Master in Sport Psychology

• Learning processes in sports activity.
• Attention and motivation in physical and sports activity.
• Optimum level of activation and emotional management in sports practice.
• Self-confidence and self-concept in the athlete.
• Athlete's locus of control: between optimism and pessimism.
• The dark triad of performance personality: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.

• Sport, Health, and Psychology.
• Sport and physical activity in different contexts.
• Evaluation of the Behavioural and psychophysiological indicators involved in physical activity.
• Sport and physical activity with populations with special needs.
• Evaluation of the physical-sports condition of the people.
• Psychophysiology of physical activity and sport.

• Methodology and planning of the intervention design in sport psychology.
• Quantitative and qualitative instruments of evaluation in psychological intervention in sport.
• Psychological intervention techniques (definition of objectives, management of the optimal level of activation, attention, training in imagination and visualization, management of emotions and self-instructions).
• Multidisciplinary intervention in sport psychology.
• Differences in psychological intervention in individual and collective sports.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the interventions. Study cases.

• Basic psychological processes of base sport.
• Theoretical models of motivation in sports initiation.
• Psychological intervention with young athletes and the transition to professional sport.
• Psychological intervention with coaches and families of young athletes.
• Advice on the relationship between athletes, families, and sports technicians: the importance of education in values ​​in sport.
• Evaluation systems and counselling programs for athletes and grassroots sports coaches

• Psychological variables related to training, performance, and competition.
• Psychological preparation for the competition.
• Specific intervention in the different sports modalities. Emotional processes, anxiety, and coping strategies in high performance athletes.
• Psychology of sports coaches.
• Psychological intervention with referees and sports judges.

• Psychological effects of overtraining and substance abuse.
• Disabling psychological disorders and conflicts in athletes.
• Psychological implications of the prevention and recovery of sports injuries.
• Withdrawal from sports career.
• Psychological intervention strategies in sports withdrawal.
• Identity and vocational redefinition processes in sports retirement.

• Strategic planning of sports management: an approach from sports psychology.
• Psychological intervention with sports organizations and managers.
• Psychology in the management and direction of sports teams and youth academies.
• Group psychology in the design of sports coaching teams.
• Generalizability in decision-making and sports management.
• Management of leadership and motivation in sports entities.

• Introduction to the sector and contextualization of Esports.
• Evaluation and Psychological Intervention with an Esports team.
• Advice and Intervention with Esports coaches.
• Risks and Psychopathologies in Esports.
• Future lines of research.
• Application of sports psychology in non-sports areas.

This module allows students to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills acquired during the master’s program through case studies and practical exercises. It focuses on analyzing real-world scenarios, solving industry-related challenges, and simulating professional decision-making processes.

Design and develop a master’s Thesis. Said work can be of two modalities:

• Presentation, intervention, and evaluation of a practical case representative of the field in which the professional practices have been developed or some other field that is relevant to the student.
• Carry out a genuine research project based on specific and relevant objectives and following a design that involves data collection and analysis and evaluation.
• Research Methodology in Sports and Health Psychology
• Quantitative Research Methods
• Qualitative Research Methods

1. Design an individual or group intervention project in sport psychology.
2. Carry out the evaluation of the anamnesis of individual and team sportspersons using quantitative and qualitative tools.
3. Analyse and evaluate the socio-occupational situation of the sportsperson by means of quantitative and qualitative techniques, assessing the effect of these factors in the context of sports execution and performance.
4. Adapt intervention techniques and programmes, counselling and training in psychological skills, prevention and other psychological tools to the context of physical activity and sport.
5. Investigate and evaluate sports organisations and entities, their communication strategies and the structure and management style used.
6. Design and execute an evaluation plan of the impact of an intervention in sport psychology in the attention of the needs of sportspersons and their socio-occupational context, using data collection techniques and critical analysis of the information.
7. Determine the criteria for the evaluation of behavioural change after psychological intervention in the field of sport.
8. Drawing up technical reports with conclusions and recommendations based on the results of the psychological assessment carried out in the context of physical activity and sport.
9. Plan and use direct and indirect intervention strategies to enable athletes and teams to make decisions during sport practice.
10. Design virtual training and assessment environments through the use of information and communication technologies.
11. Design training programmes that improve the training needs of sports coaches and managers in communication skills, motivation and pedagogical and training strategies.
12. Design strategies to improve attention and concentration, control of emotions and motivation during physical exercise.Apply in a practical and integrative way the knowledge, skills and competences acquired in real cases related to sport psychology.

For the access to the Master's Degree/University Specialist/University Expert it is necessary to meet one of the following requirements:

• To be in possession of a University Degree.
• If applicable, accredit professional experience of at least 6 months that is directly related to the field of the degree.
• If applicable, accredit professional internships of CFGS that are directly related to the scope of the degree.

This program is specially designed for:

• Degree in Psychology and Sports Science or equivalent.
• Degree in Health Sciences or Education Sciences: To be reviewed by the academic and admissions departments.

