Evaluating USOC Sport Psychology Consultant Effectiveness: A Philosophical and Practical Imperative at the Olympic Games

Abstract

Abstract This article describes the rationale, the process, and the tools used by the sport psychology staff of the United States Olympic Committee to evaluate our efforts as applied sport psychologists working with Olympic athletes and coaches. We discuss how we use a modified version of the Consultant Evaluation Form at the end of an Olympic cycle, and regular workshop evaluations, single-session evaluations, and peer consulting to document effectiveness, facilitate improvement, strive for excellence, and reinvigorate purpose and status within the organization. We end with reflections on our evaluation efforts and their benefits for our work and professional development. [Supplemental material is available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of the Journal of Sport Psychology in Action for the following free supplemental resources: the modified Consultant Evaluation Form—Athlete Version, the modified Consultant Evaluation Form—Coach Version, and The Sport Psychology Seminar Evaluation Form.] KEYWORDS: evaluationsport psychology effectivenessOlympic Games