This internship requires you to participate for a minimum of 4 weeks. We believe an 8 week position will give both you and the athletes a lot more value. We will also need a CV from you showing at least 2 years relevant experience (ideal for university students needing a placement experience after year two of their degree course).
Sports Psychology in Ghana
Although sub-Saharan Africa is renowned for its sporting passion and its raw-talent is recognised worldwide, African nations are often hindered in their development by a lack of funding and a lack of focus. Discipline and commitment are often not sufficiently high to fulfil the phenomenal potential that regularly lies dormant in the disadvantaged communities. Goal-setting and mental preparation are ideas that are as yet unexplored and regularly results in early ambition fading into indifference. However, with the assistance of dedicated volunteers, things can change, with your role is to convert constructive criticism into sporting success.
This project is ideal for psychologists with a particular interest in sport as well as undergraduates working on university dissertation projects. You will be given an excellent platform from which to further your knowledge by working with top-level sportspeople or young African talent. This is a great opportunity for self-motivated and adventurous individuals to work in a niche area of sports development.
Your Sport Psychology Placement
The sports psychology placement is intended for volunteers who already have an academic or professional grounding in the subject. This could be a qualification such as degree-level Sports Psychology, Sports Science or another related subject. You could even use your time in Ghana to prepare a project or dissertation as part of your studies. Because psychological analysis in Ghanaian sport is a relatively new concept, experts in the field are a rarity, therefore volunteers must be independent and self-motivated to make a mark on the profession as you will be required to work independently and will subsequently get out as much from the placement as you are willing to put in. Your contribution could prove to be a unique and immensely valuable one in the progression of Ghanaian sport, as psychology in a sports environment is relatively un-heard of and misunderstood.
Your Sport Psychology Role
With the variety of sporting links we have throughout Ghana, you can be placed in the environment that best suits you. This ranges from Premier League football clubs to small local basketball teams and youth tennis clinics, and you are not limited to just one position, as you will have the option to rotate between a number of sports disciplines and environments. Participants in the sport psychology placement can let us know what they want to do before departure and a preliminary itinerary can be drawn up to cover these interests.
During your stay in Ghana, you will have the opportunity to work closely with a local football academy. This will give you the opportunity monitor the attitudes and progress of the academy players. As many aspire to be professional players in the future, they will be very receptive to any contributions you can make to their self-confidence, motivation and general understanding of the game. You will also be invited to run school classes on match-preparation and life-styling. You might want to deal with the whole team or, alternatively, work intensely with a small group of players. Either way, you will find that your relationship with these talented and ambitious boys will develop into a strong and lasting bond.
In addition to your exposure to the some top youth players, you will also have the opportunity to discuss your ideas and methods with the resident coaches, who would be happy to share their experience with you. They will also be a valuable source of information in coming to understand the character of African attitudes and cultural habits.
University Dissertations and Tailored Sport Psychology Placements in Ghana
If you are a student in a sports psychology, sports science or similar course and are able to use part of your studies to gain hands-on experience, we can make a programme that suits your needs. Furthermore, if you are already qualified, it is a perfect opportunity to gain the sought-after experience all professional employers look for. A sports psychology placement in Ghana is the ideal opportunity to gain an insight into the role of sport in the community, as well as gain a greater cultural understanding of sports development in developing nations.
International Sports Psychology Development Programme
By joining one of our sports psychology internships abroad you may be selected to join our International Sports Psychology Development Programme. Its aim is to provide ongoing sustainable input for both athletes at a grassroots to professional level whilst ensuring our sports psychologists have relevant continuous professional development.
Executed through our partnership with practising and professional sports psychologists you will be provided resources, mentorship and a framework to deliver effective sports psychology across multiple areas. This combined effort helps serve an often overlooked or privileged area of sports development whilst building a community of professionals that can share and contribute in a positive way to help athletes reach their potential on and off the field.
