The Journal of the American Board of Sport Psychology

INAUGURAL ISSUE: 2007                        
Subsequent submissions will be posted as they are reviewed and accepted. See publishing guidelines (scroll down).

ARTICLE ABSTRACTS: Their full-text can be downloaded (see Article Repository: Download Library below; scroll beyond last abstract).

Integrative Evidence-Based Athlete Assessment and Intervention: A Field-Tested and Validated Protocol
Roland A. Carlstedt^{1, 2 , 3  1}American Board of Sport Psychology; ²Brain Resource Company; ³Integrative Psychological Services of New York City 

                                                              
This article presents a comprehensive evidence-based and field-tested athlete assessment and intervention protocol that has been validated over the last ten years. It is based on an integrative individual-differences model of peak performance, one that stresses ecological validity, real-time monitoring, on-the-playing-field individualized interventions (during practice and competition) and testing mental training methods for efficacy. It stands in stark contrast to conventional practices that are marked by loosely and arbitrarily administered eclectic, hybrid and poorly controlled and documented athlete evaluation and mental training methods. The protocol was designed to better illuminate complex mind-body-performance processes through the use of advanced and sophisticated instrumentation, testing paradigms, methodologies and interventions that have a high degree of validity and reliability. It advances a step-by-step hierarchical evidence-based approach that is predicated on the comprehensive assessment of athlete neuropsychophysiological responses prior to, during and after practice and competition and in the context of mental training.  It will be shown how this approach to science-based applied sport psychology can be used to gain unprecedented insight into the mental game, better predict psychological tendencies, intervene more effectively and utilize databases of mind-body measures to empirically quantify the player selection, development and mental preparation process.

Attribute-Based Selection for Success: The Role of Personality Attributes in Long-Term Predictions of Achievement in Sport

Aidman, E.V., Defence Science & Technology Organisation & School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia

                                                                                 

The predictive utility of personal attributes for high-stake selection was examined in a case of athletic achievement in Australian rules football. A group of 32 elite junior players from a leading Australian Football League (AFL) club were assessed with the Sixteen Personality Factors Inventory (Form A; Cattell, Eber & Tatsuoka, 1970) at the peak of their junior playing career. Seven years later, 13 players from this junior sample had made it into senior AFL competition, whereas 19 others ended up playing minor leagues or dropped out. The two groups did not differ on primary personality factors, nor on coach ratings of their performance as juniors. However, when the players’ physical potential rated by their junior coach was controlled for in a MANCOVA, the differences between the groups became highly significant: both on multivariate estimates (F (16, 14) = 3.51; p = .012) and on a number of individual factors. Consequently, personality factors produced a more accurate prediction of the junior players’ transition to senior AFL (84.2% players correctly classified as successful transition makers vs drop-outs in a discriminant function analysis) than did the combined coach ratings of the players’ performance and potential shown in juniors (59.4% accuracy). Moreover, when personality factors were combined with only one of the coach ratings – that of players’ physical potential – the same prediction achieved a perfect 100% accuracy. Regression analyses further revealed that predictions from personality measures were much more accurate for longer-term outcomes: they explained just over 11% variance in the coach ratings of player performance in the junior championship, but nearly 61% of variance in the aggregate performance ratings over five seasons in the seniors competition, and 99% of variance in the coach ratings on the construct “struggling – cruising through senior 3 ranks”. The results support the mediating role of personality in converting ability into achievement. In practical terms, they confirm the utility of combining estimates of physical ability with personality profiling in predicting the likelihood of success in junior players’ transition to seniors competition.

