discussing the theoretical and methodological considerations for research on concussion and future directions for this research. Written by a group of leading international experts and offering a hitherto underdeveloped perspective on this crucial area of sports injury research, this book is crucial reading for any upper-level student, researcher, sport scientist, coach, or allied health professional working on sport-related concussion. It is also valuable reading for students and researchers interested in the psychosocial processes that impact injury and recovery or general professional practice in sport psychology.

Bringing together the most prestigious writings on mental health in sport and physical activity from the International Society of Sport Psychology’s flagship journal, International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, this volume provides an essential reference for the field of sport and exercise psychology. Carefully selected for their popularity and impact on the field, the chapters in this volume feature an international range of contributions. Each chapter has been closely updated to ensure its relevance in current research and maintain its position as a piece of state-of-the-art scholarship. Chapters cover a range of topics, including the mental health of high-performance athletes, assessment methods and screening tools, adjustment patterns in the junior to senior transition, the role of perfectionism, body shaming, mindfulness, and exercise addiction. The book concludes with a discussion of key takeaways from the preceding chapters and suggestions for future opportunities. Endorsed by the Society’s Academy of Science, this volume is an authoritative series of writings on mental health in sport and physical activity. Brought together in a single volume for the first time, the book is a must-have for graduate students, scholars, and professions in sport and exercise psychology.

Computers are a fundamentally important tool in sport science research, sports performance analysis and, increasingly, in coaching and education programmes in sport. This book defines the field of ‘sport informatics’, explaining how computer science can be used to solve sport-related problems, in both research and applied aspects. Beginning with a clear explanation of the functional principles of hardware and software, the book examines the key functional areas in which computer science is employed in sport, including: knowledge discovery and database development data acquisition, including devices for measuring performance data motion tracking and analysis systems modelling and simulation match analysis systems e-learning and multimedia in sports education Bridging the gap between theory and practice, this book is important reading for any student, researcher or practitioner working in sport science, sport performance analysis, research methods in sport, applied computer science or informatics.