Gymnastics Psychology

Dr. Joe Massimo began his career in gymnastics in the 1950’s and has remained active in the sport as a competitor, judge, clinician, and coach to both men’s and women’s teams. After receiving his Doctorate from Harvard in Clinical and School Psychology, he was the first psychologist to be appointed to a United States National Coaching Staff. He has since been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs Sports Medicine Council and the USA Gymnastics Region VI as well as being appointed to the USA Gymnastics National Athlete Wellness Network as a Sport Psychologist. Dr. Massimo’s clinical work in psychology has been published in every major journal in the U.S. and has published articles and books about psychology and gymnastics for the past 30+ years. He has appeared on Boston’s WGBH and in the Boston Globe and continues to coach, lecture, host competitions and clinics for gymnasts, their parents, and coaches across the nation. Dr. Sue Massimo received her Doctorate from Boston University in Sport Psychology and Human Movement while conducting several research studies on the psychological attributes of young competitive gymnasts. She was a competitor, judge, clinician, and team coach for both women’s and men’s gymnastics as well as elite gymnasts. As an assistant to the Sports Medicine Council of the United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs working with the National Junior Elite Development Program, she served as a Sport Psychology Clinician providing psychological skills training to junior elite gymnasts as well as informative sessions for their parents and coaches. As a published author, her research and insightful articles have appeared in a variety of magazines, books, and journals.