A sport psychology center will be established in fall 2002, designed to allow graduate students' interaction with athletes from Ball State and surrounding communities.
According to Jeff Pauline, assistant professor of physical education, the center will allow graduate students to consult with athletes to enhance their performances through psychological skills training.
Pauline said the center will teach athletes from Ball State and surrounding senior and junior high schools about healing and relaxation techniques and concentration building.
The graduate students, in return, will receive work experience.
"It will be a great tie to the community," Pauline said. "Everyone can benefit from these skills. The things we do in sport psychology aren't just geared toward elite athletes."
Pauline said no one has enrolled yet, however it might take a year to establish a good clientele.
Pauline said he hopes the center will branch out to surrounding universities, such as Anderson and Taylor, within the next few years.
"Slowly but surely, as our community grows, we will be able to reach farther communities," he said. "That's our master plan."
Aside from advising local athletes, the center will provide a place where graduate students can research issues concerning sport psychology.
According to the center's project description, research topics will include psychological factors affecting performance, injury rehabilitation, eating disorders, substance abuse within athletics, youth sport participation and exercise adherence.
The center will be housed on the third floor of the Human Performance building in the School of Physical Education. It will consist of one large room with computers, desk space and a consulting area for athletes.
Pauline said the center wants to establish a Web site to provide distance consulting for teams on the road. He said if the team members were having problems, they could consult the center via e-mail.
Purdue University has a similar program in the Sport and Health Psychology Laboratory. Indiana University, however, does not have any such center for graduate students.
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