SOW-PSB3BC30E
Human Motor Control and Sport
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleSOW-PSB3BC30E
Credits (ECTS)4
CategoryB3 (Third year bachelor)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Social Sciences; Psychology;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
prof. dr. R.G.J. Meulenbroek
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. R.G.J. Meulenbroek
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
prof. dr. R.G.J. Meulenbroek
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
prof. dr. R.G.J. Meulenbroek
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2020
Period
PER2  (02/11/2020 to 24/01/2021)
Starting block
PER2
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
  1. This course will provide you insight into neurocognitive processes that play a role in human motor performance and sport achievements. (FQ 1,5)
  2. After this course you will be able to apply information processing theory, dynamic systems theory and ecological psychology to sport performance. (FQ 1,5)
  3. You will analyze how motivation, goal setting, decision making, attentional focus, motor imagery, action monitoring, and feedback processing can facilitate or hamper performance in (team) sports. (FQ 5,6)
  4. After this course you will be able to give people targeted, science-based advice as regards the preparation, performance and evaluation of a variety of sports activities. (FQ 5,6)
Content
The course covers a variety of topics in human motor control and sport. In particular, the focus will be on the neurocognitive basis of perception-action couplings that are relevant for individual and team sports. Imagine catching a ball. How is its position processed by the brain, and how do you ‘predict' the best way and moment to stretch your arm and catch the ball? Can mental practice improve sport performance? What is the effect of anxiety on performance when playing an important game? What is the maximum speed of information processing faciliting sport achievements? How do people coordinate their muscles, joints and limbs when synchronizing their actions purposefully? 
The course will provide answers to these and related questions and give you insights into the psychological background of the phenomena, their interrelationships and, where relevant, how you can affect them. Also the effects of motor imagery on sport performance and the coordination of perception-action processes in team sports will be discussed. 
The topics are covered in seven lectures, complemented by self-tuition of scientific papers. There will also be a demonstration of movement recording and analysis techniques available in cell phones. Over the course you can take three writing assignments, on which you will receive formative feedback.
 
Additional information
In combination with the B3-course Sport Psychology (PSB3BE20E), the Human Motor Control course is part of the track ‘Sport Psychology' and the Radboud international minor Sport and Excercise Sciences. When obtaining a Master's degree this track can lead to the basic qualification of the Dutch organization for Sport Psychologists (VSPN Basiskwalificatie Sportpsychologie)
 
Level
This course is a Bachelor Psychology 3rd-year course.
Presumed foreknowledge
At least a full year of university education in the field of psychology, human movement science, or a related field. In case of too many enrollments Psychology students have priority over students from other faculties or universities.
Test information
Exam information
• one open-end question per course theme
• a number of true-false questions addressing the contents of the lectures, articles, and book chapters
Full compensation between sub-grades. 
Specifics

Required materials
Book
Weinberg, R.S. & Gould, D. (2019). Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 7th edition. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics. (4 ch.; 100 pp). Other chapters will be addressed in Sport Psychology (PSB3BE20E). See also the reference-only item (inzage-exemplaar): https://ru.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1029062797

Recommended materials
Articles
Additional papers

Instructional modes
Lecture

General
7 lectures (2hrs/week)
7 interactive lectures (2 hrs/week)

Writing assignments

Tests
Open answer & true/false questions
Test weight1
Test typeDigital exam with CIRRUS
OpportunitiesBlock PER2, Block PER3