PE 285 - Sport and Exercise Psychology

Credit Hours: 3

This course will examine psychological variables (i.e. personality, motivation, anxiety, etc.) and varying sport/exercise environments (i.e. competition, culture) and how they affect sports participation and performance. Team factors will be discussed (i.e. cohesion, team roles, etc. ) and their effect on meeting individual and team goals. Application of psychological techniques (i.e. imagery, goal setting, etc. ) will be examined, and the role they play in successful performance. The study of theoretical foundations of behavior change and exercise adherence will provide a basis for how professionals can encourage the adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors. Unique elements of sport psychology (I.e. addiction, burn-out, etc. ) will be reviewed. The benefits of physical activity on psychological growth and development (decreased depression, cognitive function, etc.) will be examined. Coaches, health educators, physical educators, athletic trainers, and personal trainers may find this course applicable to their field of study. This is an elective course for Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Sports and Leisure Studies Degrees and can be used as an Open College elective for other students.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

describe how an individual’s psychological make-up can influence sport or exercise performance;
identify the effect varying situations (competition, reinforcement) can have on exercise behavior;
explain how group interaction, leadership, and communication affect performance in a physical activity setting;
list psychological techniques that help individuals improve sports performance;
discuss factors that promote adopting healthy behaviors and adherence;
recognize signs of maladaptive behavior in sports such as exercise addiction, substance abuse, eating disorders, burnout, and overtraining, etc; and
identify benefits of physical activity related to psychological growth and development.

F/S (N)