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 athletes is just as important to them as their technical, physical and tactical functioning , and influences both training and competition. ç

The best training in Sports Psychology

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

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

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

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

UPAD Psychology and Coaching is a center of psychologists located in Madrid , and that, in addition, provides training for professionals in psychology and personal development. Among the training actions that it offers, it is possible to emphasize the “Course of Practical Methodology in Sports Psychology and Coaching”, which has the purpose of training the participants in the essential theoretical-practical competences for a direct and efficient intervention with sportsmen.

It is mainly aimed at students who are in the final years of the Degree in Psychology and qualified psychologists, and enables students to develop skills, techniques and professional resources for the correct application in the field of sport. This training is divided into two blocks. The first one is composed of 10 presential sessions, and it is oriented to the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge. The second block promotes the acquired learning, and the students have external practices in sport institutions where they can mobilize all this learning and experiment with their internal and external resources to do their job well.

This course has a duration of 6 months and starts on December 2, 2017. If you want to contact UPAD Psychology and Coaching, you can get more information by clicking here.

2. Diploma of Expert in Sport Psychology (UNED)

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

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

The UNED has a wide range of training options, and several of its postgraduate degrees and specialisation courses focus on the field of sports psychology . The “Diploma of Expert 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 “Master in Sport Psychology”. The syllabus is very complete, covering topics such as psychology for coaches, psychology in initiation sports, psychological variables related to sports performance, etc. This training is directed by José María Buceta, a prestigious national sports psychologist.

3. Course in Applied Sport Psychology (UAB)

  • Faculty or school: Autonomous University of Barcelona
  • Location: Barcelona
  • Duration: 1 month
  • Price: 420 Euros

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

The Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona has the best teachers in this speciality, so this course is of the highest educational quality. It is a classroom-based course and is taught at the Bellaterra Campus (Barcelona) and the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC) in 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)

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

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

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 shown that it increases the performance of athletes by helping them overcome their own limits or mental obstacles.

5. University Expert in Sport Psychology (UCJC)

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

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

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.

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

  • Center: FCB Universitas
  • Location: Barcelona
  • Duration: 1 year
  • Price: Consult with the centre

Just a few months ago, Futbol 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 Universidad Siglo 21, 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 area of sport. The curriculum includes such interesting topics as leadership in high performance, mental strength of athletes or psychological keys related to high performance.