{"title":"A Case Study of a Senior High-Performance Leader Managing Psychological Effects During the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"Andrew P. Friesen, Tom Patrick","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2023-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0008","url":null,"abstract":"The potential scope for qualified sport psychology service providers is broadening. Recent empirical research and associated commentaries have highlighted the opportunity for applied sport psychology professionals to apply concepts and experiences toward having a positive effect on athletes’ training environment. This case study details a high-performance leader within an Australian national training institute who is also a trained sport psychology practitioner, attempting to optimize psychological effects in the time leading up to the Tokyo 2020 (i.e., 2021) Olympic Games. The objective was to meet or exceed medal targets though the provision of a strong, team-led approach where activity to achieve high-performance outcomes was prioritized but in a manner that leveraged strong professional relationships and through the prioritization of everyone’s mental and emotional health whenever practicably achievable.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"2020 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140516261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Brain, Oliver Wright, A. Quartiroli, C. Wagstaff
{"title":"Supporting a National Team During the Overwatch World Cup: Three Confessional Tales","authors":"Jonathan Brain, Oliver Wright, A. Quartiroli, C. Wagstaff","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2023-0034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0034","url":null,"abstract":"There is currently a lack of understanding of how sport psychology practitioners navigate the nuances of working within the esports domain in the applied sport psychology literature. Therefore, the current case study provides three confessional tales, which aim to outline the unique experiences of two sport and exercise psychologists in training, working with a national Overwatch esports team during the World Cup preparation period. We first provide contextual elements of the World Cup format, the roster, the team’s needs, and the program of work. In the form of confessional tales, we share a series of critical reflections concerning the challenges and nuances we experienced, specifically: (a) the limited time afforded to deliver our services, (b) the misalignment in values experienced with the players and staff in the organization, and (c) working without visual cues with the members of the team. We conclude this case study by providing a series of recommendations for practitioners seeking to work with elite esports teams preparing for high-level competitions while delivering ethical and effective services.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"48 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140518160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Dad and the Lad: Who Is My Client?","authors":"Scott Whitfield, N. Wadsworth, Joanne Butt","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2023-0043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0043","url":null,"abstract":"This article discusses an applied case study with a young footballer and his father. Contacted initially to offer psychological support to the athlete, after conducting his needs analysis, the practitioner was left questioning who his client really was. This paper outlines how the practitioner arrived at the decision to work with the father rather than the athlete, before reflecting on how his own experience as a young athlete fueled his commitment to work with this case. Drawing upon acceptance and commitment therapy, the intervention’s aim was to increase the father’s psychological flexibility and explore ways he could better support his son. The evaluation suggested that working alongside the practitioner helped the father (a) gain clarity with regard to what was important to him as a parent and (b) begin to behave in a manner that was more aligned to his son’s needs. By virtue of the changes he observed in his father, the young athlete also discussed the implications this had for his own mindset and performance.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140519361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Esports Coaching: Applying a Constraints-Led Approach to Develop Team Coordination and Communication","authors":"Kabir Bubna, Michael G. Trotter, Matthew Watson","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2023-0022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0022","url":null,"abstract":"The current case study reports on the application of a novel coaching approach in the context of a semiprofessional League of Legends team competing in Europe. The case study aimed to develop the coordinative tendencies of the team by applying a constraints-led approach that manipulated the practice environment to promote specific goal-directed behavior. The present study outlines the objectives of League of Legends, the needs analysis, intervention development, intervention delivery, and feedback from the players in regard to the effectiveness of the intervention and their development. Finally, the present study provides personal reflections from the practitioner, who was applying contemporary skill-acquisition approaches in esports for the first time.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"179 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140523446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Using an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Approach to Overcome Distractive Overthinking With a High School Baseball Player","authors":"Samuel Wood, M. Turner","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2023-0036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0036","url":null,"abstract":"The present paper outlines a case study in sport psychology service delivery provided to a 16-year-old high school baseball player. The client reported experiencing distraction from overthinking in training and competition, which hindered his concentration and performance. An acceptance and commitment therapy intervention was implemented over 10 sessions across a 5-month period. The aim of the intervention was to overcome anxiety by encouraging acceptance of unhelpful thoughts, rather than changing or removing them, and helping the client focus on moving toward the athlete he wanted to be. This case offers a novel contribution to the wider literature by reporting an acceptance and commitment therapy intervention addressing performance anxiety in sport. We report how psychological flexibility was achieved through exercises to “unhook” the client from his thoughts around perfection and self-imposed pressure. Reflections from the client and practitioner capture the evaluation of the service delivery process.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140518985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ismael Pedraza-Ramirez, Bernadette Ramaker, O. Mathorne, Matthew Watson, Sylvain Laborde
