Candidate statement for President-Elect: Jim Bauman, PhD

I have an undergraduate degree in pre-physical therapy, a master's degree in education, and a PhD in Psychology. I am a licensed psychologist in Washington and California.

I began my work, as a sport psychologist, in the Athletic Department at Washington State University (1989-1999). I worked with track and field athletes preparing for the  Barcelona and Atlanta Olympic Games. I also began working with the US Ski Team.

After 10 years at WSU, I accepted a position as a Senior Sport Psychologist with the US Olympic Committee (1999-2009). I worked directly with hundreds of athletes preparing for and competing at two Winter Olympic Games, three Summer Olympic Games, and multiple National Championships, Olympic Trials, World Cups, Pan American Games, World University Games, and World Championships From 2002 thru the present, I developed a working relationship with the Navy Special Warfare School (SEALs).

After 10 years with the USOC, I accepted a full-time sport psychologist position within the University of Washington's Intercollegiate Athletic Department. I have continued as the consulting sport psychologist for USA Swimming in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.

My professional work includes publications, television/radio appearances, presenting sport psychology workshops at national and international conferences, and teaching graduate coursework in sport psychology.

I have a unique blend of academic training and more than 20 years of providing applied sport and human performance services, on a full-time basis, over a full-range of athletes, sports, and levels of competition. To date, I have worked with more than 60 different sports.

Position Statement

Like Abraham Lincoln, my first "campaigns" were not successful, but persistence and a common sense message seem to be qualities that are respected by nearly all constituents' casting votes. So, in that spirit, I am requesting that you consider my persistentmessage and cast your vote accordingly.

My Message: Within Division 47, there is a significant membership representation at nearly every college/ university across our great nation. Yet, with that foothold in athletics, we have not taken advantage of that presence at the level that I think we can. Therefore, my focus, ifelected, would be twofold:

1. Continue to sup~ort the much needed initiatives of our past presiaents

2. Challenge and encourage our established members in creating more ap~lied sport psychology practicum, internship, and fellowship opportunities

As I initially explored the possibility of pursuing a career in sport psychology, I learned early on that the academic opportunities, practicum, internships, fellowships, and mentoring in sport psychology was either non-existent or difficult to obtain. Although mentors were around, finding a place to be mentored and a person to mentor me was a challenge. Now, as our field seems to be moving toward encouraging licensure as a psychologist with a concurrently strong understanding of sport science, opportunities to obtain supervised experience are becoming a necessity in our training.

I have been a full-time sport psychologist for more than 20 years. That experience has spanned ten years at Washington State University, ten years at the US Olympic Committee, and now two years at the University of Washington. I have developed an appreciation for the needs of athletes, coaches, and administrators from  youth sports thru the highest levels of competition. I havealso developed an appreciation for the needs of young professionals who need mentoring and supervision.

Since leaving the USOC and returning to a full-time sport psychology position in an intercollegiate athletic department, I receive regular requests from graduate students looking for applied sport psychology practicum, internships, and/or fellowship opportunities. All have remarked that they are struggling to find opportunities to gain more supervised experience.

The field has evolved over the years where we now have a multitude of exceptional applied sport psychologists in private practice, counseling centers, and athletic departments. Although the demand for qualified and experienced sport psychologists is growing, the opportunity for quality supervised experience continues to lag behind what is required to meet the needs of new practitioners in their professional development. In less than two years at the UW, I have already created a pre-doctoral practicum in the athletic department. That position provides me with an additional resource to deliver sport psychology services and it provides the young professional with an opportunity to gain supervised and applied experience in collegiate athletics. This can be easily duplicated.

It is time for us more senior members to respond to a problem that we have all faced in our own professional development. If you agree, I appreciate your vote!