COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Prefix/Number: PET 4213/5216
Course Title: Success in Sports
Course Credit Hours: Three Semester Hours Credit
Instructor: Bhargav Desai, PT, MS
E-mail: bdesai@uwf.edu
Textbook: Williams, J. M., ed. (2004). Applied Sport Psychology: Personal Growth to Peak
Performance, 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. (ISBN: 9780073376530)
Catalog Description: Success in Sports (SIS) is an integration of cross-boundary research
documenting the determinants of success in sports. Special emphasis will be placed on elite
athletic performance and will be organized around theoretical accounts for the attainment of elite
performance. In addition, the characteristics of elite athletes, their inherited and acquired
capacities responsible for elite performance, and selected techniques to maximize training effects
are examined. Graduate students will be assigned additional work.
Prerequisites or Co-Requisites: None
Student Learning Outcomes: After completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Identify and discuss the major concepts related to success in skilled athletic and sports
performance.
2. List and explain the methods used for developing and implementing programs promoting
skilled athletic and sports performance.
3. List and explain the techniques for developing and refining psychological skills to enhance
performance and personal growth.
4. Provide suggestions for establishing a learning and social environment that would enhance the
effectiveness of coaches and maximize the skill and personal growth of athletes.
5. Describe the special issues of staleness and burnout; psychology of injury and injury
rehabilitation, and use of performance–enhancing substances.
6. Present research related to success in sports and elite athletic performance.
Methods of Instruction:
Student learning experiences to include but not limited to:
a) lectures and readings with related discussion;
b) observation and analysis of elite sport and athletic performance; and
c) reading designated textbooks and supplementary material as assigned.
Evaluation:
The student will be evaluated on the basis of performance on three examinations, quizzes,
completion of laboratory experiences, class presentations, a research article summary, and class
participation. A percentage of total points determines the course grade.
Points Earned: 93-100 A
90-92
A87-89
B+
83-87
B
80-82
B`
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-66
63-66
62-0
C+
C
CD+
D
F
Course Structure:
70 points
140 points
140 points
60 points
30 points
Final Exam
Session/Chapter Quizzes (10 points each)
Chapter Summaries (10 Points each, Total 14 Chapters)
Article Summaries (20 points each, Total 3 Articles)
Article Discussion Responses (10 points each)
Total possible points: 440 points
Graduate Students add 50 points to total points scale for research paper.
Graduate students:
(1) It is expected that your submissions (summaries and opinion responses) will consistently be
of higher quality than that of the undergraduate students.
(2) You all will submit 5-page paper minimum (not including title page and reference page/s)
preferably using APA format on any aspect of success in sports. Please inform me of the topic by
the FIFTH week.
Distance Learning (elearning):
Students formally enrolled in the class with a valid email address will automatically be added to
elearning. Elearning is a web-based tool that can be used for delivery of course materials
including assignments, discussions, email, and testing. Students should regularly check their
email for information about class. Course presentations will be posted to this website for student
use. You can access elearning via your ARGUS account or directly via elearning.uwf.edu. Please
review the Online Orientation Outline under course content if you are unfamiliar with elearning.
Quizzes/Exam:
All tests will be delivered using elearning. The weekly quiz(zes) will be available from 12:00
A.M., Monday until 11:59 P.M., Sunday for each session/week. The format for all quizzes and
exams will be mainly objective questions (true/false, multiple choice, matching, and fill-in);
however, some quizzes and the final exam may contain short answer questions. All quizzes and
the final exam will be timed and you will be afforded only one opportunity to take the quiz/exam.
Once you log on and start the quiz you will have a time limit in which to complete the quiz/exam.
You will have 15 minutes to complete each quiz, so once you log on, complete the quiz.
Weekly Assignments:
Each week you will submit a summary on the chapter assigned for that week (see class
schedule below for more details) into the designated Discussions section of elearning. The
assignment will be to summarize and provide your opinion for each of the chapters. Chapter
summaries and opinions should be about one half to one page in length and opinions must
cite references (if used).
Additionally, for weeks 2, 6 and 10, you will summarize and provide your opinion on
article assigned for that week. During week 3, 7, and 11, you will read the article summaries and
opinions of your classmates and respond to one that you find interesting or one in which you
disagree. Responses to article summaries/opinions must be at least one-to-two pages long
and contain more than stringing together simple phrases like “Great job Taf! I agree with you
wholeheartedly your thoughts.” Put some thought and research into your reply and if using
information other than your own, provide the reference (including chapters from the text). For
example, if you use a text reference simply state “text, ch. 10, p. 192’).
