ABSTRACT
Educational programmes in sport psychology should do more to expose learners to ideas from philosophy, including the subject of ontology. In western Europe, professional bodies dedicated to the study and provision of sport psychology services sprung up as early as 1965 in Italy, 1968 in Germany, and 1969 in Sweden. Sport psychologists should be encouraged to read and study more about their philosophy of practice, and be prepared to interrogate the philosophical basis of the theories and approaches in sport psychology. Without self-awareness and knowledge, sport psychologists are likely to feel unprepared and not qualified to discuss religious belief, and other sources of meaning which are associated with specific views about morality and what constitutes ethical behaviour. Appreciation of the type of activities that chaplains operating in professional sport undertake could help sport psychologists reflect more fully on their own roles.
