Psychological Excellence for Elite Performance (PE4EP)

The organisation and provision of mental support has become a significant factor in the development and performance of talented, elite and Olympic athletes and teams. Psychological factors play a significant role in many aspects of elite-level competitive sport such as in the detection, selection, development and retention of talented athletes and players; combining elite sport with school or an academic career; quality and efficiency of training; competition and tournament preparation; making the junior-senior transition; team cohesion, teamwork and leadership; injury prevention, recovery and rehabilitation; coaching and coach-athlete/team communication; coping with anxiety, stress and unexpected situations; developing and using mental skills; overtraining and burnout; lifestyle and performance management; the ‘dual career’; eating disorders or substance abuse; or in developing a successful post-athletic career.

During the past years, elite coaches have not only become more and more knowledgeable about the influence of psychological factors in elite and Olympic sport, they also have been using mental techniques and strategies and/or have been working with sport psychology support providers and mental coaches to optimize the mental support for and performance of their athletes and teams.

Sport psychologists and mental coaches from around Europe have clearly contributed to initiating and supporting this active interest of elite coaches, athletes and teams for the role of psychological factors as well as for the provision of support services at elite and Olympic level. This importance is reflected in the active involvement of sport psychologists and mental coaches in working with elite coaches, athletes and teams on a day-to-day basis, as well as in the growing on-site support provided at major international competitions and tournaments at European and World level such as European and World Championships, Grand Slams, and Olympic Games. Furthermore, elite coaches, sport psychologists and mental coaches know that psychological support in elite sport needs to be situated within a holistic approach in view of performance development.

Now three centres of excellence in elite sport and performance in Europe have joined forces and combined their expertise on sport psychology/mental support service provision in elite and Olympic sport in the unique and expert-level continued professional development programme Psychological Excellence for Elite Performance (PE4EP).