President’s Message, February, 2020

Hard to believe that we are almost at the half way point to the 2021 ISSP Congress, in Taipei. The congress location will be an exciting one for the ISSP, as we return to Asia. Though much has been written in English from authors residing in North American, European and the Oceanic region, equal vibrancy is evident across Asia. Indeed, the ISSP Managing Council was graciously invited to the Asia South Pacific Association of Sport Psychology’s Annual Congress in Summer, 2018. There was strong evidence of the highest quality scholarship and practice at ASPASP, with both facets often bridged across most presentations. With this vibrancy from the East front and center in sport and exercise psychology, we eagerly await the Eastern hospitality of our hosts in Taipei and even wider engagement from Asia, culminating in the 2021 Congress.

Since Christmas, there have been a few new developments, essential to ISSP’s progress . One important development is the development of an ISSP YouTube Channel, which will go live within one week from today. The previous 2017 Congress Keynotes graciously permitted the ISSP to share their talks with our membership. These talks are now memorialized as part of ISSP and they are found within thee ISSP membership section of our website. Additionally, there will be publicly accessible talks, even for non-members, where they can now find Presidential addresses, such as mine from 2017, and the 2017 invitation from current 2021 Congress Chair, Dr. Yu-Kai Chang, to attend ISSP 2021. The opportunities afforded through the YouTube Channel will also expand into further virtual learning opportunities for people seeking ISSP Registry status, and then continuing education, beginning later this Autumn. This YouYube initiative is graciously being led by Dr. Daniel Gucciardi – it promises to be a tremendous membership benefit.

The ISSP Registry is also advancing very quickly behind the scenes. Through the leadership of Dr. Chris Harwood, most of the application guidelines are already developed for ISSP-R general and grandparenting routes. The ISSP-R Supervision Guidelines are also well in development, as is a discrete series of practical ethical guidelines that will be brought forth in relation to members who apply for and then gain ISSP-R status. These guidelines are being led by Dr. Brandonn Harris and Alessando Quartiroli, with consultation from accredited experts, worldwide. This Spring, these guidelines for ISSP-R application will be made available to you, so that application you are readily prepared for an Autumn launch and efficient submission process. The development of your application might consume some time, so begin to plan now and familiarize yourself with the guidelines as they become live within the next two months. Then begin to put together your application in the few months that follow and we will await eagerly.

The ISSP Think Tank was also a resounding success last year, hosted by the University of Southern Denmark and Team Denmark. Fortunate for those who attended the Think Tank focused on athlete mental health, that discussion will resume in 2019, hosted by the United States Olympic Committee this October (dates soon to be determined). During 2020, Brazil will also be seeking to host a form  of ISSP Think Tank, and they have requested it be focused on staffing mental health. The breadth of this meeting is yet to be determined, but details will be updated soon. Further Think Tank initiatives will also certainly bubble to the surface, with the engagement of our Managing Council, and if you envision an opportunity, you can also reach out to Dr. Kristoffer Henriksen and me to discuss any such ideas.

Finally, our ISSP committees continue to expand, as there is a lot to be done. ISSP members are welcomed to apply to join committees, such as those devoted to emerging countries projects. Please examine our organizational chart and see where you might be interested in engaging, then please correspond with the respective committee chair, with me copied. We welcome your engagement and thank those who have recently engaged. There is always place for enthusiastic members to join more regularly in ISSP activities. Engagement will also provide an important pathway to your (and (our) succession planning as a society.

Warmest wishes,

Robert Schinke, EdD, CRC
President of the International Society of Sport Psychology