AASP Newsletter - March 2018

Joanna Foss, M.A., University of Missouri
Courtney W. Hess, M.S., University of Massachusetts - Boston

Happy 2018 AASP student members! As your Student Representatives, we continue to work diligently to represent your needs within AASP, increase the value of AASP membership for students, and leverage opportunities for student engagement within the organization. Our excitement grows as we approach the end stages of the 2016-2018 Strategic Plan. We have made great progress thus far and we are looking forward to the next strategic planning cycle. If you have thoughts on AASP student membership or opportunities for students within the organization, please contact us to let us know. Below are some updates and resources that may be of interest to you throughout the year.

Student Delegates

Our new group of 34 student delegates (the largest group yet!) is working hard to develop content and resources that are of interest to student members. Within one of our student initiatives, Best Practices in Research, we have recently posted new documents including advice on how to effectively review literature, and also a list of “Hot Topics in Sport and Exercise Psychology”. Access these Best Practices in Research documents here. We are always looking for new ideas that could benefit student members. If you have suggestions for any of our initiatives, consider reaching out to the Initiative Chair, or becoming a student delegate next year. Below, you can find more information on how to get involved.

AASP 2018 Annual Conference

Start planning ahead for AASP's 33rd Annual Conference! We are very excited that the conference will be held this year on October 3-8, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The conference is a great opportunity for students to learn more about the field of sport psychology, and to develop their network with other students and professionals. As always, the conference will include several student-focused events and workshops. More information will be available as the conference date approaches.

Resources for Students

As a student member of AASP, there are a number of resources that are available to you, including access to AASP’s journals: the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, and Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Stay up-to-date on the latest research, applied work, and developments in the field with these publications.

If you are in the process of looking for graduate training opportunities, there are also a number of resources that could be helpful to you. The Directory of Graduate Programs in Applied Sport Psychology is a resource that includes information on over 100 graduate training programs in Sport and Exercise Psychology. This directory can help you to identify programs of interest and determine which ones align with your interests and career goals. Additionally, the Student Development Committee offers several video resources for graduate students, including advice for choosing a graduate program that is the right fit for you.

Get Involved!

There are a number of different ways that students can get more involved with AASP. If you are interested in becoming a student delegate, please contact your Student Representatives, Joanna Foss or Courtney Hess, for information about upcoming opportunities in 2019. Applications are closed for the 2018 cycle, but new applications will be accepted for six weeks following the Annual Conference in October. In the meantime, there are several other ways to get more involved.

Regional conferences are great occasions to network with other members of the organization and can provide a cost-effective conference experience for students. Learn more about this year’s regional conferences here. Also, join our virtual conversation on Facebook by requesting to join the AASP Student Facebook Group. This group is for student members only, so if your full name is not visible on Facebook, please send a direct request for access to Courtney or Joanna.

Finally, if you are able to attend the Annual Conference, consider applying to be a student conference volunteer. Each year, the organization requests the help of student members at the conference. This is a great chance to interface with professionals in the field, as well as other student members. To be considered, please indicate on your conference registration that you would be willing to serve as a volunteer. Closer to the Annual Conference date, the chair of the student conference volunteer initiative will inform you if you’ve been selected.

Get in Touch

You can contact both Joanna and Courtney at studentrep@appliedsportpsych.org. Please contact us if you have questions about your membership, opportunities to get involved in AASP, or ideas about improving the student experience within the organization. We are excited to continue working with you to represent your needs and create new opportunities this year, and we look forward to seeing you all in Toronto in October!