Dr. Roy David Samuel
Licensed Psychologist | Researcher | Lecturer
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
Since 2006, I have worked with athletes, coaches, referees, performers, and sport organizations, helping them navigate the psychological demands of high performance. My practice focuses on achieving excellence under pressure, decision-making, adaptation to change, career development, and psychological well-being.
Alongside my applied practice, I serve as Head of Sport Psychology at Medix, one of Israel's leading sports medicine and rehabilitation centers, and as Head of the Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Division in the Master's Program in Social Psychology at the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University.
Key Facts
My Philosophy
Why do people devote so much of their lives to sport?
From an evolutionary perspective, competitive sport appears paradoxical. Survival encourages us to conserve energy and resources, whereas sport often demands an extraordinary investment of time, effort, money, and emotional commitment – all while willingly exposing us to uncertainty, failure, disappointment, and physical discomfort.
Consider a football match: twenty-two players spend ninety minutes competing for possession of the ball, only to pass it to someone else moments later. From a purely survival-oriented perspective, it is a remarkably inefficient activity.
Yet sport represents one of humanity's greatest achievements.
It brings people together, creates meaning, cultivates values, inspires excellence, and provides a unique environment in which individuals continually discover and redefine the limits of their potential.
Through sport, we learn to pursue long-term goals, perform under pressure, sustain concentration, work collaboratively, adapt to changing circumstances, respond constructively to both success and failure, develop resilience, and keep moving forward when the path becomes challenging.
As Kobe Bryant famously said:"We want to use sports as the greatest metaphor for life."
I wholeheartedly embrace this perspective.
To me, sport is far more than competition—it is a microcosm of life itself.
This belief lies at the heart of my professional work. My goal is to help individuals realize their potential, navigate the inevitable challenges of high-performance environments, and build careers—and lives—characterized by excellence, resilience, balance, and meaning.
My Professional Approach
My work brings together applied psychological practice, scientific research, international training, and first-hand experience in competitive sport.
Effective consulting is about far more than enhancing performance. While helping individuals perform at their best is an important goal, lasting excellence is achieved when high performance is supported by personal growth, psychological well-being, and healthy development both within and beyond sport.
Accordingly, my work extends beyond confidence, motivation, decision-making, and performing under pressure. It also addresses identity development, interpersonal relationships, somatic concerns, personal values, meaning and purpose, and long-term career development. I believe these broader psychological processes are fundamental to sustained performance, resilience, and overall well-being.
My practice is grounded in the Scientist–Practitioner model, integrating contemporary scientific evidence with extensive applied experience. Every consultation is tailored to the unique goals, circumstances, and needs of the individual, team, or organization.
A Safe and Confidential Consulting Environment
The consulting process takes place in a professional, respectful, and non-judgmental environment founded on careful listening, mutual trust, and a genuine understanding of each client's unique needs, values, and personal circumstances.
All services are provided in accordance with the ethical principles of the psychology profession and the legal requirements governing confidentiality. Protecting clients' privacy is of the utmost importance, creating a safe and supportive environment where meaningful reflection, personal growth, and lasting development can take place.
Education and Professional Qualifications
A defining characteristic of my professional background is the integration of formal psychological training with advanced international education in sport psychology:
B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy — Tel Aviv University
M.Sc. in Sport Psychology — Liverpool John Moores University (UK)
Ph.D. in Sport Psychology — Florida State University (USA)
I have been a Licensed Psychologist through the Israeli Ministry of Health since 2006.
In addition, I am an ISSP Registered Practitioner, accredited by the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) and listed in its international registry of certified practitioners.
As an ISSP Registered Supervisor, I also provide professional supervision and mentoring to psychologists and practitioners working in sport, exercise, and performance psychology, in accordance with internationally recognized professional standards.
The combination of comprehensive psychological training, advanced education at internationally recognized universities, international professional accreditation, and nearly two decades of applied experience provides the foundation for my work with athletes, coaches, referees, performers, and sport organizations.
Professional Experience
Throughout my career, I have collaborated with many of Israel's leading sport organizations, including:
Beyond my work in Israel, I have consulted internationally with elite athletes, coaches, referees, and performers, supporting them in managing the psychological demands of high performance, career development, and major career transitions.
Athletes and coaches I have worked with have competed successfully at the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, and many other prestigious international competitions.
Who I Work With
Team Consulting
My work with sport teams is grounded in a systems approach, viewing the team as a dynamic network of relationships, roles, and psychological processes that shape both performance and well-being. The consulting process begins with a comprehensive needs assessment, which may include meetings with coaches, observations, interviews, and performance analysis, followed by the development of a tailored intervention plan.
Depending on the team's objectives and challenges, the process may include team workshops, individual player consultations, coach support, leadership development, communication and cohesion training, decision-making under pressure, and ongoing psychological support throughout the season. Every intervention is evidence-based and adapted to the team's unique culture, goals, and competitive environment.
Organizational Consulting
I work with sport organizations, governing bodies, clubs, academic institutions, and high-performance systems to strengthen both organizational effectiveness and sustainable performance. Drawing on a systems perspective, my consulting focuses on leadership, decision-making, organizational culture, collaboration, and long-term development.
Services may include organizational assessment, strategic planning, leadership development, staff education, program design, applied research, and the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based psychological services. I also develop, lead, and supervise large-scale sport psychology programs, including the recruitment, training, and professional supervision of practitioners.
Academic Supervision & Professional Mentoring
Alongside my applied work, I supervise graduate students and provide professional mentoring to psychologists and practitioners in sport, exercise, and performance psychology.
My supervision emphasizes research development, academic writing, professional decision-making, ethical practice, and the integration of scientific evidence with applied consulting. As an ISSP Registered Supervisor, I offer supervision that meets internationally recognized professional standards. Sessions are available both in person and online.
Lectures, Workshops & Professional Education
For more than two decades, I have delivered lectures, workshops, and professional education programs for athletes, coaches, referees, sport organizations, universities, healthcare professionals, military organizations, and corporate audiences in Israel and internationally.
Every program combines contemporary scientific evidence with extensive applied experience, real-world case studies, interactive learning, and practical tools that participants can apply immediately. Each lecture or workshop is carefully tailored to the audience's specific goals, background, and professional needs, ensuring both scientific rigor and practical relevance.
Academic Research and Teaching
Alongside my applied consulting, I am actively involved in research, university teaching, and the education of future professionals in sport psychology.
I serve as Head of the Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Division in the Master's Program in Social Psychology at the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University. My primary research interests include:
To date, I have authored more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and my work has received more than 1,700 citations in the international scientific literature.
In addition to my research, I serve as an editorial board member, reviewer, and former associate editor for several leading international journals in sport and performance psychology, contributing to the advancement of both research and professional practice in the field.
Beyond My Professional Career
My connection to sport began long before my academic and professional career. As a competitive judoka, I became an Israeli National Champion and represented Israel as a member of its national teams. I later qualified as a certified judo coach in both Israel and the United Kingdom. Earlier in my sporting journey, I also played competitive basketball in the youth system of Ramat Hasharon.
These experiences have given me a deep appreciation of the challenges athletes and coaches face throughout their careers. They continue to shape my professional perspective, complementing my scientific training with first-hand insight into the realities of high-performance sport.