Skip to main content

Sport Research - Moving the Caribbean Forward


For years, we have neglected the importance of psychological preparation in sport and for that we have been disappointed continually with the lack of success at the international level, whether it be in our national athletes or our regional cricketers. One reason for this is the seeming lack of sport professionals in the Caribbean region, but who can blame them?

We live in a region where it seems to be a pain to finance a sport development venture and yet we expect the very few athletes that we select to win gold meals and do our countries proud. At often times, we do not know what some of these athletes are faced with and people in administration don't care to understand.

We constantly cry down cricketers claiming that they're overpaid and unskilled but yet this is the only market available in the region where we can have access to a sample of professional athletes to get a better understanding of the psychological construct of athletes of that status.

Until regional Governments have a yearning for sport development heavily underpinned by sport research, there will continue to be a flat line in the performances of our sport persons. The defibrillator that we need is education.

~Dawn~

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Individualism in Team Sports - Good or Bad?

Everyone has to be individual in their own right but in a team setting should that individualism be converted to selfish competition among team members? It is my belief that this type of behaviour breaks down team unity and causes tension among team members. What can be done to curb this behaviour? How can we stop this rivalry among team members and build cohesion to enhance overall team performance? Is this type of individualistic behaviour engrained in us or does it develop out of our interaction with the various environments that we are placed in. Whatever the source, it is something that needs to be eliminated if a team is to function effectively. Not everyone possesses this competitive attitude and it takes away the enjoyment derived from sport participation and lessens the camaraderie associated with the interaction of people who share a common interest. I personally believe that athletes should be assessed adequately before entering a team setting as we may be a...
3 comments
Read more

Sport Psychology in the Caribbean: The Way Forward

It has been just over a year since the completion of my MSc. Programme and 10 months since my return to Barbados. After my last blog post, I put my head down and deliberated on how I could make the best of my situation at home recognising the under-development of the field of Sport Psychology here in Barbados.  After much thought, a light in my head switched on (cliché I know) and I decided to take the chance and host my own seminars to educate Barbadians, athletes, coaches, PE Teachers and Sport Directors on the benefits of the field.  The DML Sport Psychology series comprises of five (5) in depth Sport Psychology discussions centered around SP education, leading into the specifics of Mental Skills Training (MST). This event is scheduled to commence November 4, 2013 and conclude on November 8. It has also been endorsed by the National Sports Council and Academy of Sport Cave Hill (UWI) due to its contribution to Sport Education and Development. Spaces are limited...
2 comments
Read more

Fear or Faith?

I t's been a while, I know! 3 years! So much has changed! But God! Ever stepped out into the unknown? Taken a chance not knowing the outcome of your decision? That's the story of my life. From my past courses of study to my profession, I've always walked in FAITH ! My passion for Sport wasn't the "luck of the draw", nor was it the "popular" thing to do; it was and is my God-given call. When you begin to reflect on your life from a spiritual perspective, you process things differently. You look back on past mistakes, not with regret, but with the surety of a lesson learned. You no longer fear that you lack the maturity to be successful but you have the faith that in following God's plan, he has the power to fulfil every promise (Luke 1:45). You no longer question whether you've made the best choice, but in prayer you make the only choice; that is to listen to his voice and follow his every instruction. You see, fear creates doubt, and i...
1 comment
Read more