In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Petah Gibbs offers a critical perspective on the use of psychological testing and mental skills training in youth sport. Drawing from his clinical and sport psychology experience, he warns against the growing trend of treating children’s sport like professional sport, particularly through premature psychometric assessments like the Athlete Apperception Test (AAT). While these tools can be powerful in the hands of trained clinicians, Gibbs argues they should never be used to fast-track children into performance optimization pipelines driven by commercial or parental pressures. Instead, sport in childhood should remain a space for play, social development, and emotional learning—without the weight of adult expectations.

Dr. Gibbs also reflects on the sensitive application of projective tools like the AAT with younger populations. He emphasizes their true value lies not in diagnosis or performance enhancement, but in creating space for meaningful conversation—especially with children who struggle to engage verbally. The discussion touches on ethical practice, the risks of amateur misuse, and the importance of clinical supervision when working with emotionally vulnerable young athletes. Most poignantly, he underlines the deep integration between sport and life: challenges on the field are rarely isolated, and any responsible psychological intervention must take into account the full human experience of the child—not just their performance.

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Sincerely,

Mathias Alberton

Founder CEO at Martial Attitude C.I.C.

BPS trainee Sport Psychologist

MSc in Applied Sport Psychology at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London, UK.