Course content

The course focuses on factors affecting skill development to practitioners in both top and recreational sports. Key stages in skill development (child, adolescent, adult) will be dealt with considering the central theories and models for skill development. The course is based on a holistic understanding of skill development in the light of the system (organization), the environment (club/school) and individual perspective. There will be an emphasis on how these dimensions influence each other and simultaneously are interdependent to optimize both skill learning and development. The target group for this course is students who want to work with the development of athletes either as coaches or leaders in sports (mass/elite) and/or teachers in sports (upper secondary school). By writing short papers, students will look at one or more issues within skill development based on the teaching on the subject.

Learning outcome

Knowledge - the student should be able to:

• show both academic overview and depth, and be able to apply this to describe how skill and performance development is influenced in light of a: system, environment and individual perspective, and how these perspectives mutually affect both skill and performance development and each other.

Skills - the student should be able to:

• consider vital topics affecting skills and performance development in an independent and academic manner.
• consider a defined topic within each of the three perspectives in an independent manner in a written work (one paper per perspective), in light of the course syllabus.

Learning methods and activities

Throughout the semester there are 2 hours of lectures and seminares

Compulsory assignments

• Participation on seminars
• 3 papers

Required previous knowledge

75 credits in Social Sciences and Sports Sciences or equivalent. The requirement must be fulfilled in order to be admitted to the course.

Course materials

Information will be given at the beginning of the course.