BREAKING THE SILENCE, 2014 Breaking The Silence | Page 57

Dr. Eva Carneiro
M.Sc Sports Medicine
Team Doctor Chelsea F.C .
profession and many
athletes seek the services
of psychologists, trainers
and coaches who can help
them with the mental
aspects of sports training.
Elite athletes,
professionals and
Olympians all have
tremendous physical
skills. However, research
has shown that at these
levels, mental training
skills (focus, relaxation,
goal-setting and reducing
anxiety) are critical in
separating the winner
from the first runner-up.
More recently, recreational
athletes have come to
discover that the mental
training benefits them as
well. Motivation,
concentration and focus
are helpful for anyone
wanting to achieve a goal,
whether it is sports
related or not.
A psychologist is an
individual who has
completed graduate
training in the field of
psychology and is licensed
by a specific state. In
some countries,
individuals with a Master's
Degree can become
licensed psychologists
while in other countries, a
Doctorate Degree is
required. A sport
psychologist is a
psychologist with
expertise in pearformance
enhancement through the
use of psychological skills
training, issues that are
specific to the
psychological well-being
of athletes, working with
the organizations and
systems that are present
in sport settings and
social and developmental
factors that influence
sport participation competitive and
recreational athletes, on-
site and during travel.
Primary responsibilities
include counseling
individuals and groups on
daily nutrition for
performance and
health;translating the
latest scientific evidence
into practical sports
nutrition
recommendations;
tracking and documenting
outcomes of nutrition
services, serving as a food
and nutrition resource for
coaches, trainers, and
parents; providing sports
nutrition education for
health/wellness programs,
athletic teams, and
community groups; and
maintaining professional
competency and skills
required for professional
practice.
SPORTS DIETITIAN/ CERTIFIED ATHLETIC
NUTRITIONIST
Dietitians and
nutritionists are experts in
food and nutrition. They
advise people on what to
eat in order to lead a
healthy lifestyle or achieve
a specific health-related
goal. Sports dietitians and
nutritionists counsel
patients on nutrition
issues in relation to
athletic performance. The
Sports dietitian provides
individual and group/team
nutrition counseling and
education to enhance the
performance of TRAINER (CAT)
The Certified Athletic
Trainer is a highly
educated and skilled
professional specializing in
athletic health care. In
cooperation with
physicians and other allied
health personnel, the
athletic trainer functions
as an integral member of
the athletic health care
team in secondary
schools, colleges and
universities, sports
medicine clinics,
professional sports
programs and other
athletic health care
settings. Athletic trainers
specialize in preventing,
diagnosing, and treating
muscle and bone injuries
and illnesses.
Certified athletic trainers
have, at minimum, a
Bachelor's Degree, usually
in athletic training, health,
physical education or
exercise science. In
addition, athletic trainers
study human anatomy,
human physiology,
biomechanics, exercise
physiology, athletic
training, nutrition and
psychology/counseling.
Certified athletic trainers
also participate in
extensive clinical
affiliations with athletic
teams under appropriate
supervision.
Many athletic trainers
work in educational
settings, such as colleges
or universities. Others
work in physicians' offices
or for professional sports
teams.
HIGHEST PAID
Median pay (as of 2012
according to US beaureau of
Labor statistics)
Sports Physician/Surgeon:
$187,200 per year
Physical Therapist:
$79,860 per year
Sports Psychologist:
$69,280 per year
Sports Dietitian:
$55,240 per year
Certified Athletic Trainer:
$42,690 per year
AMSUL Digest 2014