Instructor: Sarah Linke
Instructor Email: slinke@ucsd.edu
Prerequisites: None; interest in sports a must (but you don't need to be an athlete)!

Course Description: This course gives students a basic overview of sports psychology, covering aspects such as confidence, focus, mental training, visualization, peak performance, and the mind-body connection. It also examines the differences between group and individual sports and the mindsets of the prototypical athletes who engage in them. In addition, it investigates the topic of performance enhancing drugs by scrutinizing some of the many recent controversial figures in various sports. Finally, it explores the characteristics of successful athletes at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels alike.

Course Objectives:

Students will gain insight into the inseparable connection between the physical and psychological components of athletic performance. They will understand how athletes can take their physical performance to a higher level by training their minds in addition to their bodies. Furthermore, they will learn the importance of teamwork and cohesion in team sports and positive self-talk in individual sports. Relaxation techniques useful for performance preparation, such as deep breathing, visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation, will be taught and practiced during class.

Expectations:

Students will exhibit respect for each other, the instructor, and guest speakers. They will display openness to new ideas and to other studentsí opinions. Assignments will include reading, outside practice of techniques learned in class, and a short presentation of a selected athlete (or team) who displays positive and/or negative psychological characteristics discussed in class.

Course Outline:

All three weeks of class will consist of a balance between lecture, discussion, practice of relaxation and visualization techniques, guest presenters (e.g., athletes/coaches), and student presentations.

Week 1: Psychology and Sport Psychology

Monday: What is psychology? History, development, specialized fields, applications, research

Tuesday: Sport psychology: the mind-body connection; mood; stress management

Wednesday: Good sport conduct; dealing with anger in competition; performance-enhancing drugs

Thursday: Goal setting; motivation; performance anxiety; relaxation and visualization techniques

Friday: Guest speakers (team sport and individual sport athletes); discussion and lab

Week 2: Health Psychology

Monday: Psychological and physical health benefits of exercise

Tuesday: Exercise adherence; benefits of long-term physical activity; fieldtrip to Rec. Center

Wednesday: Body image & physical activity; eating disorders; exercise dependence

Thursday: Injury rehabilitation; preparing to return from injury

Friday: Guest speaker (personal trainer); discussion and lab

Week 3: Putting it all together.

Monday: Tracking training and performance; pre-competition routine; optimal performance

Tuesday: Guest speaker (coach); undergraduate/graduate school and careers in psychology

Wednesday: Time to work on class presentations and ask questions in-class

Thursday: Class presentations

Friday: Class presentations