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 Saint Lucia
Sport is a significant part of St. Lucian culture yet the most popular sports operate at an amateur level. A lack of funding and infrastructure alongside insufficiency in discipline and commitment means much of the high nationwide potential remains unfilled. The benefits to performance of mental strategies is still underutilised and misunderstood in the region, hence the assistance of dedicated interns, can change, enhance performance of some of the island’s top athletes.
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 National athletes and the region’s young developing talent. This is a great opportunity for self-motivated and adventurous individuals to gain unique experience in a competitive sports environment, whilst getting full support and guidance from our in-country team.
Your Sport Psychology Placement
The sports psychology placement is intended for people 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, to at least 2nd year level. You could even use your time in Saint Lucia to prepare a project or dissertation as part of your course. Because psychological analysis among sports teams on the island is a relatively undervalued concept, experts in the field are a rarity. Therefore you 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 St. Lucian sport, as psychology in a sports environment is relatively unused and misunderstood.
Your Sport Psychology Role
We have a number of links with National teams and domestic sports clubs in St. Lucia, hence we are able to place you in the environment that best suits you. This ranges from National netball and rugby players to up-and-coming young cricket and tennis players, 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 St. Lucia, you will have the opportunity to work closely with the national male and female rugby teams. This is a great opportunity to be an unrivalled asset to competing National teams and monitor the progress of their athletes. As teams aspire to professionalise and increase ranking, coaches will be receptive to any contributions you can make to training and preparation in their sport. You may 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 sports persons will develop into a strong and lasting bond.
In addition to your hands-on work with local athletes, you will also have the opportunity to discuss your ideas and methods with the local coaching staff, 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 Caribbean attitudes and cultural habits.
University Dissertations and Tailored Sport Psychology Placements in Saint Lucia
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 Saint Lucia 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.
Criminal Records Check
We require you to complete a criminal records check in order to take part in this experience. We can accept those that have been done in the last two years if you have the certificate. In the UK it can be done through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), in the USA further details can be found on Travel.State.Gov, otherwise please search for your local service provider. We may also request a reference from a reliable source. You must supply these to us before departure and also take a copy with you to present to the in-country team.
Why do we require a criminal background check?
1) Ensuring a safe environment is conducive to learning, productivity and overall positive experiences for everyone involved.
2) We implement thorough screening processes and we are committed to safety and integrity, fostering trust among participants and the local community.
3) Conducting background checks serves as a preventive measure, deterring individuals with questionable backgrounds from attempting to participate in our programme.
4) Safeguards vulnerable people from potential harm within the programme.