 

Conceptualizing Applied Exercise Psychology

 

Mark H. Anshel, Ph.D., Department of Health and Human Performance and Psychology Department, Middle Tennessee State University

                                                                                

Exercise psychology has become an emerging field of scholarly research, prolific conference presentations, and of increasing relevance to a world that is experiencing a health paradox.  Vastly improved medical care, at least in most of the western world, has been accompanied by a paucity of healthy habits (e.g., a deep propensity to avoid physical activity, intake of large portions of high fat food).  The result is decreased health and increased health care costs for all age groups, ethnicities, and genders.  While reasons for the negative attitude toward exercise abound, the combination of ubiquitous rates of obesity and the resultant poor health and high health care costs has resulted in a flurry of activity by researchers and practitioners to improve exercise and nutritional habits.  Perhaps not surprisingly, then, the field of exercise psychology has become increasingly relevant.  Therefore, it is surprising that a companion field of exercise psychology has not been given more prominence in the literature.  Defining the conceptual framework for applied exercise psychology is overdue.  The purpose of this article, then, is to provide a structure for scholars and practitioners in the study and application of applied exercise psychology.  The framework is based on the extant literature, which has focused on the factors that contribute to describing, explaining, predicting, and improving exercise behavior in a culture whose sedentary, generally unhealthy lifestyle is resulting in increasingly poorer health.  The need for additional research and practice in applied exercise psychology has never been timelier.  Guidelines for future directions in the field are also offered.



Neurofeedback for the Enhancement of Athletic Performance and Physical Balance

D. Corydon Hammond, Ph.D., ECNS, BCIA-EEG, University of Utah School of Medicine

 

Neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback) holds potential for retraining brainwave activity to enhance optimal performance in athletes in various sports. Neurofeedback has been shown to have potential for quieting the mind to improve performance in archery, for example. It can also be used to improve concentration and focus, to improve cognitive function and emotional control following concussions and mild head injuries, and it has untapped potential to increase physical balance in gymnastics, ice skating, skiing, and other areas of performance. Clinical examples are provided on the use of neurofeedback to improve physical balance and controlled research is called for.



Longitudinal Analyses of the Effects of Mood on Performance as a Function of Practice versus Competition Conditions: A Season-Long Study of Artistic Roller Skaters

Harald Barkhoff¹, Ian S. Pagano², and Elaine M. Heiby³ University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, USA¹, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA², University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, USA³
                                                                                                            

 

                                                                                                    
A training champion is defined as someone who repeatedly fails in competition despite good results during training. In contrast, the competitor type is defined by not only being able to transfer his or her achievements from training to competition but often surpass them and achieve even better results in competition. The purpose of this study is to explore whether a training champion repeatedly differs from a competitor type in terms of mood before and after competition. Two top level artistic roller skaters participated in this season long case study. Findings indicated that, compared to the training champion, the competitor type repeatedly exhibited more activation, more calmness and less anger before and after competition. It was also found that the activation increased from earlier to later events for both training champion and competitor type. The level of arousal was less after competition compared to before competition for both skaters. The results have implications for both preparation and participation in highlight sport competitions for skaters and perhaps other athletes. Preparation strategies worthy of investigation include mood regulation to enhance activation and calmness and to reduce anger.

CYBER-SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS:
("Live" presentations available upon request via Tele-conferencing: Contact ABSP) 

Mind-Body Measures and Sport Performance: Longitudinal Findings
Roland A. Carlstedt^{1, 2 , 3  1}American Board of Sport Psychology; ²Brain Resource Company; ³Integrative Psychological Services of New York City (Symposium Chairman)

 

Tennis Study Group Research Report: Presentation 1 of Symposium 
Carlstedt, R.A.1, 2 and Pearlstein, I^{1, 4}
Baseball Study Group Research Report: Presentation 2 of Symposium
Carlstedt, R.A1, 2., Pearlstein, I1, 4, Prine, M1, 3, Guerrero, A.E1 and Rodeka, P.1 

American Board of Sport Psychology1, Brain Resource Company2, Temple University 3, Glaxo Smith and Kline4 

                                 

BOOK REVIEWS

“Dunks, Doubles, Doping: How Steroids Are Killing American Athletics” by Nathan Jendrick (2006, The Lyons Press)

Eric Morse, M.D. Carolina Performance

 

 

The Journal of the American Board of Sport Psychology

PEER-REVIEWED; INVITED ARTICLES and COMMENTARY


Submission Preference:

I. Research-based articles in which predictor-independent variables are studied in the context of objective statistical, behavioral and/or psychophysiological outcome/criterion/dependent measures

