Sport and Exercise Psychology

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Return to Course
Print Guideline
Course
SPSC 2231
Discontinued
No
Course Code
SPSC 2231
Descriptive
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Department
Sport Science
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
35
Contact Hours

Lecture and practical applications/lab: 4 hours per week

or

Hybrid: 2 hours per week in-class and 2 hours per week online

or 

Online

Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Seminar
Tutorial
Online
Hybrid
Learning Activities
  1. Lecture
  2. Labs
  3. Discussion and collaboration groups (in class and online)
  4. Case analysis
  5. Practical applications
  6. Video observation
  7. Self-study via print or online materials
  8. Reading assignments
  9. Instructor mentoring
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the field of applied sport and exercise psychology. Students will demonstrate their knowledge by applying mental skills and strategies to real world sport and exercise settings. They will also use their developing knowledge of mental skills and strategies from the course to inform reflections and decisions about their mental strengths and areas to work on. Students will devise a mental skills plan for their personal growth and enhanced performance in a sport and/or exercise setting.
Course Content
  1. Awareness in Sport and Exercise Psychology
  2. The Environment and Sport and Exercise Psychology
    • 2.1. Positive Reinforcement and Feedback
      • 2.1.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 2.1.2. Research on reinforcement and feedback in sport and exercise
      • 2.1.3. Implications for best practices
    • 2.2. Expectations and Self Fulfilling Prophecy
      • 2.2.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 2.2.2. Research on impact of expectations by leaders in sport and exercise
      • 2.2.3. Implications for best practices
    • 2.3. Communication in Sport and Exercise
      • 2.3.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 2.3.2. Research on communication in sport and exercise
      • 2.3.3. Implications for best practices
    • 2.4. Team Cohesion and Team Building
      • 2.4.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 2.4.2. Research on team cohesion in sport and exercise
      • 2.4.3. Implications for best practices in team building
    • 2.5. Parents in Sport
      • 2.5.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 2.5.2. Research on parents in sport
      • 2.5.3. Implications for best practices related to parents in sport
    • 2.6. Motivation
      • 2.6.1. Theoretical aspects of motivation and motivational environments
      • 2.6.2. Research on motivation and motivational environments
      • 2.6.3. Implications for best practices related to creating optimal motivational environments
  3. Psychological Characteristics of Peak Performance
    • 3.1. Theoretical aspects
    • 3.2. Research on peak performance in sport
    • 3.3. Assessment of peak performance
  4. Psychological Skills, Interventions and Strategies
    • 4.1. Goal Setting
      • 4.1.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 4.1.2. Research on goal setting in sport and exercise
      • 4.1.3. Implications for best practices related to goal setting in sport and exercise
    • 4.2. Arousal, Emotion, Performance Relationship
      • 4.2.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 4.2.2. Research on arousal in sport and exercise
      • 4.2.3. Interventions and strategies for arousal and emotional self-regulation
    • 4.3. Imagery
      • 4.3.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 4.3.2. Research on imagery in sport and exercise
      • 4.3.3. Interventions and strategies for imagery skill development and usage
    • 4.4. Cognitive Strategies for Building Confidence
      • 4.4.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 4.4.2. Research on cognitive strategies in sport and exercise
      • 4.4.3. Interventions and strategies for development and enhancement of cognitive self-regulation
    • 4.5. Concentration and Attentional Control
      • 4.5.1. Theoretical aspects
      • 4.5.2. Research on concentration and attentional control in sport and exercise
      • 4.5.3. Interventions and strategies for attentional control and self-regulation
  5. Implementing Psychological Skills Training (PST) Programs
    • 5.1. Theoretical aspects
    • 5.2. Research on PST program effectiveness
    • 5.3. Season planning for PST
  6. Additional Topics in Sport and Exercise Psychology
    • 6.1. Clinical issues in sport and exercise psychology
    • 6.2. Psychology of injury and rehabilitation 
    • 6.3. Overtraining and burnout in sport
    • 6.4. Career transitions in sport
    • 6.5. Gender, diversity, and cultural considerations in sport and exercise psychology
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will be able to:
 
  1. identify and describe the mental skills required for optimal performance
  2. develop mental skills by applying these skills in personal and hypothetical situations guided by constructive feedback
  3. demonstrate theoretical, conceptual and practical competence with regard to mental skills in sport and exercise psychology
  4. interpret, analyze, and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses and areas for improvement within the area of mental skills to develop a personal mental training plan from this evaluation
Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Exams                                         0-30%

Discussions                                   0-30%

Self-quizes                                   10-25%

Student teaching project and labs    0-20%

Journals                                       10-30%

Participation                                  10-15%

 

Textbook Materials
Will be decided by course instructors. Potential resources include:
Williams, J. M. (Editor) (2010). Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (6th ed.). 
Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

Consult the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Bookstore for the latest required texbooks and materials. A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the ingructor's course outline which is available to students at the beginning of each semester. Example textbooks and materials may include:

Williams, J. M. & Krane, V. (Editors). Applied Sport Psychology: Personal Growth to Peak Performance (current edition). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

Prerequisites

None
SPSC 1164 recommended

None

SPSC 1164 recommended

Which Prerequisite

SPSC 4231