Aspectos da prática e da relação entre a Psicologia do Esporte e o Esporte para Desenvolvimento

Abstract

Sport Psychology (SP) aims to study and comprehend behaviours and relationships between subjects and sports and physical activities. Thenceforth, the scientific knowledge is applied in order to improve professional sports’ efficiency, quality of life and, also, individual and social development. SP recognizes that sports are often seen for its ability to entertain, however, it has also tried to value its social, economic and political aspects. Thereto, Social Psychology of Sports, that sees the social aspects of sports, has increased its presence in the area. Likewise, the concept of Sports for Development can be understood as sports’ capacity to facilitate change and development on several social segments, considering its extension. The relationship between Sport Psychology and Sport for Development is not frequently spoken of academically; therefore, the present qualitative research was set to analyse the integration of these issues and how it is practiced. For this purpose, interviews with Sport Psychologists, who work on sports institutions with social focus, and with spokesperson of these institutions, were made. These were selected through REMS – Sport Network for Social Change; initially, 149 institutions were invited to participate, however, only 9 institutions actually accepted and did the interviews, considering the difficulty in reaching them due to the pandemic too; as well as the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data analysis happened through the Bardin’s Analysis of Content, in which a categorial analysis gathered in groups the themes discovered through the questions made. It was obtained and analysed as results the categories referring to the Sport Psychology Practice on Sport Institutions with social focus; it was identified the Benefits, Challenges and Difficulties of the area and described the main sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. It was concluded that the presence of Sport Psychologist in Sport Institutions with social focus is extremely relevant, for they promote critical and necessary reflections, in addition to facilitate the connection between sports practice to the human development aimed.