SHN5042 - Sport Psychology: Principles of Practice

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Identify appropriate theories and how such theories relate to the enhancement of performance and well-being of sports performers.
Critically appraise the impact of sport psychology within sports coaching and sports therapy and rehabilitation.
Apply sport psychology concepts to a contextually relevant case study

Content:

This module aims to develop knowledge of sport and exercise psychology and how this can be used to enhance performance and well-being. This module will focus on the roles of non-psychology titled practitioners such as sports coaches and physical therapists and examine how core underpinning theories can inform strategies to benefit performance. Such topic areas will include: Motivation; confidence, self-, and collective-efficacy; arousal and anxiety; the psychology of injury; working with stakeholders and significant others (parents etc.); group dynamics and team cohesions; and transitions.

The module will critically examine the specific role of practitioners and how they can employ sport psychology informed strategies working within role boundaries.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Theoretical concepts are introduced in lectures, along with corresponding interactive activities within interactive workshop sessions. Workshops focus on use of appropriate research approaches and ongoing assessment support, to help facilitate students' progress with their group-based research projects. They also provide an opportunity for presentations of project work to date for formative feedback (including peer feedback). Lectures
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: 50

Workshops
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: 50

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment

Essay (Case study report)
The submissions will represent response to a problem-based scenario. The scenarios are representative of some of the issues that practitioners may be presented with when working within sport. Students will are required to demonstrate an understanding of the problem, identify key facts, potential assumptions from the client and the psychologist and emerging themes, which can be linked to relevant theory and interventions.

Practical (Case Study: Oral Presentation)
Students will be expected to deliver an oral presentation with accompanying visual resources which identifies the requirement of a sport psychologist and proposes a justification and proposed role profile of a sport psychologist. This could take the form of identifying the responsibilities of a sport psychologist, how they will contribute to a multidisciplinary team and the stages they may wish to employ in providing a solution to the problem identified within the case study.

Assessment:

001 Essay; 2,000 words; mid-semester 1 50%
002 Presentation; 10mins; end of semester 1 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Christopher Sellars
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5S1

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