Sport Psychology in Film Collection

When the Game Stands Tall  is about a high school football team building a 151 game winning steak and what happens when they lose it. The team most unify as they recover from both the major loss they encountered and the loss of a former teammate. Released 2014; Runtime 115 minutes

42 tells the story of Jackie Robinson, who was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946, breaking Major League Baseball's infamous color barrier. Even though Robinson faced a great deal of racism, he remained professional, displayed remarkable character, and eventually won over his team and the fans, changing baseball forever. Released 2013; Runtime 128 minutes Concepts Race & Ethnicity Issues : The movie is about how Jackie Robinson was the first black MLB player, starting his first game in 1947. Motivation (Intrinsic) : Robinson loved to play baseball and was determined to prove himself worthy enough to play in the MLB. Leadership : In every bad situation Robinson was put in, he remained positive, supported his team, and always strove to do the right thing on and off the field; He set an example for everyone to follow. Team Cohesion : Initially his teammates were not accepting of him, but eventually realized they all had more things in common than they did differe...

The Hard Road is a documentary that focuses on a first year pro-cycling team in the United States. While all eight members come from different backgrounds, they fight for a common goal. The Hard Road allows the viewer to see what it's like in the lives of a professional cyclist, from the hardships to the successes. The team members come to know what effort, hard work and drive really are. Released 2004; Runtime 120 minutes Concepts Anxiety & Stress : One of the members talks about not being able to sleep and how much he worried and thought about the race. Career Issues : The documentary highlights how difficult it is to be a professional cyclist, which only pays $10,000 and requires people to either also work or be supported by someone else. Attention & Focus : When you're riding alone or with a team, a certain level of concentration must always be maintained, and one of the riders commented that the cyclist needs to think about a race intellectually , inst...

Lagaan is takes place during a dry year when the British commanding officer doubles the tax (lagaan) on the Indian villagers in the province he rules. The villagers resist, and the officer challenges them to a game of cricket. If the villagers win, the lagaan is canceled for three years, but if they lose, the tax is tripled. A Bollywood classic. Released 2001; Runtime 224 minutes Concepts Cultural Differences : Each team has different "playing" styles, different dress, different values, etc. all of which are obvious; the commanding officer's sister helps the villagers and learns about their traditions; the players must also deal with an "Untouchable" who wants to join the team Attention & Focus : During the match, a couple players become too psyched up and lose their concentration, causing them to get out Leadership : Bhuvan (the protagonist) must convince his fellow villagers the cricket match is a good idea and recruit people to play; Bhuvan is ...

Miracle  is about a coach, Herb Brooks, who embarks on a mission to assemble the perfect hockey team to beat the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games held in Lake Placid, New York. The team goes through some initial growing pains, but soon comes together to attempt the seemingly impossible task of beating the best hockey team in the world. Based on a true story. Released 2004; Runtime 135 minutes Concepts Commitment : Herb Brooks talks about commitment multiple times in the film, notably when he tells them they can't win on talent alone, that whoever doesn't give 100% won't make the team, and that they need to give more if they are going to beat the Soviets. Inspirational Moments : Prior to the semi-final game against the USSR, Coach Brooks gives the famous "Great moments...are born from great opportunity" speech. Leadership : Mike Eruzione shows his leadership when he tells Herb Brooks that he plays for the USA after they had been made to s...

Haley Graham, a former elite gymnast, is forced to enroll in a gymnastics academy after too many run-ins with the law. Haley is far from welcomed by her new teammates, who resent her for walking out on her Junior Olympics team a few years earlier. Stick It  is about her return and follows Haley's hardships and personal growth while at the academy. Released 2006; Runtime 103 minutes For more detailed information and reviews, please visit the  Internet Movie Database (IMDB)  or  Rotten Tomatoes . Most movies can be viewed or purchased through  Amazon ,  Netflix , and  Hulu , or from other online and local retailers. Concepts Confidence : When the girls have their first meet, Haley shows confidence in her teammates by telling them to throw harder skills because she knows they can do it; Haley also starts by practicing the hardest skills, rather than easing back into it. Eating Disorders : The coach doesn't let Haley finish her dinner and for...

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.

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

Rollerball  is about a futuristic sport that is brutal and violent. Released 1975; Runtime 125 minutes Remade 2002; Runtime 98 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.

Mystery, Alaska  is about a small town hockey team that is chosen to play an NHL team in a publicity stunt. Released 1999; Length 119 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.

Bring It On  is about Torrance, the new captain of a cheerleading squad, who must withstand the pressures of maintaining a championship-caliber cheer squad. The team goes through many trials, but in the end grow as individuals and as a team. Released 2000; Runtime 98 minutes Concepts Leadership : Torrance has to put her foot down in many disagreements with other members of the squad, such as adding a new person to the team even when others disagree. Team Cohesion : At the start of the movie, the team is negative and divided, but by the end they thrive as one together and overcome the many trials they face. Anxiety & Stress : Torrance finds out that the routines they learned in the past were stolen from another cheer squad, causing a great deal of distress.

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

The Sandlot  takes place in the summer of 1962 and follows Scotty Smalls after he moved to a new town with his mother and stepdad. Smalls must now find new friends and learn to play baseball so that he can keep up with the new lingo of this strange sport and fit in with his peers. Released 1993; Runtime 101 minutes Concepts Team Cohesion : This is one of the main themes of the movie, as you can see the cohesiveness of the group be disrupted by a new kid who doesn't know how to play baseball, and then built back up as Smalls is accepted into the group. Leadership : The best player on the team, Benny, takes on a leadership and mentorship role by helping Smalls and the others learn how to play baseballbetter; He also steps up to take on "The Beast."