II. Articles addressing practice, research and methodological issues pertaining to applied sport psychology, athlete assessment and interventions including papers that address ethical issues/concerns

III. Articles that focus on critical thinking in sport psychology, especially in the context of interpretation of research in applied sport psychology

IV. Negative findings articles: We hold the perspective that the field of research in applied sport psychology (e.g., efficacy research) is biased toward finding effects and as such research failing to generate positive outcomes are ignored or not reported. Hence, we strongly encourage submissions that report no significant or negative findings that do not support claims of intervention efficacy

V. Cyber-symposia-Symposium Papers: Original and previously presented Power-Point presentations will be considered. The JABSP offers authors the opportunity to reach a wide audience that transcends the one-time nature of conference paper presentations. Since conferences are becoming more restrictive relative to the allotment of time and space for paper presentations the JABSP is an alternative venue for presentations that may otherwise go unnoticed and for extending their visibility and accessibility.

VI. Student papers and dissertations: We strongly encourage the submission of quality papers by undergraduate and graduate students as well as edited dissertation that are empirically based (see I. above)

Articles that compare one or more self-report generated psychological measures with other self-report generated psychological measures are not encouraged unless deemed to make a major contribution to our understanding of such variables in relationship to objective non-self-report generated performance outcome measures

RESEARCH AWARDS

BEST PAPER and DISSERTATION AWARD: The American Board of Sport Psychology and Journal of the American Board of Sport Psychology will offer an annual Best Paper and Dissertation Award that will contain a cash prize, certification program tuition waiver and certificate of recognition (details will be announced in the Fall of 2007)

PUBLISHING GUIDELINES

 

Publishing Format: PDF; article length is not prescribed but generally should be in the range of 3500 words although quality articles of greater length as well as short reports, comments and notes will also be considered An abstract of about 300 words should accompany submissions. APA style should be adhered to. Font size should be 12; font style-Times New Roman.

 

Publishing Frequency:  Articles will published on a continual basis. Those accepted for publication will be posted to American Board of Sport Psychology Journal page as they are received. This will facilitate the timely dissemination of research.

 

Annual Review-Compendium: The American Board of Sport Psychology will publish an annual compendium of a year's articles (May to April) in hard-copy, publish on demand format.

 

Review Process: The editor will determine whether a paper will be sent out for review. The review process will be blind; that is, papers will be masked and reviewers will remain anonymous. Two reviewers will be selected by the editor to review a submission. A point system will be used to rate a paper along with additional comments. The editor will serve as a tie-breaking reviewer in cases of split decisions. Authors may also nominate reviewers having expertise in an article's topic so long as they also describe their relationship to a reviewer. Reviewers will receive a rating and commentary template in which to submit their review. Review turnaround time should not exceed three weeks unless a waiver to this guideline is granted by the editor so as to facilitate timely reviewing and publication.

 

Accepted Articles: Accepted articles may require editing or revision. Authors will be advised accordingly. ACCEPTED ARTICLES WILL BE PUBLICIZED IN PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES. IF GIVEN PERMISSION AN ARTICLE ABSTRACT MAY BE CIRCULATED TO POPULAR MEDIA.

 

Invited Articles: From time to time the editor and/or editorial board members will solicit invited topical articles.

 

Comments on Articles: Up to five commentaries per posted article will be published. Individuals who are interested in commenting on a posted article can submit such input to the editor for consideration. If accepted the author whose article is being critiqued will be given the opportunity to respond to a posted commentary. Such a public "debate" or "dialogue" will only go one round unless further discussion is deemed necessary and agreed to by the editor and both authors; in which case a maximum of three rounds will allotted. Comments and rebuttal articles should be between 300-800 words.

 

RESEARCH AWARDS

BEST PAPER and DISSERTATION AWARD: The American Board of Sport Psychology and Journal of the American Board of Sport Psychology will offer an annual Best Paper and Dissertation Award that will contain a cash prize, certification program tuition waiver and certificate of recognition (details will be announced in the Fall of 2006).

 

Inaugural Issue: April 2007

 

 

Roland A. Carlstedt

Editor-JABSP

Contact ABSP Editor:Submissions; Reviewers