Abstract
In 2003, self-compassion emerged in the general psychology literature; it has since exploded with research interest and attention by sport psychology trainees and faculty researchers. Self-compassion entails taking an adaptive approach to one's shortcomings, failures, and difficult experiences through self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Researchers have found that self-compassion has numerous benefits to sport performers, yet many athletes remain hesitant to embrace it. Given the growing popularity of self-compassion in sport research, critical questions must be asked, studied, and resolved to meaningfully advance the research area. Five faculty members, two postdoctoral fellows, and nine graduate student researchers working in the area of self-compassion have created superhero team-ups across five institutions to collaboratively address innovative topics about self-compassion in sport. The topics/questions covered by the duos, in 5-7 minutes each, include: Manly enough for self-compassion? (Ashley Kuchar University of Texas at Austin, Nathan Reis University of Saskatchewan [UofS]); TRAIN-EAT-MEDITATE-REPEAT (Jenna Gilchrist Pennsylvania State University, Olivia Chadwick UofS); Self-compassion...but at what age? (Leah Ferguson UofS, Autumn Nesdoly University of Alberta [UofA]); Duality of resilience (Eva Pila UofS, Kelsey Wright UofA); A stand for measurement (Amber Mosewich UofA, Margo Adam UofS); Sub-domains: A useful pursuit? (Tara-Leigh McHugh UofA, Abimbola Eke UofS); A sword of Damocles? (Catherine Sabiston University of Toronto, Danielle Cormier UofS); Self-compassion is coping (maybe) (Kent Kowalski UofS, Ben Sereda UofA). Leah Ferguson and Kent Kowalski will, respectively, introduce the symposium and respond to the topics covered prior to a 10-minute question and answer period with the audience and superhero panel.
