Final answer:
Sport and exercise psychology faces the challenges of unqualified consulting by individuals, and a shortage of full-time positions for consulting with athletes, whereas university teaching spots are limited.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary challenges that the field of sport and exercise psychology will face in the future include unqualified individuals providing consulting services and the scarcity of full-time positions that involve directly consulting with athletes. Although there are opportunities for teaching at universities, the number of positions cannot accommodate all those interested.
While the path to becoming a qualified sport psychologist often involves obtaining advanced degrees like a PhD, and participating in postdoctoral training, the availability of full-time academic and applied positions remains limited. Clinical psychology roles may expand as the understanding of the connection between mental health and physical activity grows, but challenges in regards to appropriate qualifications and job opportunities are significant for those in sport and exercise psychology.
Aspiring professionals may need to look towards diverse career paths beyond just consulting, including healthcare, academic research, or industrial applications.