AASP Newsletter - March 2019

Courtney Hess	Julia Cawthra

Courtney W. Hess, M.S., University of Massachusetts – Boston
Julia Cawthra, M.A., Indiana University

Happy 2019 AASP student members! As your Student Representatives, we continue to work diligently to represent your needs within AASP, increase the value of the AASP membership for students, and increase opportunities for student engagement within the organization. As a part of this mission, we added a student voice to the new 2019-2022 Strategic Plan. We are excited about the important goals and changes that are to come and strongly encourage all student members to review the plan online. Below are additional updates and resources that may be of interest to you and relevant to your AASP student membership. 

Student Delegates

Our dedicated group of 23 student delegates is working hard to develop content and resources that are of interest to student members and contribute to larger organizational needs. For the first time this year, in an effort to improve student connection to the professional membership of AASP, student initiatives will be linked with professional committees to meet the goals outlined in the new strategic plan. As your student representatives, we are always looking for new ideas that could benefit student members. If you have suggestions, consider reaching out to us, contacting an initiative chair, or becoming a student delegate next year. You can find information on getting more involved here: https://appliedsportpsych.org/students-center/studentdelegates/

AASP 2019 Annual Conference 

Start planning ahead for the 34th AASP Annual Conference! We are very excited that this year's conference will be held in Portland, Oregon, USA on October 23-26, 2019. This event is an opportunity for students to learn more about the field, and to develop their connections and networks with other students and professionals. There will also be several student-focused events and workshops. More information will be available as the conference date approaches. 

Resources for Students

As part of your AASP student membership, there are a number of resources available to you! Your membership includes access to AASP’s journals: the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (JASP), Journal of Sport Psychology in Action (JSPA), and Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology (CSSEP). Stay current on the latest field research and developments with these publications.

If you are in the process of looking for graduate training opportunities, there are also a number of resources available. The Directory for Graduate Programs in Sport Psychology includes information on over 100 graduate training programs in sport and exercise psychology. The directory can help you identify programs of interest and determine which one may be best aligned with your interests and career goals. Additionally, the Student Development Committee offers several video resources for graduate students, including advice for choosing the right graduate program.

Get Involved!

If you are interested in becoming a student delegate, please contact Courtney Hess or Julia Cawthra for more information related to opportunities in 2020. Applications are closed for the 2019 cycle, but new applications will be accepted for six weeks after the annual conference in October. As such, be sure to look for application information following the conference. In the meantime, there are several other things you can do to get more involved: 

Regional conferences are great opportunities 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: http://www.appliedsportpsych.org/events/. Also, join the virtual conversation on Facebook by requesting to join the AASP Student Facebook Group. This group is for student members only. If your full name is not visible on Facebook, please send a direct request for access to the head of the website and social media initiative, Nate Wolch at wolchn@wwu.edu.

Finally, if you are able to attend the 2019 Annual Conference in Portland, apply to be a student conference volunteer. Each year the organization requests the help of student members at the conference. This is a great opportunity 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 have been chosen.

Please contact your student representatives, Courtney and Julia, at studentrep@appliedsportpsych.org if you’re interested in getting more involved in AASP, if you have any questions about your membership, or if you have ideas about improving the student experience within AASP. We are excited to continue working to represent your needs and create new opportunities for student members. We look forward to seeing you all in Portland in October!