Sports Psychology Internship in St Lucia, The Caribbean, Castries

This internship requires you to participate for a minimum of 4 weeks. We believe an 8 week position will give both you and the athletes a lot more value. We will also need a CV from you showing at least 2 years relevant experience (ideal for university students needing a placement experience after year two of their degree course).

Sports Psychology in Saint Lucia
Sport is a significant part of St. Lucian culture yet the most popular sports operate at an amateur level. A lack of funding and infrastructure alongside insufficiency in discipline and commitment means much of the high nationwide potential remains unfilled. The benefits to performance of mental strategies is still underutilised and misunderstood in the region, hence the assistance of dedicated interns, can change, enhance performance of some of the island’s top athletes.

This project is ideal for psychologists with a particular interest in sport as well as undergraduates working on university dissertation projects. You will be given an excellent platform from which to further your knowledge by working with National athletes and the region’s young developing talent. This is a great opportunity for self-motivated and adventurous individuals to gain unique experience in a competitive sports environment, whilst getting full support and guidance from our in-country team.

Your Sport Psychology Placement
The sports psychology placement is intended for people who already have an academic or professional grounding in the subject. This could be a qualification such as degree-level Sports Psychology, Sports Science or another related subject, to at least 2nd year level. You could even use your time in Saint Lucia to prepare a project or dissertation as part of your course. Because psychological analysis among sports teams on the island is a relatively undervalued concept, experts in the field are a rarity. Therefore you must be independent and self-motivated to make a mark on the profession as you will be required to work independently and will subsequently get out as much from the placement as you are willing to put in. Your contribution could prove to be a unique and immensely valuable one in the progression of St. Lucian sport, as psychology in a sports environment is relatively unused and misunderstood.

Your Sport Psychology Role
We have a number of links with National teams and domestic sports clubs in St. Lucia, hence we are able to place you in the environment that best suits you. This ranges from National netball and rugby players to up-and-coming young cricket and tennis players, and you are not limited to just one position, as you will have the option to rotate between a number of sports disciplines and environments. Participants in the sport psychology placement can let us know what they want to do before departure and a preliminary itinerary can be drawn up to cover these interests.

During your stay in St. Lucia, you will have the opportunity to work closely with the national male and female rugby teams. This is a great opportunity to be an unrivalled asset to competing National teams and monitor the progress of their athletes. As teams aspire to professionalise and increase ranking, coaches will be receptive to any contributions you can make to training and preparation in their sport. You may also be invited to run school classes on match-preparation and life-styling. You might want to deal with the whole team or, alternatively, work intensely with a small group of players. Either way, you will find that your relationship with these talented and ambitious sports persons will develop into a strong and lasting bond.

In addition to your hands-on work with local athletes, you will also have the opportunity to discuss your ideas and methods with the local coaching staff, who would be happy to share their experience with you. They will also be a valuable source of information in coming to understand the character of Caribbean attitudes and cultural habits.

University Dissertations and Tailored Sport Psychology Placements in Saint Lucia
If you are a student in a sports psychology, sports science or similar course and are able to use part of your studies to gain hands-on experience, we can make a programme that suits your needs. Furthermore, if you are already qualified, it is a perfect opportunity to gain the sought-after experience all professional employers look for. A sports psychology placement in Saint Lucia is the ideal opportunity to gain an insight into the role of sport in the community, as well as gain a greater cultural understanding of sports development in developing nations.

International Sports Psychology Development Programme
By joining one of our sports psychology internships abroad you may be selected to join our International Sports Psychology Development Programme. Its aim is to provide ongoing sustainable input for both athletes at a grassroots to professional level whilst ensuring our sports psychologists have relevant continuous professional development.

Executed through our partnership with practising and professional sports psychologists you will be provided resources, mentorship and a framework to deliver effective sports psychology across multiple areas. This combined effort helps serve an often overlooked or privileged area of sports development whilst building a community of professionals that can share and contribute in a positive way to help athletes reach their potential on and off the field.

From the below arrival dates please choose a trip with a range that means you are with us for an even amount of weeks. This helps us manage airport transfers and also helps with the management of the projects. For example, you could come for a 6 or 8 week trip but not a 5 or 7 week trip.

Start Dates 2023
10th Feb – 2 to 28 weeks
24th Feb – 2 to 26 weeks
10th Mar – 2 to 24 weeks
24th Mar – 2 to 22 weeks
7th Apr – 2 to 20 weeks
21st Apr – 2 to 18 weeks
5th May – 2 to 16 weeks
19th May – 2 to 14 weeks
2nd Jun – 2 to 12 weeks
16th Jun – 2 to 10 weeks
30th Jun – 2 to 8 weeks
14th Jul – 4 to 6 weeks
28th Jul – 4 weeks
11th Aug – 2 weeks

Start Dates 2024
2nd Feb – 2 to 30 weeks
16th Feb – 2 to 28 weeks
1st Mar – 2 to 26 weeks
15th Mar – 2 to 24 weeks
29th Mar – 2 to 22 weeks
12th Apr – 2 to 20 weeks
26th Apr – 2 to 18 weeks
10th May – 2 to 16 weeks
24th May – 2 to 14 weeks
7th Jun – 2 to 12 weeks
21st Jun – 2 to 10 weeks
5th Jul – 4 to 8 weeks
19th Jul – 4 to 6 weeks
2nd Aug – 4 weeks
16th Aug – 2 weeks

Note 1: Dates are subject to change.

