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As a sport psychologist, you could be working with people from a wide range of different backgrounds. Your primary focus, however, will be to help your clients improve their performance. You’ll do this through considering psychological factors such as stress, motivation, teamwork, and confidence.  

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What does a sport psychologist do? 

On a day-to-day basis, the role of a sport psychologist can vary a lot depending on the individuals you’re working with. However, some of the typical tasks you might carry out in your day include: 

• Assessing clients and their needs to develop a fitness plan 
• Planning and setting up activities for teams and individuals 
• Advising coaches and managers on best communication practices 
• Supporting injured athletes in recovery 
• Working on activities and exercises to promote confidence and motivation 
• Teaching psychological techniques to clients to promote wellbeing and performance 

What’s it like to work as a sport psychologist? 

You may spend some of your time working outdoors, and you’ll be working with people from a range of different backgrounds. The work can be very intense but is also very rewarding as you’re supporting people. What the job is like will depend greatly on your working environment. You may work at a sports arena or fitness centre, or you could be working in a place such as a prison.  

You’ll likely work around 40 hours per week, and you may be required to work some evenings and weekends to attend events or appointments. 

What skills do you need to be a sport psychologist? 

You’ll need a range of skills to become a sport psychologist, including: 

• Active listening skills 
• Non-judgemental approach 
• Understanding of psychology 
• Calm demeanour 
• Understanding of people’s reactions 
• Sensitivity 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Ability to remain calm under pressure 
• IT competency 

How much does a sport psychologist earn? 

Usually, you can expect to earn around £20,000 as an entry-level sport psychologist. With experience, the average salary goes up to around £48,000. You could also progress into careers such as senior psychologist or consulting or become a lecturer or researcher.  

How to become a sport psychologist 

In order to register as a psychologist, you’ll have to complete a course that’s accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and apply for membership. As well as studying for academic qualifications, you’ll need to pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

Accredited undergraduate degree route 

The first step to becoming a sport psychologist is typically studying an accredited degree in psychology or sports psychology. These undergraduate degrees typically take three years to complete, and most courses ask for three A-levels or equivalent to study them. 

Once you’ve completed your accredited degree, you can apply for graduate membership of the BPS. You'll then need to study an accredited postgraduate degree in sports and exercise psychology. These courses usually take one or two years to complete. 

After this, you’ll be able to study for the BPS Qualification in Sports and Exercise Psychology, which is around two years long and involves supervised practice. 

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Non-accredited undergraduate degree route 

If you study an undergraduate degree in a different subject, or one which isn’t accredited, you’ll need to do a psychology conversion course. You’ll also need to study a postgraduate sport and exercise psychology degree accredited by the BPS. Once you’ve achieved these steps, you’ll be able to study for the BPS Qualification in Sports and Exercise Psychology. 

Qualify through the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) 

The other method through which you can qualify as a sport psychologist is through BASES. In order to take this route, you would need to have studied a BPS or BASES accredited undergraduate psychology course and a postgraduate degree in either sport psychology, exercise psychology or another related area of psychology. Once you have obtained these degrees, you would have to enrol onto the Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route, a two-to-four-year training course where you will gain experience under supervised conditions.