HISTORY

• 1998-Established-Founded
  
  
• 1998-1999 Feasibility study and survey of psychologists regarding need for and long-term viability of the ABSP carried out. Market research.
  
  
• 2000-Use of ABSP as a trademark and initiation of registration process with appropriate regulatory organizations (State and Federal Departments of Education, Commissions, etc.).
  
  
• 2000-Creation of a preliminary "Mission" statement (see below).
  
  
• 2000-Creation and development of credential designations and certificate programs.
  
  
• 2000-Enrollment of first students and receipt of applications for review of credentials.
  
  
• 2001-Informal and indirect "COMING-OUT" to the public and psychology community.
  
  
• 2001-(JULY)-Start of official and formal introduction campaign, and concentrated marketing efforts.
  
  
• 2002(MARCH)-Awarding first Board Certified Diplomate credential to Dr. Charlie Maher.
  
  

MISSION

1. To provide Doctoral level psychologists with a credential recognizing advanced training, education, experience and competence in Sport Psychology.
   
   
2. To lobby for recognition of the occupational designation Sport Psychologist on behalf of doctoral level psychologists. The purpose of this effort is to gain recognition for doctoral level psychology degree holders as Sport Psychologists independent of other specialties including clinical, counseling, school, and educational psychology,  free from legislative constraints regulating the use of the title psychologist. It is the position of the Board that Sport Psychology is not primarily a clinical or counseling discipline, rather it is a field mostly concerned with the enhancement of sport performance, research of sport phenomena and athletes, and education of coaches, sport instructors, physical education teachers, parents, athletes, and other interested persons. Consequently, qualified holders of doctoral degrees in psychology (psychologists) should in all cases (not only when concurrently holding a clinical or other license in psychology), be legally able to use and market the designation Sport Psychologist and practice this discipline within the scope of their training and competence, as attested to and sanctioned by the Board. In other words, doctorate holders in psychology, working independently or who are self-employed, who have fulfilled the requirements of the Board should be able to use the title Sport Psychologist and practice Sport Psychology within the scope of specific non-clinical training.
   
   
3. To monitor the field of Sport Psychology and function as a lobbying board and advocate for Sport Psychologists.
   
   
4. To provide certification and continuing education opportunities in Sport Psychology to entry level psychologists.
   
   
5. To promote the highest standards of ethics and practice of Sport Psychology to its members, emphasizing research and efficacy studies in an attempt to raise awareness and critical thinking in regard to theories, concepts, interventions, and protocols used in Sport Psychology. Board Certfied Sport Psychologists are required to submit efficacy studies and participate in continuing education to maintain their standing.
   
   
6. To educate and provide certification to non-psychologist level practitioners of Sport Psychology. The ABSP curriculum places special emphases on ethics and ecological validity and reliability of interventions and protocols used in Sport Psychology, as well as research, and trains students to become critical thinkers and consumers of sport psychological information and data.
   
   
7. To promote the field of Sport Psychology, the ABSP, and holders of its credentials and certificates.

Chairman

Roland A. Carlstedt, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Sport Psychologist; Chair-ABSP, Sport, Health and Research Psychology, Psychophysiology RCarlstedt@americanboardofsportpsychology.org

Consulting Advisors

Sanjay Mathew, M.D., Board Certified Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist-Researcher; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Adjunct Faculty, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco. Neuropsychology, Consciousness Studies, Humanistic Psychology. Former President APA Divisions 30 and 32.

Charles Maher, Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist; Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University School of Applied Psychology; Sport Psychologist, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Arne Dietrich, Ph.D., Cognitive Neuroscientist; Associate Professor of Psychology, American University of Beirut.

John Jay Wagener, Ph. D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, California, Psychotherapy, Sport Psychology.

Mark Fugit, Psy. D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Sport Psychologist, Texas. Dr. Mark Fugit

Oliver Stoll, Ph. D., Professor, Sport Psychologist, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

Roger Morgan, Ph.D., MD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Sport Psychologist, Consultant on Psychopharmacology, Memphis, Tennesee

Robert Hunter, Ph.D., Health Psychologist, Consultant on Online-Cyber Education, Health Psychology Specialization Coordinator, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota