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Applied sport consultants continue to offer intervention programs to athletes; however, research determining the efficacy of such programs has been lacking. This paper (a) briefly describes a season-long, multidimensional sport psychology intervention with a collegiate women’s gymnastics team, and (b) presents the results of the evaluation, examining the effectiveness of the program in reducing competitive state anxiety and increasing team cohesion, the two areas of evaluative focus. Results indicate that the intervention gymnasts had higher levels of social cohesion during the initial part of the competitive season than did control gymnasts. In addition, the intervention gymnasts reported decreases in cognitive and somatic levels from the end of the preseason through the middle of the competitive season. Findings are presented in relation to qualitative feedback provided by the coaches and gymnasts. Directions for future research and the intervention team’s evaluation of the program also are discussed.

From their own practices, the authors offer insight into potential ethical dilemmas that may frequently develop in an applied psychology setting in which sport psychology is also being practiced. Specific ethical situations offered for the reader's consideration include confidentiality with coaches, administration, parents, and athlete-clients; accountability in ethical billing practices and accurate diagnosing; identification of ethical boundaries in nontraditional practice settings (locker room, field, rink, etc.); and establishment of professional competence as it relates to professional practice and marketing.

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This article focuses on a sport psychologist's consulting experiences with Olympic athletes. As Olympic athletes progress through training and preparation each Olympic quadrennium, they are aware that a superior performance can make or break their athletic careers. In reality, Olympic success is not the life-or-death situation that some elite performers face, such as physicians or military personnel, but it certainly seems that way to those who have devoted their lives to athletic excellence. Because of the high stakes involved, the sport psychologists who assist the elite of the elite in coping with this competition face their own stress in performing under immense pressures. This article outlines the challenges, stressors, and mind-sets of athletes followed by the pressures faced by sport psychologists in the preparation for and competition at the Olympic Games. Best practices in providing sportpsychology services, such as the use of mindfulness, managing energy, and training with "What if?" scenarios ahead of time, are covered. The challenges of intervening in the height of performance pressure are addressed using examples during Olympic competition. The sport psychologist's own reactions to unexpected issues as well as choice points in intervening with teams are then discussed. Finally, maintaining perspective and self-care in this constant high-performance environment are examined.