Sport Psychology: Quick Facts (continued)

The psychological benefits of women and girls playing sports have been confirmed through research. Here are a few facts complied by the Women's Sports Foundation: 

• Exercise and sport participation can be used as a therapeutic and preventive intervention for enhancing the physical and mental health of adolescent females. It also can enhance mental health be offering them positive feelings about body image, improved self-esteem, tangible experiences of competency and success and increased self-confidence.
  (Physical Activity & Sport in the Lives of Girls. President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, 1997.) 
• Women who are active in sports and recreational activities as girls feel greater confidence, self-esteem, and pride in their physical and social selves than those who were sedentary as kids. (Miller Lite Report, 1985; Melpomene Insitute, 1995)

References

Books

Dosil, J. (2006). The Sport Psychologist's Handbook: A Guide for Sport-Specific Performance Enhancement. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Dorfman, H.A. (2005). Coaching the Mental Game: Leadership Philosophies and Strategies for Peak Performance in Sports and Everyday Life. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing.

Driscoll, A. (2000) Girl to Girl: Sports and You! Boston, MA: Element Children's Books.

Ungerleider, S. & Bollettieri, N. (2005). Mental Training for Peak Performance. New York, NY: Rodale.

Weinberg, R.S. & Gould, D. (2007). Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Journals

Here are a few journals that provide research studies and analysis's to help further your study.

The Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology and The Sport Psychologist are publications of Human Kinetics in Champaign, IL.

The Journal of Applied Sport Psychology is a publication of Allen Press in Lawrence, KS.

The Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal is a publication of the Diversity Productions Inc. in Forth Worth, TX.

Organizations

Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology
2810 Crossroads Drive, Suite 3800
Madison, WI 53718
608-443-2475
www.aaasponline.org

American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
800-374-2721
www.apa.org

USOC Sport Psychology Services
U.S. Olympic Training Center- National Headquarters
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO
719-866-4956
www.usoc.org