S3 Ep. 6 MINI-SERIES - The role of a Performance Psychologist

Sid Sinfield starts a new strand of episodes this season that focus on supporting staff working in British Canoeing World-class Programmes and their pathways into their roles. In the first episode in this strand, Sid speaks with Jonathan Smith, Performance Psychologist on the Olympic Sprint and Paracanoe programmes. 

Jonathan explains the role of a performance psychologist and his own professional journey into that role.  He also suggests other routes into that role and gives helpful advice for those who are interested in becoming a performance psychologist. 

He discusses how performance psychologists can measure effectiveness of their interventions on athlete performance and how his role contributes to the wider team of support staff in promoting optimal athlete development.