Job Description

Sports Psychologist - Hatsun Chess Academy (Thiruthangal Campus)

Location:

Thiruthangal, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu

Reports to:

Head Coach

Type:

Full-time, Residential preferred

Start Date:

Immediate / Rolling basis

About Hatsun Chess Academy

Hatsun Chess Academy (HCA) is India's first residential chess academy dedicated to building future world champions through a scientific, holistic, and value-driven approach. Our training model combines

technical chess excellence

,

psychological conditioning

,

physical fitness

, and

character development

.

We are seeking a

Sports Psychologist

who can work closely with our students (ages 8-20), coaches, and support staff to develop the

mental and emotional foundations

that sustain high-performance chess -- focus, resilience, confidence, and composure under pressure.

Key Responsibilities

1. Psychological Assessment & Profiling

Conduct baseline and ongoing psychological assessments of each student. Create individual "mental profiles" to track concentration, emotional regulation, motivation, and competitive temperament. Work with the assessment and coach tools teams to integrate psychological data into player dashboards.

2. Mental Skills Training

Design and deliver group and individual sessions on focus, visualization, goal-setting, confidence, stress management, and recovery. Build structured mental warm-up and cool-down routines for tournaments and training days. Teach practical techniques (breathing, mindfulness, self-talk) for in-game composure.

3. Competition & Performance Support

Prepare players mentally for tournaments -- including visualization routines, pre-game mindset sessions, and coping plans for losses. Be available for player debriefs during and after competitions to manage nerves, tilt, or burnout. Coordinate with the analytics team to link emotional factors to decision patterns in games.

4. Collaboration & Integration

Work alongside coaches, physical trainers, and nutritionists to ensure a 360 player development program. Contribute to mentor meetings, review boards, and performance planning cycles. Train coaches in psychological communication, motivation, and feedback strategies.

5. Education & Community Building

Conduct workshops for parents and staff on athlete mindset, motivation, and emotional resilience. Develop easy-to-understand materials or mini-modules for students on "Mindset for Champions." Participate in HCA events, seminars, and internal research on cognitive health in chess.

Qualifications & Experience

Master's degree in

Sports Psychology

,

Applied Psychology

, or

Counselling Psychology

(recognized university). 2+ years' experience working with athletes, preferably in individual or cognitive-demand sports (e.g., chess, shooting, tennis, archery). Strong grounding in mindfulness, performance routines, and child/adolescent psychology. Excellent communication skills in

English and Tamil

. Experience in report writing, profiling, and integrating insights with coaches.

Preferred:

Experience in residential or academy environments. Knowledge of Indian competitive chess structure and tournament ecosystem. Certification in yoga, mindfulness, or counselling psychology is a plus.

Personal Attributes

Deep empathy and patience while working with children and teens. Balanced mindset -- analytical, reflective, and encouraging. Passion for chess, performance psychology, and long-term development. Commitment to confidentiality, ethical practice, and continuous learning.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary based on experience (?4 - 7 LPA range for full-time). Opportunities for professional growth, workshops, and research collaboration.
Job Type: Part-time

Pay: ₹30,000.00 - ₹40,000.00 per month

Expected hours: 24 per week

Work Location: In person