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Apitzsch, E. and Schilling, G. (Eds.). (2003). Sport Psychology
in Europe: FEPSAC – An Organisational Platform and a Scientific
Meeting Point. Biel: FEPSAC.
This second book in the FEPSAC Monograph Series, is a truly remarkable
book that reflects a myriad of historic and scientific markers in
the development of Sport Psychology in Europe. Living in South Africa,
a country where Sport Psychology is still in its infant shoes, the
value of a book like this is immeasurable for me. I would recommend
this book to any aspiring Sport Psychologist as well as universities
and countries that want to establish Sport Psychology as a scientific
and professional service towards their own development in sport and
exercise science. It provides the reader with valuable background
information about the structuring of Sport Psychology in Europe. It
could almost serve as a benchmark for the structuring of Sport Psychology
in the developing regions of the world.
The approach to present historic and scientific information, interfaced
with personal reflections from previous FEPSAC Presidents on the past
and the future of Sport Psychology is refreshing. It captures the emotion
and pain as well as the triumphs and joy in the formation and structuring
of Sport Psychology in Europe. Although cultural, linguistic, political
pressures and war stand out as some of the major problems during its
history, the movement towards the development and structural unification
of Sport Psychology in Europe was reinforced by common goals set by
FEPSAC. Some of these include the development of new knowledge, establishing
a framework to present scientific work, constructing a common language
in Sport Psychology, presenting a European Masters in Exercise and Sport
Psychology, outlining possibilities for a career in Sport Psychology,
describing ethical norms and guidelines for Sport Psychologists and
others, are described clearly by the well known contributors in this
book.
The writers provide a rich source of information and where to get important
information on various themes associated with Sport Psychology. They
cover important landmarks in history, provide descriptions of current
events and focus their attention on the future. The argument to utilise
new developments in psychology like social construction and narrative
approaches in the future is enlightening in a context where social cognitive
approaches roamed for long. This book left me with excitement and interest
in the future of Sport Psychology. Get it and read it.
Leon van Niekerk Department of Psychology Rand Afrikaans University South Africa e-mail: lvn@lw.rau.ac.za Leon van Niekerk is lecturer in Sport Psychology and part-time in private practice ![]() http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-january2004.htm |