EMPLOYING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKING WITH ATHLETES: A CASE STUDY DISCUSSING ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR APPLIED SPORT PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANTS

This paper aims to discuss the use of social media platforms, namely Facebook and WhatsApp, as tools in supporting sport psychology interventions. The sharing of applied practice offers an opportunity to reflect both on the effectiveness of such tools and the consequent ethical implications. In terms of impact, social media could prove itself useful in fostering better communication at the cost of blurred boundaries and privacy issues. The scenarios presented focus on supporting communication within coach-athlete dyads and team environments as part of larger pre-season and competitive season interventions. The first author discusses her experience working with a university netball club within the British Universities & Colleges Sport League. Facebook was used to aid communication especially in the area of feedback, reflection and access to information from sport psychology sessions. The other scenario focuses on the work conducted with the Romanian National Handball junior female team by the second author. WhatsApp was used to enhance team cohesion and to facilitate intra-group communication. Furthermore, an example from tennis illustrates a different perspective on WhatsApp and its impact on the coach-athlete dyad. By taking into consideration the athletes', coaches' and consultant's perspective we hope to provide an alternative view on client-consultant relationships in this age and day, specifically in the sports industry. In offering this account of applied practice, we aim to emphasize the importance of ethics in informing decision-making when applied sport psychology consultants choose their tools. Finally, the paper highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using social media platforms when supporting athletes.