Note 2: It is important that you arrive on published arrival dates to help with operational management and induction. In St Lucia this tends to be a Friday. There maybe an additional fee if you still require airport collection outside our normal times. Approx. GBP £60 each way for up to 4 passengers.

Visa
British Nationals will not require a visa to enter St Lucia for up to 90 days. If you are travelling over 42 days (6 weeks) then you will have to provide travel details on arrival, to clear customs. All the details of the process will be explained once you have booked your trip.

For visits longer than 90 days we will arrange extensions for you.

Equipment Donation for St Lucia
We are dedicated to sustainable development. This is why part of the fee you pay goes towards buying decent equipment for beneficiary organisations in St Lucia. You will often use this equipment during your project and it is always left with the community when you leave. In some cases, an equipment donation may not be appropriate so a financial contribution is made instead.

Social Life in St Lucia
While you are abroad to make a difference it is still important to enjoy yourself and unwind. St Lucia boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, white sands and blue seas! We will often spend the days on the beach before training, and will organise events such as bbq’s or beach games. There are also a number of bars and clubs off the main beach. Then there is the weekly street party in Gros Islet where the roads are closed, speakers are rolled out and people party under the stars.

Travel and Adventure in St Lucia
With this project you get an excursion to world famous Marigot Bay, home to the set of the Dr Doolitttle film. Included is your return transport and water taxis across the bay. You can relax on a private beach or take a short rainforest walk, or get a drink in some of the best bars and restaurants on the Island.

You will be encouraged to explore St Lucia during your free time so you can sample some of its breath-taking sights and meet some of the Caribbean’s friendliest people. The capital, Castries, is home to numerous markets selling a wonder of goods and comes alive when the cruise ships dock. For bars and clubs we recommend Rodney Bay, the home of the vast majority of the hotels. This is also home to the main shopping mall. There are also the famous Piton Mountains which are located in the south of the island and are well worth a visit. You can also climb them if you are feeling ambitious. There is also the Sulphur Springs the ‘World’s only drive in volcano’! The springs are formed from water running through a volcano, which heats the water while the sulphur turns the water black. You can bathe in the water, which is reputed to make you live forever. St Lucia is home to many rainforests which can be explored in a number of ways such as on bikes, quad bikes and zip lining!

Accommodation
Accommodation is based in a shared house with dorm-style rooms and all bed linen is provided. The accommodation is a large open plan guest house, only a few minutes walk from the beach, making it the perfect base for a Caribbean adventure! There’s a large kitchen, sitting room and WIFI is available. Each bedroom has a shower and toilet and there are also laundry facilities.

Food
Breakfast is included on a help yourself basis. Lunch and dinner can be prepared in groups or individually as there is a supermarket close by.

Airport Pick-Up
We will arrange transport from the airport on arrival in St Lucia so long as it falls on the start date. Any arrival times outside this will incur an additional charge.

Training
Full project induction and local orientation given on arrival.

Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Donation
Part of your fee maybe used to buy decent equipment for the project and community you work with. We also encourage you to bring any extra equipment that you are happy to give away but this will need to fall within your personal weight allowance with the airline you travel with.

Flights; Lunch or dinner, Travel insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Spending money; In-country personal travel; Soft drinks and alcohol; Extra activities not on itinerary.

You will be met on arrival. Full details will be provided once you have booked your trip with us.

Preferred Duration
8 weeks is a good amount of time to settle in, develop the relationships and get great value out of this sport psychology internship in The Caribbean.

Typical Hours
This will vary depending on weekly fixtures and sports events but as a guide use the following; Weekdays – Sessions will take place after school between 2:00pm – 4:30pm (subject to the school). Saturdays – Sessions will take place in the morning from 10:00am – 12:00pm. You are free to travel and explore the island during the days, or just spend it on one of the great golden sand beaches. There is also a street party in Gros Islet every Friday.

Pre-requisites
You need to have had at least 2 years at university or professional level in a relevant subject and we also require you to send a CV and cover letter to help with selection.

Ideal For
Sports Psychologists, Sports Science and Psychology Students, Professional Psychologists, Internship Opportunities, People wanting Work Experience, Sport Psychology Electives, Summer Placements, Those wanting relevant career development opportunities, those wanting access to sport networks

Suitable for ages 20 to 80

Most participants are between 20 and 25, so please be aware of this. We do welcome older people because of the value and experience they bring to the community.