Increasing numbers of professional teams and athletes look for assistance with the psychological factors of their performance, and there exists a growing body of professional sport psychologists ready to provide support. Despite this, it seems at times there remains a significant gap between the real needs of sport performers and what is delivered by traditional sport psychology. The existential approach described by Mark Nesti offers a radical alternative to the cognitive and cognitive-behavioural approaches that have dominated sport psychology, and represents the first systematic attempt to apply existential psychological theory and phenomenological method to sport psychology. This much-needed alternative framework for the discipline of applied sport psychology connects to many of the real and most significant challenges faced by sports performers during their careers and beyond. Existential Psychology and Sport outlines an approach that can be used to add something of depth, substance and academic rigour to sport psychology in applied settings beyond the confines of MST and good listening skills.

'Why don’t young athletes in sport just quit?’ Starting with this question and drawing on existential philosophy, phenomenology and hermeneutics, Talent Development, Existential Philosophy and Sport seeks a deeper understanding of the experience of being a talented young sportsperson striving to become an elite athlete. As an alternative to conventional approaches to talent development governed by a worldview of instrumental rationality, the book introduces key ideas from educational philosophy to describe talent development through the concept of elite-Bildung. It pursues an existential understanding of developing in sport as a process of freedom, self-transcendence, striving for excellence and building up habits. The book highlights a range of ambiguous and intriguing existential phenomena – most prominently wonder, question, expression, humour and repetition – and reveals an existential layer of meaning within talent development in sport, which can facilitate the process of becoming an elite athlete and give young athletes a number of reasons not to quit. By deepening our understanding of performance and development in sport, and the process of becoming an elite player, this book is important reading for any serious student or researcher working in the philosophy of sport, sports coaching, sports development, sport psychology or applied sport science.

Social and personality psychologists traditionally have focused their attention on the most basic building blocks of human thought and behavior, while existential psychologists pursued broader, more abstract questions regarding the nature of existence and the meaning of life. This volume bridges this longstanding divide by demonstrating how rigorous experimental methods can be applied to understanding key existential concerns, including death, uncertainty, identity, meaning, morality, isolation, determinism, and freedom. Bringing together leading scholars and investigators, the Handbook presents the influential theories and research findings that collectively are helping to define the emerging field of experimental existential psychology.

Applied sport, exercise, and performance psychology practice has diversified considerably over the years, as consultants have explored various theoretical models to guide them in helping their clients. Applied Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology provides in-depth and critical coverage, from a global perspective, of the common approaches practitioners now use with clients. Chapters are supplemented with case studies showing the approaches in action. The text explores topics such as: evidence-based practice psychodynamics approaches family systems approaches mindfulness and other Eastern approaches cognitive behavioural approaches practitioner training and development cultural considerations in practice The comprehensive companion website is designed to facilitate a flipped classroom approach using case studies, role play scenarios, and practice exercises, suggested essay and exam questions and topics, and webcasts from the authors. This text is a vital resource for students in applied sport psychology courses, sport and exercise science courses, and psychology and counselling courses. It is also an invaluable read for practicing applied sport, exercise, and performance psychologists, as well as coaches and parents with some background in psychology. a Applied sport, exercise, and performance psychology practice has diversified considerably over the years, as consultants have explored various theoretical models to guide them in helping their clients. Applied Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology: Current Approaches to Helping Clients provides in-depth and critical coverage, from a global perspective, of the common approaches practitioners now use with clients. Chapters are supplemented with case studies showing the approaches in action. The text explores topics such as: evidence-based practice psychodynamics approaches family systems approaches mindfulness cognitive behavioural approaches practitioner training and development cultural considerations in practice The comprehensive companion website is designed to facilitate a flipped classroom approach using case studies, role play scenarios, and practice exercises, suggested essay and exam questions and topics, and webcasts from the authors. This text is a vital resource for students in BPS accredited applied sport psychology courses, sport and exercise science courses, and psychology and counselling courses. It is also an invaluable read for practicing applied sport, exercise, and performance psychologists, as well as coaches and parents with some background in psychology.

When investigating the diverse, complex and changing contemporary field of sport, we recognize there is no methodology that meets the needs of all sport. Sport researchers should take advantage of innovative approaches from other fields to explore emerging phenomena or innovatively advance scholarly sport research approaches. For example, technology, globalization and commercialization may be the principal trends, but they are not the only trends, Sport researchers have the opportunity to study other trends, including the modernization of sport organizations, changing governance practices, regulatory changes, innovation, merchandising, media and broadcasting technologies, socio demographic influences (i.e. aging populations, change in employment patterns, increasing diversity), sport for development, physical activity and sport participation changes. As such, this book introduces innovative research methods and approaches can be applied to the sport discipline. This book was originally published as a special issue of Sport in Society.

Despite the growing literature on spirituality and its positive impact on well-being in health psychology, education, occupational psychology and leisure studies, it has been less examined in sport studies. Meaning and Spirituality in Sport and Exercise: Psychological Perspectives examines the many forms of spirituality in sport from a psychological perspective, from moments of transcendence and finding deeper meaning and value to prayer before an important competition or in adversity, such as a career-threatening injury. Based on the latest research and the Nesti’s experience in applied sport psychology service delivery, this book covers a range of novel topics linking spirituality to athlete development, injury, exercise motivation, and ageing athletes, and offers applied, practical guidance for sport psychologists working with spiritual athletes. Offering a unique contribution to the study of spirituality in sport, and to sport psychology practice, this book is vital reading for any upper-level student or academic working in sport and exercise psychology, religion and sport, or the philosophy of sport, and any practising sport psychologist.