BSc (Hons) - Sport Conditioning and Performance Analysis

Year one

In your first year you will develop a foundational knowledge and develop practical skills through modules that explore the principles of human movement and function, sport psychology, basic exercise techniques and training principles, coaching practitioner skills and the fundamentals of performance analysis.

• Personal and Professional Development
  A practical introduction to a range of skills to help you make sense of academic research, including how to find, evaluate and read academic sources.
• Principles of Human Movement and Function
  Develop an anatomical and physiological understanding of the human body’s systems related to sports performance, and knowledge of the biomechanical principles of kinesiology, kinematics and kinetics which underpin human movement and function.
• Exercise Techniques and Training
  Learn how to instruct safe and appropriate exercise techniques related to developing basic components of fitness, designed to improve health and sporting performance.
• Developing the Practitioner Toolkit
  Explore an underpinning knowledge and understanding of fundamental pedagogical processes within sports coaching.
• Introduction to Sport Psychology
  You will explore some of the processes that underpin the teaching and learning of skilled movement patterns and examine factors affecting motivation. The concepts covered will be applied to coaching and sport performance.
• Introduction to Performance Analysis
  You will develop a knowledge and understanding of performance analysis and the role of a performance analyst. You will explore the use of systematic observation tools used to collect various performance-related data and draw appropriate conclusions based on the results.

Year two

At level 5 the focus is on developing subject- and practitioner-specific knowledge and skills through undertaking modules on strength and conditioning and field-based conditioning. The focus is on the preparation of the athlete for general and sport-specific fitness and sport-specific skills required for optimal performance. Performance analysis is further developed through exploring the effectiveness of technical and tactical performance, normative profiling, and analysis of opponent strengths and weaknesses using movement and notational analysis. You will also explore and analyse the performance of coaches’ behaviours and feedback processes in exploring leadership and relationships in sport.

• Investigative Techniques
  You will prepare to conduct a personal research project in an area of interest aimed at developing professional knowledge and expertise. You will consider research methodology, ethics, data analysis and formulating a research question.
• Strength and Conditioning for Performance
  You will understand the physical requirements of athletes and learn how to construct, deliver and evaluate training plans aimed at meeting athlete needs and maximising sporting potential and performance.
• Leadership and Relationships in Sport
  You will develop a knowledge, understanding and awareness of the nature of coach behaviour and coach-athlete relationships. Models of leadership and the practitioner will be explored using a variety of methods.
• Field Based Conditioning for Sport
  On this module your focus will be on how to improve the physiological parameters that govern successful sporting performance. You will explore the physiological responses to conditioning strategies within a range of sports.
• Applied Movement Analysis
  Knowledge and understanding of biomechanical and physiological principles are applied to analyse movement. You will be introduced to field-based methods of motion analysis and evaluate the limitations involved, considering reliability measures and further examining statistical data presentation.
• Applied Notational Analysis
  You will advance your knowledge and application of notational analysis to produce meaningful and actionable data for stakeholders through recording live sport that will be used to develop skills in the use of specialised notational analysis software.

Year three

Knowledge and skills developed previously will be applied in specific sporting contexts at level 6 through sport performance testing and prescription, applied conditioning and performance analysis modules, a practitioner placement and investigative project. The emphasis at this level of study is to apply theory to practice and enhance practitioner and graduate skills ready to work within an elite sport performance environment.

• Independent Investigative Project
  Conduct an original research investigation of your own choice, supported by a dissertation supervisor, and communicate your findings.
• Sport Performance Testing and Prescription
  You will explore laboratory and field-based assessments of performance and interpret data appropriately. During the module you will select and deliver appropriate tests for a range of athletes and provide a client with improvement strategies based on test results.
• Applied Conditioning and Performance Analysis
  Drawing on previous knowledge and understanding gained throughout the programme, you will identify, collect, analyse and report on performance-related data, not only from singular perspectives but also from their conjunction, to aid fuller understanding of sporting performance.
• Practitioner Placement
  You will apply theoretical knowledge to professional practice by undertaking a 100-hour vocational placement of your choice. You will critically analyse professional practice with respect to theory and reflect upon your own professional practice.