Exploring the value of reflective practice interventions in applied sport psychology: Case studies with an individual athlete and a team

Despite the reported value of reflective learning in the sport literature, the efficacy of reflective practice remains in doubt due to the paucity of applied examples of its value in practice. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to provide case study examples of reflective practice interventions delivered to an individual athlete and a team. The first case presents a reflective practice intervention designed to improve the self-efficacy of an elite, male cricketer. The second case outlines the utility of individual and shared written reflections, conducted by an international age grade rugby squad to construct and evaluate team goals. In both cases emphasis is placed on in-depth social validation procedures used to assess the detail of effectiveness post-intervention. The value of utilising reflective practice as an approach to intervening with athletes is discussed along with the practical implications of making reflection a more integral aspect of applied sport psychology practice.