Sport Psychology in Film Collection

     Untold: Malice at the Palace  recounts the infamous 2004 Pacers-Pistons brawl that spilled into the stands and led to players and fans fighting each other. The documentary includes extensive interviews with the players involved (namely Jermaine O'Neal, Metta World Peace [Ron Artest], and Stephen Jackson), plus Reggie Miller, Ben Wallace, Donnie Walsh (Pacers team president), police officers, a fan, and one of the referees, amongst others. The documentary follows the events preceding the brawl, the brawl itself, and the aftermath. Released 2021; Runtime 68 minutes Concepts Aggression & Violence : A hard foul leads to a brawl between the Pacers and Pistons, and just as it is wrapping up, one fan made it worse, which led to members of the Pacers jumping into the stands and attacking the fans. Mental Health Issues : Metta World Peace explains some of the mental health struggles he was having in the year or two leading up to the brawl, how he was trying to manag...

More Than a Game  follows high school star LeBron James and his talented teammates as they grow up and compete. They face many challenges along the way, including players being ineligible and growing media attention. This documentary focuses on their senior year and the last time they will ever play together. Released 2009; Runtime 105 minutes Concepts Confidence : The team is overconfident their junior year, thinking they can act however they want and still come out victorious, which does not happen. Goal Setting : At the start of the year, because this is their last time playing together, the team sets out to be national champions; They accomplish their goal because everyone makes sacrifices for the good of the team and their goal. Media : Because of their success, they were on a national stage, with come with lots of fans, but also a lot of detractors and people who wanted them to lose. Team Cohesion : The "Fab Five" had been playing together since middle...

Trophy Kids  follows families in four different sports (football, basketball, golf, tennis) who are pushing their kids to succeed. But what are the kids playing for: their own dreams, or someone else's dream? This documentary takes an honest look at how sport parents can go wrong. Released 2013; Runtime 107 minutes Concepts Parents & Family; Youth Sport : The entire documentary is about the state of youth sport and overbearing parents; Fascinating look at how well-intentioned people can push their children in counter-productive and negative ways. Motivation (Extrinsic) : Many of the parents talk about their children obtaining a scholarship, playing professionally, living up to their expectations, etc., but rarely is anything intrinsic cited as a reason for playing. Anxiety & Stress : It is clear that the kids are stressed out by the forceful and negative parenting.

Glory Road  is about the 1965-1966 Texas Western University basketball team as they fought against racism in college basketball by regularly playing seven black players, which was unheard of at the time. Released 2006; Runtime 118 minutes Concepts Anxiety & Stress : The team experienced anxiety over playing in places that did not want them there. Cultural Differences : The team had to fit into a culture where having so many black players on the team was unusual. Race & Ethnicity Issues : Many people in the community felt uncomfortable about seeing so many black players on the court, and some were even mad that the team was successful with a predominantly black lineup.

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals  is a documentary produced by HBO that chronicles the parallel careers of two of basketball's most well-known and beloved stars, Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird. From their humble beginnings to NBA championships to retirement, this documentary spans their rivalry, friendship, and relentless will to win. Released 2010; Runtime 85 minutes Concepts Race & Ethnicity Issues : There are many, many examples of race throughout the documentary: how desegregation affected Magic's high school career, racism towards white players, Bird being dubbed the "Great White Hope" because basketball was "too black," and their rivalry being played up as "black versus white." Economic Issues : Both players had humble beginnings, with Magic growing up in Lansing, Michigan, the son of poor working class parents, and Bird growing up in rural French Lick, Indiana, also the son of poor working class parents....

Coach Carter is based on a true story of an inner-city high school basketball team that only won four games the year previous to getting a new coach. Coach Carter changed the atmosphere of the team, teaching life lessons and changing the mindsets of his players into student-athletes. He prepares them for the future through a bumpy road to success. Released 2005; Runtime 136 minutes Concepts Commitment : Early on, Coach Carter explains to the team that they need to make a serious commitment by acting professionally, maintaining a tougher GPA than required, and sticking to a dress code; Commitment is not instant gratification, but a long term mindset to reach goals. Team Cohesion : Coach Carter gives a player an impossible task (complete 2,500 push-ups and 1,000 suicides) in order for him to rejoin the team, but the rest of the team bands together and helps him accomplish that. Sportsmanship : Coach Carter challenges his team to play with class and act like champions, rather...

Like Mike  is about an orphan kid who encounters magic shoes that turn him into a great basketball player. He then gets the opportunity to play for an NBA team and faces several ups and downs along the way. Released 2002; Runtime 99 minutes Concepts Confidence : When Calvin entered his first game, he was not confident at all and did not want the ball, but once he put on his MJ shoes he gained total confidence and won the game. Parents & Family : This happens when Calvin is adopted by a teammate and he now has a real father and family. Team Cohesion : This happens throughout the whole movie but is specifically noticed when the announcer talks about the team having had teamwork since Calvin has been on the team.

Space Jam  is about Michael Jordan and a team of Looney Tunes who must defeat aliens in a game of basketball to save the Earth. Released 1996; Runtime 88 minutes

Love and Basketball  is about two teenagers, a boy and a girl, who grow up together playing basketball and dealing with family problems. Released 2000; Runtime 124 minutes

Hoosiers  is about a basketball coach in a small town in Indiana where basketball is top priority and where the community feels they are part of the coaching staff. Released 1986; Runtime 114 minutes Concepts Coaching : His style of coaching was evident in the first practice when he did not use a ball, despite the players itching to use one. Later in the movie he played a game with only four players to make his point. Sports Fans : They tried to play a part in how he coached, what he should do, who he should play and even if he should be fired. Underdogs : They were always outnumbered, too short, not quick enough, and did not seem to have some of the facilities other teams they played had. Teamwork : The coach frequently talked about what they could accomplish if they played together and believed in each other. This was evident in the last game in the movie where he measured the court and showed that it was the same size as their home court; the size of a court never ch...

Eddie  is about a New York Knicks fan who thinks she can coach the team better than the current coach, and winds up with a chance to prove it. Released 1996; Runtime 100 minutes

Blue Chips  is about a basketball coach's ethical struggles to win.   Blue Chips  is also Shaq's first movie. Released 1994; Runtime 108 minutes

The Basketball Diaries  is the story of an athlete's downward spiral into drugs and crime. Released 1995; Runtime 102 minutes

Hoop Dreams  is a documentary that follows two high school basketball players as they pursue their dream to play in the NBA. Released 1994; Runtime 170 minutes