In this module, students consider issues pertinent to the professional practice of sport and exercise psychology. Students will explore how individuals respond to and function in competitive situations, such as sport, business, and exercise. Key issues regarding the application of psychology will include ethics, adherence issues, methods of evaluation, and measuring effectiveness. The module will also explore a range of psychological strategies (e.g., imagery, self-talk) used to maintain and enhance performance.

For this module students will be required to complete one summative assessment. ¿

For the assignment students will be required to produce a 2500-word psychological skills training programme for a specific individual or group in a performance setting, that could be implemented by a sport psychology consultant. Students will be provided with 7 hypothetical case studies of individuals or groups who have a particular performance related issue (e.g., high level of anxiety). Students must choose 1 of these case studies and produce a psychological skills training programme that meets the needs of the individual or group and will help to address the particular performance issue in question. Students will be prepared for this assessment with proposal drafts, role-play, and formative assessments delivered during seminar sessions. This assessment examines Learning Outcomes 1, 2, & 3 and is worth 100% of the overall module mark.

Students will learn through a mixed of a combination of asynchronous lectures and synchronous seminars. Video lectures will be posted on Blackboard and students will be required to view these BEFORE the seminars. The seminars will then be used to build upon the material presented in the video lectures. In addition, students can access support material via the virtual learning environment (e.g., Blackboard). Learning will be facilitated through the completion of core tasks (e.g., lectures and seminars) and independent study (e.g., additional reading, optional tasks, assignment preparation).¿Students are regularly directed to recommended resources (e.g., reading, video tutorials) to support completion of activities. Students are required to access additional support material independently.¿Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module comprising task-related feedback on a week-by-week basis, together with in-class discussions to encourage peer-learning in addition to comments from relevant tutors.

1. Demonstrate knowledge which is at the forefront of professional practice in sport and exercise psychology and apply this to a hypothetical sports/business organisation who require performance psychology services.

Application

Communication

Knowledge & Understanding


2. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of selected psychological skills, techniques, and ethical issues in professional practice and how this may impact the implementation of psychological interventions in sport and related performance settings.

Application

Knowledge & Understanding

Learning

Problem Solving

Reflection


3. Design and evaluate a psychological skills training programme for an individual, team or group within a sport or similar performance domain.

Analysis

Application

Communication

Enquiry

Problem Solving

Knowledge & Understanding

Learning

Williams, J. M. (2010). Applied sport psychology: personal growth for peak performance (6th ed). New York: McGraw-Hill.

McCarthy, P., & Jones, M. V. (2013). Becoming a sport psychologist. Routledge.

Appropriately equipped IT room.

Appropriately equipped library.

Internet access sufficient for Blackboard.

How to maximise your chances to perform at your optimum!

In this module, you will consider issues pertinent to the competitive world of performance psychology. You will explore how individuals respond to and function across various competitive situations, such as sport, business, military, and exercise. Key issues regarding the application of psychology will include ethics, adherence issues, methods of evaluation, and measuring effectiveness. During the module, you will also explore and practice the use of a range of psychological strategies (e.g., imagery, self-talk) to maintain and enhance performance.