ID: hksportsinstitute
13 Sport Psychology Professionals Shared Experience at The Joseph Lau Luen Hung Charitable Trust International Scientific Symposium
A group photo of Dr Trisha Leahy (8th from left), Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI); Dr Raymond So (1st from left), Chairman of the Organising Committee of The Joseph Lau Luen Hung Charitable Trust International Scientific Symposium (ISS) and Sports Science & Medicine Coordinator of the HKSI; and Eric Yuen (7th from right), General Manager of Tronda Electronics Limited; together with speakers of the ISS including (2nd from left) Dr Si Gangyan, Head of Sport Psychology Unit of the HKSI; Prof Hiroshi Sekiya, Associate Professor of Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan; Prof Natalia Stambulova, Professor in Sport & Exercise Psychology, School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Sweden; Prof Traci Statler, Assistant Professor of Sport Psychology, Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, USA; Prof Tatiana Ryba, Associate Professor of Sport Psychology, University of Aarhus, Denmark; Prof Athanasios Papaioannou, Professor of Sports Psychology, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Greece; Prof Sidonio Serpa (8th from right), President of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) and Professor of Sport Psychology & Coordinator of the Laboratory of Sport Psychology, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal; (1st from right) Prof Alexandre Garcia-Mas, Professor of Psychology of Physical Activity and Sports at the University of the Balearic Islands, Spain; Prof Hung Tsung-min, Professor, Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan; Prof Philomena Bola Ikulayo, Professor and Consultant, Faculty of Education, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Prof Abderrahim Baria, Vice President of the ISSP; Dr Antoinette Minniti, Principal Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Psychology, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, UK; and Prof Dieter Hackfort, Head of the Institute for Sport Science at the University AF Munich, Germany.
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With the approaching of the Olympic Games next year, the public interest on enhancing athletes' sporting performance grows and sport psychology definitely plays a crucial role. Sport psychology, in essence, helps improve not only athletes' performance, but also their mental strength in facing the adversity in sport and in life. In view of this, the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) organised The Joseph Lau Luen Hung Charitable Trust International Scientific Symposium (ISS) on 6-7 November 2011 with the theme of "Sport Psychology Application" . The ISS, held in conjunction with the 2011 International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) Managing Council Meeting, brought together 13 renowned experts from Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Japan, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK and USA to deliver invaluable presentations, which had attracted over 200 local and international sports scientists, sports administrators, coaches, athletes and sport psychology students. Dr Trisha Leahy, Chief Executive of the HKSI, extended a warm welcome to all the sport psychology experts coming from all over the world. "The ISS helps develop an evidence-based framework and focus for the future development and implementation of pioneering psychological methods that can be used separately or in combination to benefit elite athletes and coaches in the Asia-Pacific region. The HKSI is grateful to all the experts for sharing their experience with us," said Dr Leahy. Prof Sidonio Serpa, President of the International Society of Sport Psychology, was pleased to cooperate with the HKSI in co-organising the ISS. He said, "This event offers a great opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience among the experts participating in the ISS and learn from each other. The applied approach of the ISS helps athletes, coaches and psychologists that work in the field to use scientific knowledge to help sport actors to have a better psychological adaptation from training to competition." He added, "I wish that it can stimulate a fruitful interaction among all, and contribute to increase the efficiency of athletes' preparation systems since early ages to elite level." In the ISS, speakers shared their knowledge and expertise in applying psychology to support training and rehabilitation, enhance performance, and assist in talent identification and career transition. All speakers shared their insights in different topics, which were very inspiring and useful. The topics mainly covered three areas: 1. Athletes' consultation and mental training such as "Applied sport psychology in elite sports - an action theory approach", "Consulting on the run: applied sport psychology service provision for USA Track & Field" , "Mental skills in sports: instructions and practice" and "Emotions and movements under pressure" ; 2. Social sport psychology issues such as "Cohesion and cooperation in sportive teams" , "Coaching and relationship coach-athlete" and "Conceptual model for assistance in career transitions" ; 3. "Applying neurofeedback training for precision sports" . The presentations brought about enthusiastic discussion among speakers and participants. One of the participants, Taekwondo coach Susannah Lo who has been coaching young athletes for more than 30 years found the topics very inspiring and did provide new insights for her. Lo said, "When you have been serving the sport for such a long time, sometimes, you may be too focused on something and thus missed out the basics. The ISS reminds me to balance the training and support to athletes in every aspect." Another participant badminton coach Yiu Wai-man who joined the ISS for the first time echoed Lo's views. "Prof. Statler reminds coaches the importance of athletes' mental preparation for the whole environment, this refers not just the competition venue and your competitors, but also the auxiliary facilities (e.g. athletes village), which may have significant implication for the athletes. I found these suggestions very practical and useful," said coach Yiu. The annual ISS ended successfully followed by the 2011 ISSP Managing Council Meeting held between 8 and 9 November at the HKSI.
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