Sport psychology isn’t a game. Stop treating it as one

Recently, RTÉ Investigates exposed how the title psychologist was being abused.

THRIVING: Mental skills coach Gary Keegan during the Ireland rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Given the growing recognition of the need for regulating practice in the arena of (sport) psychology, it was timely of Kieran Shannon to offer his view (March 21,2023). I’m glad to take the discussion forward now, relying on the rigour of facts and evidence, which I always find useful when offering comment.

Sport psychology is not apart from coaching: it is ‘a part’ of coaching. That’s a mantra I’ve repeated many times at conference keynotes, one borrowed from my co-author of Pure Sport, the eminent Dr John Kremer.