{"title":"Behind the Curtains of Elite Esports: A Case Study From a Holistic Ecological Approach to Talent Development","authors":"Ismael Pedraza-Ramirez, Bernadette Ramaker, O. Mathorne, Matthew Watson, Sylvain Laborde","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2023-0017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0017","url":null,"abstract":"This case study utilized the holistic ecological approach to talent development as a framework to examine the structure and influence of an elite League of Legends environment. We conducted semistructured interviews with five elite male players (Mage = 20.2, SDage = 2.95) and three elite coaches (Mage = 24.67, SDage = 3.21). In addition, observations were implemented in situ to gather important information about the daily life experiences of the esports players and coaches. Findings suggest that this environment’s organizational culture was significantly influenced by interactions within the microenvironment, leading to the development of healthy relationships between players and coaches, impacting development and performance. Given the findings, we offer several salient applied implications for practitioners in elite esports, notably, the importance of understanding a team’s organizational culture alongside working at a one-to-one level. Furthermore, practitioners can educate coaches in optimizing a learning environment and support them in mitigating the challenges of a volatile industry.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"187 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140521367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Reflective Account of Delivering Multilevel Sport Psychology Support in Professional League of Legends","authors":"Matthew Ashford, L. Swettenham","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2023-0024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0024","url":null,"abstract":"This case study follows the journey of a trainee sport and exercise psychologist who provided sport psychology support to a top-tier professional League of Legends team across a competitive season. The purpose of this case study is to highlight some of the pertinent professional and contextual demands associated with the process of embedding a three-level (e.g., individual, team, and coach) sport psychology service at the professional level of esports. Specifically, a detailed account of the microprocesses involved in the design and delivery of the sport psychology support is offered along with critical reflections on the lead author’s professional judgments throughout the case in relation to their model of practice and the contextual factors faced. It is hoped that this case study can provide a granular and thoughtful account of how to provide sport psychology support at the professional level in League of Legends.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"52 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140517528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Serving a Brief-Contact Cognitive Behavior Therapy Intervention in Youth Tennis Using a Single-Case Design","authors":"Z. Moffat, P. McCarthy","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2022-0029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2022-0029","url":null,"abstract":"Brief cognitive behavior therapy is planned brief therapy designed to influence a specific target behavior (e.g., sport performance) with the lowest investment of cost and time. We report a brief cognitive behavior therapy intervention delivered to improve serve performance in county-level youth tennis players (three male and one female; Mage = 14.90 years). Following an assessment of athlete needs, we implemented a brief-contact intervention involving diaphragmatic breathing. The intervention was delivered across two “structured” sessions, with the athletes having access to the sport psychologist between sessions as required. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, we implemented a single-case withdrawal design. Results indicated that the intervention had a positive effect on performance, with athletes’ first-serve percentage increasing significantly (3.91%, p < .05). Results also indicated that a minimum preperformance-routine time (routine > 2 s) might be required for effective performance outcomes. Finally, we offer reflections on the delivery and implementation of a single-case design, while navigating avenues of professional development.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123580989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brennan Petersen, Cole E. Giffin, Thierry R. F. Middleton, Yufeng Li
{"title":"Constellation Mentoring for University Soccer Players: A Case Study","authors":"Brennan Petersen, Cole E. Giffin, Thierry R. F. Middleton, Yufeng Li","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2022-0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2022-0013","url":null,"abstract":"Peer mentoring is a supportive relationship between a more experienced mentor and a less experienced protégé that has garnered attention in recent sport research. Moving beyond traditional mentoring dyads, constellation peer mentoring engages several mentors to provide support to a protégé, ensuring they have access to multiple perspectives and areas of expertise. We implemented a constellation peer-mentoring program with Canadian university student-athletes throughout their competitive seasons. Subsequently, we undertook an instrumental case study to explore participants’ feedback and the perceived benefits of the program. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we interpreted participants’ responses as indicative of traditional mentoring benefits, including reduced transitional stress, feelings of well-being, and feelings of satisfaction. In addition, we determined unique aspects of constellation peer mentoring, such as increased team cohesion, improved help-seeking, an environment that fostered relational mentoring experiences, and the need for leader training. Constellation peer mentoring presents a promising intervention for supporting student-athletes during career transitions.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122847712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Allison Columbus, D. Mack, P. Wilson, Nicole J. Chimera
{"title":"Stable or Fluid? An Investigation Into Female Student Athlete Basketball Players’ Well-Being","authors":"Allison Columbus, D. Mack, P. Wilson, Nicole J. Chimera","doi":"10.1123/cssep.2022-0023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2022-0023","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was to examine changes in female student athlete basketball players’ well-being over time. Eleven female student athlete basketball players completed the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale—Short Form (WEMWBS-SF) every week for 22 consecutive weeks. Differences in well-being (p = .027; ) were found across time with the magnitude of weekly changes in WEMWBS-SF scores ranging between trivial and large. Magnitude-based differences highlighted individual variability, with five (45.45%) athletes very likely reporting increased well-being over time. It is evident that the well-being of female student athletes could be improved given the interpretation of aggregate scores, combined with joint consideration of the individual trajectories, reported in this study. Future work examining environmental factors with logical and practical links to well-being seems necessary to support female student athletes.","PeriodicalId":437281,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"116 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124095267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}