Complex Cases in Sport Psychology

Complex Cases in Sport Psychology offers instructors and students a unique and novel approach to teaching and learning about sport psychology. The book consists of a series of character-driven narratives—set within the context of a university athletic department—which encourage discussion and critical thinking in order to find solutions to issues such as athletes lacking in motivation, introducing mental skills training programs, and improving recruitment.

The book begins with a section introducing the teaching cases approach (suggesting further reading and methods for its delivery), the university setting and the issues this context provides for the sport psychologist, and the cast of characters involved. It goes on to detail over twenty cases spread across four parts (organizational performance, team performance, individual performance, and injury and recovery), each based around a piece of theory and including clear learning outcomes, tasks and non-prescriptive guidance on reaching a solution.

With a companion website which includes topical cases, further guidance on the teaching cases approach and an instructor’s manual, this is an essential supplementary resource for any instructor looking to provide experiential learning and encourage critical thinking in their sport psychology classrooms. Covering a full range of psychological issues in a relevant sporting context, it’s also an important, hands-on guide to counselling for any upper-level student of sport psychology.

John E. Coumbe-Lilley Ph.D, CMPC, CSCS is a Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States. He has been providing sport psychology consulting services since 1999 for college, national and Olympic athletes and teams.