The 6 best Sports Psychology Courses

One of the fields of action that is giving more talk in recent times is Sports Psychology, which is focused on the manipulation of psychological variables that are relevant in the sports context: team cohesion, attention, level of activation, moods, etc.

The truth is that the psychological functioning of the athletes is just as important for them as the technical, physical and tactical functioning, and influences both training and competition. ç

• Related article: "10 reasons to put a sports psychologist in your life"

The most recommended training in Sports Psychology

Receiving good training in this specialty is key to becoming a sports psychologist that offers the maximum guarantees of success to the athletes, coaches and clubs with whom works.

But what is the best training in this area? Below you can find a list of the best sports psychology courses.

1. Practical Methodology Course in Sports Psychology and Coaching (UPAD)

• Center: UPAD Psychology and Coaching
• Location: Madrid
• Duration: 220 hours
• Price: 480 €

UPAD Psychology and Coaching is a center for psychologists located in Madrid, and that, in addition, provides training for professionals in psychology and personal development. Among the training actions offered, it is possible to highlight the "Practical Methodology Course in Sports Psychology and Coaching", which has as a purpose to train participants in the theoretical-practical skills essential for a direct and efficient intervention with athletes.

It is mainly aimed at students who are studying the last courses of the Degree in Psychology and graduate psychologists, and enables students to develop skills, techniques and professional resources for the correct application in the field sports. This formation is divided into two blocks. The first one is composed of 10 face-to-face sessions, and is aimed at acquiring theoretical and practical knowledge. The second block promotes acquired learning, and students have external internships in institutions sports where they can mobilize all this learning and experiment with their internal and external resources to do well his work.

This course lasts for 6 months. And it starts on December 2, 2017. If you want to contact UPAD Psychology and Coaching, you can get more information by clicking here.

2. Expert Diploma in Sports Psychology (UNED)

• Center: National University of Distance Education
• Location: Online
• Duration: 1 year
• Price: 1500 €

UNED is considered one of the most important universities in Spain, and it is a good choice if you want to carry out distance training. In our article "10 advantages of studying Psychology at UNED" we tell you the benefits of studying at this institution.

The UNED has a wide training offer, and several of its postgraduate degrees and specialization courses focus on the field of Sports Psychology. The "Expert Diploma in Sports Psychology" is a good alternative if you want to grow professionally in this field.

It is a course that lasts a whole year, and that allows to study a second year as a "Master in Sports Psychology". The agenda is very complete, in which topics such as psychology for coaches, initiation sports psychology, psychological variables related to sports performance, etc. This training is directed by José María Buceta, a prestigious sports psychologist nationwide.

3. Course in Psychology Applied to Sport (UAB)

• Center: Autonomous University of Barcelona
• Location: Barcelona
• Duration: 1 month
• Price: 420 €

Without a doubt, one of the most interesting sports psychology training that you can take in Barcelona. The Course in Psychology Applied to Sports at the Autonomous University of Barcelona is part of the postgraduate diploma in Psychology Applied to Sports Performance and the master's degree in Sports and Physical Activity Psychology, but it is possible to take it by separated.

The Autonomous University of Barcelona has the best professors in this specialty, so this course is of the highest educational quality. Its modality is face-to-face, and it is taught at the Bellaterra Campus (Barcelona) and the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC) of the same city. After taking this training action, the participants obtain a certificate of achievement and the best theoretical and practical knowledge in this branch of Psychology.

4. Expert in Psychological Intervention and Sports Coaching (COP Madrid)

• Center: Official College of Psychologists of Madrid
• Location: Madrid
• Duration: 2 months
• Price: € 1000 (members) / € 1300 (non-members)

The Official College of Psychologists of Madrid has been teaching the Expert in Psychological Intervention and Sports Coaching for nine years. It has the collaboration and experience of AEPCODE, which after years of research, has developed its own sports coaching methodology.

Coaching is a discipline that, despite being applied in many areas (there are different types of coaching), originated in the field of sport, specifically in tennis. This methodology has been shown to increase the performance of athletes by helping them overcome their own limits or mental obstacles.

5. University Expert in Sports Psychology (UCJC)

• Center: Camilo José Cela University
• Location: Madrid / Online
• Duration: 1 year
• Price: Check with the center

Another excellent training in sports coaching is the University Expert in Sports Psychology at the Camilo José Cela University, which has been taught since 2007. It is a great alternative if what you want is to acquire the necessary skills for a good professional work in this field, because you will allow the development of resources and skills to be able to collaborate with coaches and athletes in achieving their goals and performance optimum.

The sports coach is a professional who helps coachees to increase their emotional intelligence, to plan realistically, to overcome their limiting beliefs, to improve relationships within a team, to motivate them to action, among many other benefits.

• Related article: "The 10 benefits of Coaching (keys to your personal development)"

6. Certificate in High Performance Sports Psychology (FCB Universitas)

• Center: FCB Universitas
• Location: Barcelona
• Duration: 1 year
• Price: Check with the center

Just a few months ago, Fútbol Club Barcelona inaugurated a space for the transmission of knowledge called FCB Universitas, in which it is possible to study different disciplines related to sport.

In collaboration with the Siglo 21 University, well known in Latin America, this institution offers the possibility of taking the Certificate in High Performance Sports Psychology, aimed at coaches, athletes and psychologists seeking to specialize in this sports area. The curriculum includes such interesting topics as leadership in high performance, the mental strength of athletes or the psychological keys related to high performance.