NASPSPA

North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity

NASPSPA

North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity

2026 NASPSPA Award Winners

NASPSPA gives awards to scholars in recognition of contributions to research areas represented within NASPSPA and in recognition of significant contributions to the development and growth of NASPSPA. NASPSPA also provides awards to students in recognition of meritorious research, to support proposed research, and to encourage international research experiences. Please see the NASPSPA policy manual to view purpose, eligibility, nature, method of selection, criteria for selection, and additional guidelines for each award.

Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis
Dr. Kathleen Martin GinisDistinguished Scholar Award
University of British Columbia
Dr. Eva Pila
Dr. Eva PilaEarly Career Distinguished Scholar Award
Western University

2026 Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology Awards

Emily Postlethwait, Alexa Villarreal, Maslyn Behler, Brynn Hudgins, Eryn Murray, Jessica Dollar, and Jaclyn Maher
Emily Postlethwait, Alexa Villarreal, Maslyn Behler, Brynn Hudgins, Eryn Murray, Jessica Dollar, and Jaclyn MaherExcellence in Research Award
“Daily Associations Between Social Support, the Built Environment, and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls” https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0177
Dr. Leah Ferguson
Dr. Leah Ferguson Excellence in Reviewing Award
University of Saskatchewan

2026 Journal of Motor Learning and Development Awards

Natalie Lander, Tao Zhou, Anna Timperio, Lisa Barnett, and Yuxin Zhang
Natalie Lander, Tao Zhou, Anna Timperio, Lisa Barnett, and Yuxin ZhangExcellence in Research Award
“Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Automate Motor Competence Assessment”
https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2025-0002
Issca Esteven
Issca EstevenExcellence in Reviewing Award
University of Valencia

2026 Outstanding Student Paper Awards

Lolo Charbonnier
Lolo CharbonnierOutstanding Student Paper Award (MLC)
“Effect of Spatial and Temporal Error Tolerance Modulation in Haptic Guidance on Motor Learning”
Carolin Wickemeyer
Carolin Wickemeyer Outstanding Student Paper Award (SEP)
“Strategic adaptations to deceptive actions in sports: The anticipation-response-inhibition-accuracy trade-off”
Kelsey Sick
Kelsey SickOutstanding Student Paper Award (SEP)
“Rethinking the physical self: A dynamic systems perspective”

2026 Graduate Student Research Grants

Xuan Lin, University of Illinois

Jin Kuang, University of Illinois

Dimitri Brandon, University of Tennessee

Emily Jakob, Purdue University

Megan McKenzie, University of Tennessee

Chad Wessinger, University of North Carolina Greensboro

Jonathon Bourque, Rutgers University

2026 Graduate Student International Travel Grants

Jost Hausendorf, University of British Columbia

Kayleigh Hart, University of Tennessee

Ozgur Altintas, University of South Carolina

Official Journals

The Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (JSEP) is an official journal and the Journal of Motor Learning and Development (JMLD) an affiliated journal of NASPSPA. We encourage members to consider submitting their best work to these journals. Click on the flip boxes below to access these journals for free.

JSEP

JSEP is a bimonthly peer-reviewed publication that stimulates and communicates research theory in all areas of sport and exercise psychology with an emphasis on advancing our understanding of human behavior as it relates to sport and exercise. Founded in 1979, JSEP’s current Impact Factor is 2.4 and CiteScore is 3.2. JSEP also publishes the NASPSPA Conference abstracts. There are no charges to submit or publish in JSEP; however, open- (CC BY) or free-access publication is available for a fee. NASPSPA members whose work is accepted for publication in the journal receive a 50% discount on free-access publication fees.

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JMLD

JMLD is a triannual peer-reviewed publication that advances the understanding of movement skill acquisition and expression across the lifespan. JMLD provides a platform for theoretical, translational, applied, and innovative research related to factors that influence the learning or relearning of skills in individuals with various movement-relevant abilities and disabilities. Founded in 2013, JMLD’s current Impact Factor is 1.3 and CiteScore is 2.1. There are no charges to submit or publish in JMLD; however, open- (CC BY) or free-access publication is available for a fee. NASPSPA members whose work is accepted for publication in the journal receive a 50% discount on free-access publication fees.

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