Bridging the sport psychology gap in golf

Abstract

The focus for this research project was on the use of technology in bridging a perceived gap in sport psychology. This gap is present between the three main contexts in which sport psychology is practised, namely the individual consultancy, the lecture hall and the sports field. These contexts are removed from one another due to cost implications, time constraints and distance challenges. I propose that by using technology, in the form of video-taping athletes, these challenges can be overcome. Thus leading to better service delivery by sport psychologists on the one hand and more fulfilled and informed clients on the other. An example of this, in a practical situation, is this research project done with the golfers of the Tshwane University of Technology Golf Academy (TUTGA). Six of these golfers were video-taped while playing a round of golf. Then they were interviewed individually, using narrative practice interviewing techniques, about their experiences on the course. Lastly they were interviewed in a group session so as to ascertain how they experienced being video-taped on the course and how they experienced the use of video technology in the sport psychology process. Copyright 2007, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Bezuidenhout, T 2007, Bridging the sport psychology gap in golf, MA dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09302008-132016 / > E1115/ag