Sports Psychologists

While employment in the general field of psychology is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2028, it is hard to say how this prognosis affects the subspecialty of sports psychology. Few people leave the field entirely because so much time is required for training. Many stay in the general field of psychology and merely move around, switching specialties, but even this is rare. Most recently, the coronavirus pandemic has affected sports and athletes around the world, with sports games, competitions, and events either cancelled or being resumed with new protocols. Sports psychologists have been helping athletes and teams cope with the sports slowdowns and lockdowns, by holding remote video sessions and social-distancing sessions. As a result, sports psychologists are in demand now and this heightened need is expected to continue well into 2021.