ROLE DEFINITION AND DEMYSTIFICATION

The Mental Coach versus the Traditional Clinical Concept

Psychology applied to sport must be established as a branch focused on the optimization of human capabilities, moving away from the traditional medical model focused on disease.

It is essential that the professional is positioned before the staff and the technical management not as a therapist who seeks to repair "what is broken", but as a trainer of cognitive skills.

In the same way that a nutritionist adjusts diet to improve energy or a video analyst breaks down rival strategy, the sports psychologist designs programs to strengthen the attention, decision-making and mental toughness necessary for high competition. This differentiation is vital to the acceptance of the role.

While academic literature may focus on abstract theories about anxiety, on-field practice requires tangible interventions.

The psychologist must instruct the organization to understand that mental training is for everyone, including elite athletes looking to polish details, not just those who show an obvious decline in performance.

Addressing Prejudice and Professional Identity Building

Joining a sports entity often involves facing ingrained stigmas that associate psychology with mental fragility or inability to withstand pressure.

Therefore, the initial period of insertion must have a strong educational component to clarify the scope of functions.

The goal is to change the view of the psychologist: from being perceived as a "shrink" who delves into past traumas, to being valued as a performance specialist.

This process involves demonstrating that the work is not limited to private conversations in an office, but extends to active observation on the court and the implementation of pre-competition activation or relaxation routines, helping the athlete to manage his or her internal states in order to perform better.

Summary

Psychology applied to sport should be established as a branch focused on optimizing human capabilities. The professional acts as a mental trainer, moving away from the traditional medical model focused on repairing diseases.

It is essential to overcome the prejudices that associate psychology with mental fragility or incapacity. The goal is to educate the organization to change the perception from "shrink" to performance specialist.

The work is not limited to the office, but includes active observation on the court. This differentiation is vital for mental training to be accepted as a tool for everyone.