Vision:

To build a community of professionals who share a commitment to advance the development of sport, exercise and performance psychology in Ireland and to represent the professional interests of practitioners and researchers in this field.

Objectives:

• Create a welcoming and accessible division that encourages participation from individuals at all stages of their careers, including students, trainees, and those exploring a path in sport, exercise, and performance psychology.
• Strengthen our professional community by organising and participating in events  that encourage connection, collaboration, and the sharing of ideas.
• Foster an engaged community by increasing visibility & transparency of committee activities through consistent social media and two way communication
  
  

Contact Us: sportpsychology@psychologicalsociety.ie 

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING GROUP MEMBERSHIP CHARGES:

You will be charged the full membership fee upon application. Should your membership be approved, this will cover your group membership for the rest of the calendar year. Your group membership will renew automatically during the renewal period (between 01 January and 31 March), along with your general PSI membership. Please note, should your application be declined, there are no refunds for your groupapplication fee, as per PSI T&C's: https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/footer/Terms-and-Conditions. Thus, please ensure to read the membership criteria very carefully before making an application to join a PSI group (div or SIG).

Prices to join DSEPP as a member

Full Membership - €25

Associate Membership €15

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. What are my career options?

The professional career opportunities for sport, exercise and performance psychologists in Ireland are diverse and expanding, reflecting the growing recognition of their expertise. These roles are typically found within professional sport organisations, National Governing Bodies, private consultancy, and academic settings (educational).

Sport psychologists primarily function as applied practitioners, focusing on enhancing performance, supporting mental well-being, and fostering resilience among athletes and teams. Their work often involves integrating multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive athlete servicing and utilizing psychological skills training to help athletes manage performance-related demands and expectations.

Applied Sport and Performance Psychology:

Applied sport psychologists engage directly with athletes and teams by implementing psychological skills training interventions. This includes mental performance coaching, guidance on goal-setting, imagery, self-talk, relaxation techniques, and stress management strategies to optimize performance and foster mental health.

Professional Sporting Organisations:

Opportunities are available within professional sporting organisations, National Governing Bodies, and national teams, such as the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). These roles encompass direct athlete support, contributing to organisational development, and informing policy formulation within multidisciplinary support teams,

Consultancy and Private Practice:

Many professionals establish independent consultancy practices or work in advisory capacities for various clients. This extends to clubs, schools, coaches, and even non-sporting high-performance domains, including business executives, musicians, and artists, where mental fortitude and strategic planning are critical.

Academia and Research:

A doctorate often leads to career opportunities in lecturing and research at the university level or further education colleges. Academics contribute to the scientific advancement of the field by conducting research and educating the next generation of practitioners. 

Educational Outreach and Workshops:

Sport psychologists organise and deliver workshops for various stakeholders, including coaches, teachers, and exercise specialists. These educational initiatives aim to equip individuals with the tools necessary to support athletes' mental well-being and enhance performance. This can include addressing psychosocial factors through accessible tools and encouraging continuous professional development.

National Governing Bodies:

Collaborate with NGBs, such as the Irish Rugby Football Union, to implement sport psychology programs across different levels of a sport.

Education:

Advise and guide schools on applying sport psychology principles to foster mental resilience and support athlete development. Both Primary and secondary level in schools.

Health and Wellness:

Engage with individuals and groups in exercise and general health settings, promoting mental health, performance, and overall well-being.

Professional Development and Job Identification:

Professional certification, often through bodies like the Psychological Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society, is critical for establishing legitimacy and ensuring ethical standards. While specific job platforms like LinkedIn and CareersPortal.ie are practical tools for identifying vacancies, professional networking and engagement with accredited bodies are key for career progression.

2. What is professional indemnity insurance and do I need it?

Professional indemnity insurance protects you if a client claims that your professional advice or service caused them harm or loss. It can cover legal costs and any compensation awarded. If you’re working as a sport/ exercise/ performance psychologist, whether privately or in a team setting, it’s strongly recommended (and often required) to have this insurance in place to protect both you and your clients. Certain companies may offer student insurance at a lower cost. 

3. How does CORU regulation affect training pathways and practice of sport psychology in Ireland?

CORU is progressing towards the introduction of statutory regulation for the psychology profession, including sport psychology.

With support of the Department of Health, CORU has developed a regulatory model that will facilitate the protection of the title ‘psychologist’ in Ireland. This model will establish a single register comprised of four divisions: one division each for clinical, counselling and educational psychologists and a fourth division for all other psychology specialism, which includes sport psychology. To register, psychologists must meet specific education and training standards.

CORU anticipates that there will be 2 routes available to be named on the register under the fourth division:

Single Qualification Route: Psychology programmes which combine academic learning with practical training. CORU will review and approve these programmes, listing them as a pathway to registration.

Two Qualification Route: This will involve the completion of an academic qualification in psychology and a separate practical qualification. Both the academic and practical qualifications must meet the CORU’s standards to be approved as pathways to registration.

Separately, there will be a Transitional Route into statutory regulation for existing practitioners that is open for 2 years from the date the registers open.

As of October 2024, CORU states that the fourth division could take 2 to 4 years to fully implement, depending on how quickly education providers adapt to the new qualification requirements.

For further information on this, visit: https://www.coru.ie/about-us/registration-boards/psychologists-registration-board/update-on-statutory-regulation-of-psychologists/

Officers