Directors

• Susana De Los Reyes
  Area Director. Sociologist and ICF-certified PCC Coach. Accredited Coach in Relational Methodology by IR. Specialist in verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as systemic and team coaching. Expert in social relations and human resources. Writer and speaker.
• Jorge Zambrano
  Associate Director. Holds a degree in Psychology with specializations in Sports Psychology and Coaching, as well as Human Resources Management and Leadership. Currently works as a Sports Psychologist at an agency representing football players and coaches.
• Louise Barraud
  Associate Director. Holds a degree in Sports Sciences, specializing in Sports Psychology and Coaching, as well as Sports Training. Experienced in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of training programs tailored to the needs of athletes, as well as in coaching strategies and support during the transition out of professional sports.
• José María García
  Director of the HR Department at Real Madrid CF since 2007. Holds a degree in Psychology and has completed the Senior Business Management Program at IESE. Brings over 40 years of experience in People Management across the Banking, Consulting, and Sports sectors. Has served as a consultant in personnel evaluation and selection for institutions such as the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of Europe. (Pending club approval)

Our Teaching Staff

• Jorge Zambrano Borjabad
  Professor of Module 1
  Holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and specializes in Sports Psychology, Coaching, and HR Management and Leadership. Sports psychologist with experience in agencies representing football players and coaches. Former sailing coach in the United States and rugby player in first and second-division youth teams.
• María Salette Marentes
  Professor of Module 2
  Doctorate in Physical Culture Sciences. Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Valencia. Holds a degree in Psychology and a Master's in Sports Psychology and Physical Activity. Currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Barcelona. Specialist in quantitative research. Collaborator of the Advanced Research Group in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sports Psychology at the University of Valencia. Research focus: social psychology of physical activity, healthy behavior, and psychosocial well-being in high-performance sports.
• Pau Mas
  Professor of Module 3
  Holds a degree in Psychology. MSc in Sports Psychology and Physical Activity. Master’s in Self-Leadership and Group Management. Director of Personal Development at Kaptiva Sports Academy. Head of the Psychology Department at Bàsquet Girona Academy. Member of the international #Psychmapping community. Presenter at the FEPSAC Congress (2022, Padova) and FEPD Congress (2024, Barcelona). Lecturer at the University of Barcelona, Faculty of Psychology (2021–2023).
• Joel Guillén
  Professor of Module 3
  Graduate in Psychology. Master’s in Sport and Physical Activity Psychology. Member of the Sports Research Institute and the Lifestyle, Sport, and Health Research Team at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Member of the international #Psychmapping community. Psychologist for elite and youth development athletes. Coordinator at Kaptiva Sports Academy. University professor in undergraduate and master's programs, specializing in basic psychological processes and psychological intervention.
• Marta Soler González
  Professor of Module 4
  Psychologist specialized in sports and clinical psychology. Currently Head of the Sports Psychology Department at the Sports Medicine Unit of Clínica CEMTRO. Master's program professor at Alfonso X el Sabio University (UAX), Villanueva University, CES Cardenal Cisneros, and the Madrid Football Federation.
• Antoni Tello Portillo
  Professor of Modules 5 and 8
  Holds a degree in Psychology with a Master's in Sports Psychology and Physical Activity. Sports psychologist focusing on high-performance sports, skill development, and training across individual and team sports in both competitive and non-competitive contexts. Author of the sports psychology chapters in the book "Si nosaltres tenim la pilota, ells no poden marcar" (a soccer-focused book). Collaborates on projects using sports dynamics to enhance workplace culture in companies.
• Jana Vancakova
  Professor of Module 6
  Ph.D. in Health and Sports Psychology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology from Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic, and a degree in Recreology-Leisure Time Pedagogy. Advanced vocational training in Personal and Social Responsibility Implementation at the University of Barcelona. Trained in Gestalt Therapy at the Institut Integratiu in Barcelona. Research focuses on character strengths, resilience, play, leisure time, and imagination. Currently completing postgraduate studies in Integrative Bodywork at the National Institute for Physical Education in Catalonia. Gestalt therapist and sports psychologist.
• Joel Puente Fernández
  Professor of Module 7
  Has extensive experience in health, sports, and education. Currently, a Postgraduate Research Teaching Assistant at the University of Greenwich (London) in the Faculty of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. Personal trainer since 2014, specializing in strength training and working with populations with special needs. Holds a Master's in Sports Science Research, a Bachelor's in Physical Activity and Sports, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education.

Masterclass

• Juan Miguel Bernat
  Sports psychologist and civil engineer specializing in high-performance teams. Currently serves as the psychologist for the men's first team at Levante U.D. and leads the high-performance psychology department. Founder of the company NEW LEVEL, with experience working with coaches and athletes from teams such as Real Madrid, City Football Group, Villarreal, Real Sociedad, and Virtus Bologna.