Module JXH-2036:
Applied Sport Psych

Module Facts

Run by School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences

10 Credits or 5 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Tommie Du Preez

Overall aims and purpose

Do you want to pursue a career in sport psychology or work as an applied sport scientist? Then this module is a must! The aim of this module is to give you an insight on the skills required to be a successful sport psychologist as well as some of the techniques you might use with athletes, teams and coaches. This module is also perfect for those wanting to work with athletes and coaches as you will learn about the practical skills required to work as a sport scientist.

Course content

The module will start by looking at the skills required to be a successful sport science practitioner. You will then look at methods of conducting needs analysis with athletes, followed by looking at the psychological skills you can develop with your athletes and coaches. This module will also teach you how to conduct sport psychology support with teams and we will also look at supporting disability athletes.

This module will include a variety of “hands on” exercises which give you practical experiences of being a sport psychologist. The assessment for this module is very much applied and gives you the opportunity to complete a needs analysis including using questionnaires, interviews and observations as well as designing your own interventions for a sport of your choice.

Important: Students who fail the module (overall module mark less than 40%) or miss module assessments, will be required to undertake a resit or first-sit assignment in the Supplementary Assessment Week (SAW). Exact date of SAW will be confirmed nearer to the time.

Assessment Criteria

excellent

Comprehensive and accurate coverage of the area. Clarity of argument and expression. Depth of insight into theoretical issues, which comprehensively extends lecture material.

threshold

Adequate answer to the question, largely based on lecture material. No real development of arguments.

good

Reasonably comprehensive coverage. Well organised and structured. Good understanding of the material and evidence of independent thought that extends beyond lecture materials.

Learning outcomes

  1. Understand the use of psychological profiling;

  2. Identify areas of psychological strengths and weaknesses;

  3. Identify strategies to improve weaknesses to enhance performance;

  4. Apply psychological interventions;

  5. Assess effectiveness of interventions used.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
COURSEWORK Applied Experience Log

This assignment takes a theory to practice perspective and allows you to apply your knowledge gained from lectures into real sporting situation. You will complete a log book with three sections detailing how you would work with an athlete of your choice. This will give you an excellent experience of the skills you will need to work as an applied sport science.

 60
COURSEWORK Apprising / improving teams, case study

This assignment takes a theory to practice perspective and allows you to apply your knowledge from the Teams lectures to real life sporting situations. You will need to observe a team of your choice and write about the cohesion or collective efficacy of the group and provide an appropriate intervention

 40

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study

Private study time is allocated so that students can complete the relevant reading for each lecture, complete the module assignment, and prepare for the end of module exam.

 73
Lecture

Lectures will be held for two hours every week. These will focus on how the applied aspects of working with athletes, needs analysis and strategies to improve performance. In order for students to understand these methods, they will be asked to complete a number of practical tasks during the lecture, both individually and in groups.

24
Seminar

There will be 3 one hour seminars available (week 27, 29, 32) to support students in their coursework's for this module.

3

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
  • Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • research and assess paradigms, theories, principles, concepts and factual information, and apply such skills in explaining and solving problems
  • critically assess and evaluate data and evidence in the context of research methodologies and data sources
  • describe, synthesise, interpret, analyse and evaluate information and data relevant to a professional or vocational context
  • plan, design, execute and communicate a sustained piece of independent intellectual work, which provides evidence of critical engagement with, and interpretation of, appropriate data
  • apply knowledge to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems
  • develop a sustained reasoned argument, perhaps challenging previously held assumptions
  • demonstrate effective written and/or oral communication and presentation skills
  • work effectively independently and with others
  • take and demonstrate responsibility for their own learning and continuing personal and professional development
  • self-appraise and reflect on practice
  • plan and design practical activities using appropriate techniques and procedures whilst demonstrating high levels of relevant skills
  • recognise and respond to moral, ethical, sustainability and safety issues that directly pertain to the context of study including relevant legislation and professional codes of conduct
  • undertake fieldwork with continuous regard for safety and risk assessment.
  • demonstrate evidence of competence in the scientific methods of enquiry, and interpretation and analysis of relevant data and statistical outputs.
  • develop transferable skills of relevance to careers outside of sport, health and exercise sciences.
  • communicate succinctly at a level appropriate to different audiences.
  • develop knowledge of psychometric instruments
  • accurately interpret case study data
  • develop justifiable and/or evidence-based interventions

Resources

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: