2013 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 201-209
The main goal of sport psychology as a branch of applied psychology is to convey scientific knowledge to the practical or coaching fields related to exercise and sports. The present paper considers the most ideal ways that research can serve the practical field and how it can foster the leadership abilities of the coaches of the extracurricular sports activities in schools. We identify the ways coaches obtain practical knowledge and the problems existing there in. In addition, we discuss the necessity of a cooperative relationship between researchers and practitioners. Finally, a conceptual model that shows the ideal way that research can serve the practical field and the cooperative relationships between researchers and practitioners is presented.
In this model, it is shown that the following two aspects are possible positive outcomes of cooperative relationships between researchers and practitioners; 1) the generation of theoretical knowledge that matches the actual situation of the practical field, and 2) the obtainment of practical knowledge through evidence-based practices. The model further demonstrates that cooperation between researchers and practitioners leads to higher awareness in two areas. These two areas are as follows; 1) methodology derived from theoretical knowledge applied in the practical field, and 2) research subject derived from practical knowledge adopted into research. Therefore, building cooperative relationships between researchers and practitioners for generation of these two areas should be considered when searching for ideal ways that theoretical research can serve the practical field.
