#97 - Jacqui Louder The Sport Psychologist of the Collingwood Football Club
Channel: High Performance Content for AFL Staff & Athletes
Date: 2022-01-20

Jacqui Louder is the Sport psychologist of the Collingwood Football Club men’s & women’s program and Melbourne Storm. Prior to the pies, Jacqui was at the National Institute of Circus Arts and traveled on the National Dirt Bike and Road bike circuits with Motorcycling Australia, and North Melbourne FC, practicing out of Olympic Park.

Highlights from the episode:

00:09 Career path to become a sports psychologist
01:25 Tips for aspiring sports psychologists
02:37 How she built her rapport and soft skills with the athletes
03:31 Tips for an athlete who feels overwhelmed because of a mistake
04:38 How she resets a team that lost or won for the next game

To become a qualified sports psychologist, one can start with a sports science or science degree for the first few years of undergrad studies, followed by a graduate diploma or an honors year in psychology. After completing the fourth year, one must pursue a fifth and sixth year, either in a master's program or a PhD, to become a general psychologist. To specialize in sports psychology, one needs 18 months to two years of supervised work in the field after becoming a general psychologist. Building a career in sports psychology is competitive, and networking is a crucial asset. Embracing opportunities, attending conferences with sports psychology streams, and seeking out chances to work with teams are recommended. Establishing rapport with athletes involves active listening and showing genuine interest in their stories. It's important to work collaboratively with athletes, taking their input into consideration rather than relying solely on textbook knowledge.

Connect: https://www.instagram.com/jacquilouder/