The Female Student-Athletes, and the Athletic Coaching Staff Members Attitudes Towards the Prospect of Implementing a Sport Psychologist/CMPC in Division II Athletics

The purpose of this study was to identify the attitudes towards sports psychologists and the methods commonly used, such as motivation, self-talk, and imagery in Division II athletes, through the lens of female student-athletes, coaches, and athletic staff members. The research focus was devoted to understanding the needs and satisfaction of the female student-athlete by analyzing the relationships with their coach, role, and responsibilities of being a female student- athlete at the collegiate level and their interpretation of the need of sport psychologist. Additionally, the research examined the importance of the coaching staff in the development of female student-athletes in their athletic performance. Nite (2012) specified in his findings that the data suggested that the participants perceived that the athletic department had a responsibility to foster its student-athletes’ development. The research also explored the coaching staff’s perception of implementing sport psychology for their coaching habits and their female-student athletes’ well-being academically, socially, and athletically.