Business Administration - John F. Kennedy University

internship overview
The internships in the Sport Psychology program are a key
component of the educational process. The fieldwork experience
is the cornerstone of the program. It allows students to gain a
hands-on education in the role of being a sport psychology
professional. Because of the importance placed on the intern ships,
a student should approach this aspect of the program with a
willingness to structure his or her experience in a manner that will
optimize the educational value.
The internships will help students:
• Learn how to teach optimal performance techniques in an
applied setting;
• Increase awareness of the interpersonal relationships between
themselves and their clients;
• Learn to be aware of their personal style and approach;
• Learn to integrate theories and techniques of sport psychol ogy
into diverse settings;
• Learn how to conduct oneself as a professional in the areas of
flexibility, accountability, ethical behavior, and responsibility;
• Become skilled in educating potential clients on the benefits of
sport psychology skills and securing an internship site;
• network with others in the field as well as with potential
employers;
• Use sport psychology techniques with clients as both life skills
and mental training skills for sport.
Students should develop internships to work with specific groups
they may not have worked with in the past. This includes group
and individual clients, unfamiliar sport experiences, athletes of
various sports and developmental levels, and any other setting that
will increase effectiveness. Approaching the fieldwork experience
in this fashion will allow students to gain competence in many areas
toward becoming effective sport psychology professionals.
The interns are monitored by the fieldwork coordinator. during
the internship, students will work one on one with a supervisor
assigned by the fieldwork coordinator. Here the students will work
on various areas as they pertain to the internship experi ence. They
will assess their strengths and weaknesses which may be improved
upon as a sport psychology consultant. Students will also attend a
group supervision class (case seminar) where they can share ideas
with their classmates and get feedback from the case instructor.
To receive credit for each internship, students must follow the
internship contract and policies, and fulfill all internship
require ments (see internship packet). Samples of reasons a student
would not get credit for an internship are:
• not receive a passing score on the Supervisor’s Assessment of
Intern (see form for details);
• Failure to turn in weekly tapes to supervisor;
• Failure to meet weekly with supervisor;
• Failure to attend case class consecutively during the course of
the internship;
• Failure to stay with clients through the end of the season (even
if this exceeds 11 weeks);
• Consistently acting in an unprofessional and unethical man ner
at his/her internship;
• Failure to get minimum required contact hours;
• Failure to turn in all informed consents to fieldwork coordina tor
after first week of internship;
• Failure to turn in all completed paperwork by their due dates.
• Students who are not meeting the requirements of a fieldwork
experience or who engage in conduct incompatible with the
standards of graduate education or the practice of sport
psychol ogy may be dismissed.
Prerequisites
Students need to complete the following courses before starting
any internships:
PSP 5815 Performance Enhancement A
PSP 5816 Performance Enhancement B
PSP 5800A Sport Psychology A
PSP 5811 Counseling Skills A
PSP 5826 Psychological dimensions of youth Sport
PSP 5803A Ethics and Professional Issues in Sport Psychology A
leaP Program
College of Professional Studies
The mission of the Life Enhancement through Athletic and
Academic Participation program (LEAP) is to help at-risk children
and adolescents to succeed in school and life. The “hook” of the
LEAP program is participation in interactive and non-traditional
games or in organized sports. LEAP uses sport participation as a
catalyst to help youth learn more effective life skills and coping
techniques.
The LEAP program provides a bridge to opportunity by helping
youth:
• Improve personal decision making;
• recognize choices have consequences;
• Promote personal responsibility and accountability;
• Improve positive self-concept, self-worth, and self-confi dence;
• Learn skills to deal with anger and frustration in appropriate
ways;
• Learn to work together to solve problems;
• Learn the discipline necessary to be successful in sports, school,
and life.
LEAP accomplishes these goals through participation in either an
interactive and non-traditional games environment or taking part
in sports. The LEAP program tailors sport psychology principles
and techniques to the needs of each specific group.
JOHn F. KEnnEdy UnIvErSITy College of Professional Studies 113
College of
Professional Studies