The Establishment of Academic Sports Psychology (1966-1977)

This era saw physical education become an academic discipline, and sport psychology became a seperate comoponent of physical education, distinct from motor learning. Motor learning specialist focused on the development of motor skills and on conditions of practice, feedback and timing. On the other hand Sport psychologists studied how psychological factors such as personality, self-esteem, and anxiety influence motor skill performance.
1966: A group of sport psychologists met in Chicago to form the North American Society of Sport Psychology and Physical Activity (NASPSPA).
1966: Clinical psychologists Bruce Olgilvie and Thomas Tutko write Problem Athletes and How to Handle Them and begin to consult with athletes and teams.
1967: B. Cratty of UCLA writes Psychology of Physical Activity.
1967: First Annual North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) conference is held.
1974: Proceedings of NASPSPA conference are published for the first time.