Sport Psychology Essentials

Dave Collins, PhD, earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Surrey in 1990. He is currently the director of Grey Matters UK, a performance-focused company that offers applied consultancy services in sport, business, performing arts, and more. He is also a professor at Edinburgh University, an institution ranked in the world's top 20 by QS World University Rankings. Dr. Collins has written over 350 peer-reviewed publications and has authored or contributed to 80 books. His research interests include performer and coach development, expertise, and peak performance. As a practitioner, Dr. Collins has worked with more than 70 world-class athletes or Olympic medalists as well as professional athletic teams and performers. He is the director of the Rugby Coaches Association and is a fellow of the Society of Martial Arts, a fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), and an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society. Dr. Collins is a former Royal Marine and a fifth-degree dan in karate.

Andrew Cruickshank, PhD, earned a doctorate in sport psychology from the University of Central Lancashire in 2013. He has led or contributed to more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and book projects, all with direct relevance to elite performance. He is a former professional footballer who now works with Grey Matters UK as a senior performance psychologist. Within his applied activities, Dr. Cruickshank is currently working with performance directors, coaches, support staff, and athletes in international golf; Olympic, Paralympic, and national judo; and professional rugby. Previous consultancies have included work in a range of other elite-level sports, including soccer, cycling, motor sports, and hockey, as well as other performance domains, including business and policing. Dr. Cruickshank is also a qualified coach and an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society, and he supervises psychologists working toward professional accreditation.