During this period, the AASP International Relations Committee (IRC) was pleased to welcome two new members: Shaantanu Kulkarni from Canada/India and Yulia Tsarenko Carey from the United States, whose contributions are featured in this July Newsletter issue.

Another significant transition for the committee has been the change in IRC leadership. I am honored to step into the role of Chair following the outstanding leadership of Karen Lo from Hong Kong, whose work has reflected thoughtful, inclusive, and globally-connected leadership. Her commitment to strengthening international collaboration within AASP has created a strong foundation for the committee’s continued work.

Building on this spirit of connection and collaboration, this issue brings together a range of international perspectives, practitioner insights, podcast recommendations, and upcoming events from across the field of sport and performance psychology.

Our featured interview with Dr. David McHugh offers insight into the development of sport psychology in Ireland, the role of Gaelic games in creating community-based opportunities, and the importance of building a sustainable career in the field. His reflections remind us that sport psychology is shaped not only by formal training and accreditation, but also by local culture, identity, story, and connection.

We are also excited to feature Ian Reece from Barbados in our International Practitioner’s Corner. His interview provides a powerful perspective on performance psychology within Caribbean cricket and small-island sport contexts. Through his reflections on insecurity, communication, psychological safety, and ambiguity, Ian highlights how athletes’ performance challenges are often deeply connected to the environments in which they train, compete, and develop.

This issue also includes our International Podcast Corner, featuring conversations on grief, leadership, mental health, and elite performance. We also share upcoming international events from July to December 2026, offering opportunities for continued learning, connection, and global collaboration.
We also look forward to connecting with you all at the AASP Annual Conference in Minneapolis on October 21–24, 2026.

Enjoy the reading!

Barbora Kijasova, MA