7 This chapter connects concepts and research from positive psychology and leadership studies to support using a strengths-based approach to optimize the leadership development of students involved in recreation and athletics. Positive Psychology as a Framework for Leadership Development in Recreation and Sport Amy C. Barnes, James Larcus For the past 15 years, the growing ield of leadership education has seen the creation of leadership models and a new priority for putting research-based theories into practice. During the same time period, the ield of positive psy- chology has gained momentum with its emphasis on personal well-being, constructs like hope and optimism, and a strengths-based focus for individ- ual and group development. In the study of sport, positive psychology fre- quently appears in research about resilience, optimism, and “low,” which is described as an immersive experience where individuals participate in tasks requiring high levels of challenge and skill as they relate to perfor- mance and success (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the impact positive psychology has made in both leadership development and sport and how student-athletes and collegiate recreation participants can apply what they are learning through physical activity and team sports to other areas of their lives. Practical applications for coaches, teachers, and administrators on how to create experiences that not only support student wellness but also encourage leadership development for all students will be discussed. What Is Positive Psychology? Behavioral science has long been the foundation for educators to under- stand the growth and development of students beyond just academic suc- cess. For the past century, psychology has been a science about healing. It was based in a “disease model” of human functioning and about how NEW DIRECTIONS FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP, no. 147, Fall 2015  2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) • DOI: 10.1002/yd.20145 77