AASP Newsletter - July 2020

Dear AASP Community:

I would like to start by thanking all of you who have provided information and support during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent racialized events that have affected the world.

AASP launched a series of COVID-19-related initiatives and we are encouraged by the member engagement during these challenging times. In particular, we have assisted our professionals and trainees by offering multiple virtual coffee breaks and two virtual conferences on the use of technology in applied sport psychology practice and online consulting. We have also posted valuable links and resources on our website, including a blog post on tips for athletes, coaches, parents and the sport community, which has been consulted by over 15,000 individuals.

One of our priorities has been to stand in solidarity and support the Black community in response to repeated instances of racial injustice and brutality against Black people. As an organization, we denounce and condemn all instances of racialized violence and are committed to addressing systemic racism and advancing equity and inclusion both for our members and the larger sport community. AASP hosted several virtual town halls to give members an opportunity to share their experiences and identify needs. In this process, we have also compiled a comprehensive collection of racial justice resources. We are planning additional programming to deepen the education we can provide to address racism and allyship.

We have six new AASP fellows this year and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them:

• Monna Arvinen-Barrow, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
• Damien Clement, West Virginia University
• Kensa Gunter, Gunter Psychological Services, LLC
• Tim Herzog, Reaching Ahead Counseling and Mental Performance
• Amanda Visek, George Washington University
• Michael Zito, Morristown Clinical and Sport Psychology

AASP is aiming to release the online Essential Guide for Mental Performance Consultants in Fall 2020. The comprehensive and interactive guide will be offered via Human Kinetics’ new HKPropel platform that is mobile-responsive and built on contemporary technology.

The AASP CMPC certification program is thriving due to a highly committed and active Certification Council. In addition to making positive adaptations due to COVID-19, the Council is exploring the opportunity to form a partnership with the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA) to offer a unified North American certification program in which efforts can be consolidated for external validity and control, continued professional development, as well as standardized ethics and graduate training.

I wish you a fun, safe, and restful summer and look forward to interacting with you this Fall during our conference!

- Natalie