Sport Psychology in Film Collection

      In April 2001, Australia and American Samoa met in a qualifying match for the World Cup, which Australia won 31-0 in the most lopsided match in World Cup history. Next Goal Wins picks up 10 years later, when Thomas Rongen is essentially forced to take over coaching the team. Their only goal is for them to score a goal, which hadn't happened since the 31-0 rout. In only a few weeks, Rongen must adjust himself to the culture while preparing the team for their upcoming matches. Released 2023; Runtime 104 minutes Concepts Cultural Differences : Rongen must quickly adjust to life on the island -  but their slow speed limits, religiosity, and laid back approach to life are difficult for him to understand. Sexuality : One of the most prominent characters and captain of the team is Jaiyah , who became the first openly trans woman to compete in a World Cup match. Her non-binary status is initially not accepted by Rongen, but he eventually comes to understand. There ...

The Rookie  is about Jim Morris, who pitched in the minors, but after injuring his arm and having multiple surgeries, he became a science teacher and baseball coach in a Texas high school. After a bet with his team he found himself at an MLB tryout and at 35 years old attempts a childhood dream. Released 2002; Runtime 127 minutes Concepts Coaching : Jim Morris is a high school coach, so there are several examples of him coaching throughout the movie. Confidence : Jim pitches batting practice to the team, and once they start hitting off him, they have the confidence to hit any pitcher they face. Pursuing Your Dream : His childhood dream was to pitch in the MLB, which is the dream he is now chasing again. Injury : He was drafted young, but after injuring his arm, he had to give up his pitching career and his chance at making it in the big leagues. Motivation (Extrinsic) : The bet between Jim and his team give the team extra motivation to win the championship, whil...

True Blue  (also known as Miracle at Oxford ) is about the Oxford rowing team's rivalry with Cambridge. After a tough loss, the team argues over how to band together to come back and win again. Released 1996; Runtime 115 minutes

Invictus  is the real story about the South African rugby team who became champions in 1995, when the Rugby World Cup was held in their own country. Good history about coaching, leadership, and how sports united the whole country, which was suffering from racial and political tensions. Released 2009; Runtime 134 minutes Concepts Team Cohesion : Despite their differences, the team comes together and wins for something greater than themselves; This is evident in the final game against their rival New Zealand. Leadership : The position that the captain assumes in the field and how he becomes the main worker within the team. Pursuing Your Dream : The influence of Nelson Mandela in the training and conversations with the captain / players; Fighting through the disbelief of others.

Wildcats  is about a white middle-class woman, the daughter of a legendary football player, who dreams of becoming a football coach. However, she is assigned to coach a black inner-city football team, presenting numerous difficulties. Released 1986; Runtime 106 minutes

Slap Shot  is about a failing hockey team that is losing money. To drum up fan interest, the team signs the Hanson brothers, who constantly fight and engage in violence. Released 1977; Runtime 123 minutes

Searching for Bobby Fischer  is about a young chess  prodigy  who struggles with the pressures of competition. Released 1993; Runtime 109 minutes

The Replacements  is loosely based on the 1987 NFL players' strike, which lasted for four weeks. A formerly retired coach must harness a ragtag group of replacement players to go on a winning streak and make the playoffs. Released 2000; Runtime 118 minutes Concepts Coaching : Coach McGinty has to teach the replacement players the fundamentals of how to play and compete at the professional level. Pursuing Your Dream : Each replacement player in the movie has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play professional football. Team Cohesion : The replacement players need to learn how to work together in order to win. Leadership : Shane Falco, the quarterback, exorcises his past mistakes and learns what it takes to be counted on.

Remember the Titans  is based on the true story of a high school desegregating, meaning that the school and football team now contain both white and black students. Coach Boone, the team's first African-American coach, must unite a high school football team, share a common goal, and show that anything is possible. Released 2000; Runtime 113 minutes Concepts Coaching : The differences between the two coaches was evident; Coach Yoast was easier on the black players, while Coach Boone was tougher but fairer on all the players; Coaches showed everyone that they can become a family. Commitment : The two coaches had to stick by each other, even while other forces were pulling them apart; The players needed to make academics a greater priority so they could play. Team Cohesion : Worked through their differences during training camp. Cultural Differences; Race & Ethnicity Issues : The setting is after two schools are desegregated and integrated; Racism was still commonplace...

The Mighty Ducks  is about a lawyer who serves out his community service by coaching a peewee hockey team, bringing the team together, and reversing their dismal fortunes. Released 1992; Runtime 100 minutes

Major League  is a goofy comedy about a team of misfits who win despite the odds being stacked against them. Released 1989; Runtime 107 minutes

The Longest Yard  is about former popular professional quarterback Paul Crewe who is sent to prison. He decides to create a makeshift team of inmates to face off against a team of prison guards in a game of football. Released 1974; Runtime 121 minutes Remade 2005; Runtime 113 minutes Concepts for 2005 release Aggression & Violence : Both the inmate and guard teams are extremely aggressive towards each other when playing. Coaching : Paul coaches the inmates despite many of them not knowing much about football. Motivation (Extrinsic) : Paul uses a variety of tactics to motivate his team, but none is more motivating then the mean prison warden. Substance Abuse : A major alcohol problem at the beginning of the movie was the reason the quarterback was imprisoned. Team Cohesion : The inmates helped each other in many ways to pull off the win against the prison guards. Underdogs : The inmates' football team is clearly the underdog in the movie;...

Little Giants  is about a nerdy coach who assembles a football team to play the city champions. Released 1994; Runtime 107 minutes

A League of Their Own  is the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League  in the 1940s. The movie follows two sisters as they travel from Oregon to Chicago and learn about themselves and build life-long relationships with their teammates. Released 1992; Runtime 128 minutes Concepts Team Cohesion : The team creates and sings an anthem in honor of their experience as professional baseball players, showing the unison and harmony the players developed through their teamwork. Confidence : Kit experiences a blow to her confidence when the scout remarks that he wants Dottie, but not her, because Dottie was having a lot more success. Leadership : Dottie takes on a leadership role on the team and tries to be a good role model, for example, by offering their manager a soda instead of his flask to help him control his reliance on alcohol.

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

The Bad News Bears  is about a little league team of misfits and their cranky coach. Released 1976; Runtime 102 minutes Remade 2005; Runtime 113 minutes

Any Given Sunday  depicts the pressures and violence of modern day American football. Released 1999; Runtime 150 minutes