Use 12-font New Times Roman or Courier (or equivalent) for each assignment. If you do
not have Word, then save your submission in .rtf or .html to make sure it can be opened and read.
Be aware that if you use WordPerfect or .wps, I and many of your classmates will not be able to
open your file. Make sure you “upload” your assignments rather than trying to type them
into the text box on elearning. Please contact me if you have any questions (preferably by
email); however, if you have a technical problem with elearning, call ITS at 474-2075 (available
24 hours/day).
NOTE: No chapter readings or assignments are due during week 15 (November
29-December 4), this week can be utilized to review and prepare for the final exam.
Military Policy:
You will not be penalized for active duty although you will still be responsible for all
coursework. Any absences must be coordinated in advance with the instructor.
Disabled Students Policy:
Necessary accommodations for disabled students will be made available should the need arise.
Please inform me of any circumstances which require my assistance.
Assistance:
Students with special needs who require specific examination-related or other course-related
accommodations should contact Barbara Fitzpatrick, Director of Disabled Student Services
(DSS), dss@uwf.edu, (850) 474-2387. DSS will provide the student with a letter for the instructor
that will specify any recommended accommodations.
Expectations for Academic Conduct/Plagiarism Policy:
As members of the University of West Florida academic community, we commit ourselves to
honesty. As we strive for excellence in performance, integrity-both personal and institutional-is
our most precious asset. Honesty in our academic work is vital, and we will not knowingly act in
ways which erode that integrity. Accordingly, we pledge not to cheat, nor to tolerate cheating, nor
to plagiarize the work of others. We pledge to share community resources in ways that are
responsible and that comply with established policies of fairness. Cooperation and competition
are means to high achievement and are encouraged. Indeed, cooperation is expected unless our
directive is to individual performance. We will compete constructively and professionally for the
purpose of stimulating high performance and standards. Finally, we accept adherence to this set
of expectations for academic conduct as a condition of membership in the UWF academic
community. Additional information on University policies are contained at:
Academic Conduct Policy: (Web Format) | (PDF Format) | (RTF Format)
Plagiarism Policy: (Word Format) | (PDF Format) | (RTF Format)
Student Handbook: (PDF Format)
Course Schedule:
Session Title and
Dates
Week 1:
August 22-28
Requirements/Readings
Activities
Read Chapter 4
Week 2:
August 29September 4
Read Article 1:
The Makings of the Perfect
Athlete
- Summarize Chapter 4
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 4
- Due 8/28/11
- Summarize the Article 1
with your opinion and
post to elearning
Discussions
- Summarize Chapter 11
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 11
- Due 9/4/11
- Post response to Article
1 in Discussions
- Summarize Chapter 12
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 12
- Due 9/11/11
- Summarize Chapter 13
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 13
- Due 9/18/11
- Summarize Chapter 15
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 15
- Due 9/25/11
- Summarize the Article 2
with your opinion and
post to elearning
Discussions
and
Read Chapter 11
Week 3:
September 5-11
Read Chapter 12
Week 4:
September 12-18
Read Chapter 13
Week 5:
September 19-25
Read Chapter 15
Week 6:
September 26October 2
Read Article 2: Elite Athletes:
Why does the 'fire' burn so
brightly?
and
Read Chapter 16
Week 7:
October 3- 9
Read Chapter 17
Week 8:
October 10- 16
Read Chapter 18
Week 9:
October 17- 23
Read Chapter 19
Week 10:
October 24- 30
Read Article 3: "What makes an
endurance athlete world class?
Not simply a physiological
conundrum."
and
Read Chapter 23
Week 11:
October 1November 6
Week 12:
November 7-13
Read Chapter 24
Read Chapter 25
- Summarize Chapter 16
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 16
- due 10/2/11
- Post response to Article
2 in Discussions
- Summarize Chapter 17
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 17
- due 10/9/11
- Summarize Chapter 18
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 18
- due 10/16/11
- Summarize Chapter 29
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 29
- due 10/23/11
- Summarize the Article 3
with your opinion and
post to elearning
Discussions
- Summarize Chapter 23
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 23
- due 10/30/11
- Post response to Article
3 in Discussions
- Summarize Chapter 24
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quiz on Chapter 24
- due 11/6/11
- Summarize Chapters 25
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quizzes on Chapter 25
- due 11/13/11
Week 13:
November 14- 20
Read Chapter 8
Week 14:
November 21- 28
Read Chapter 14
Week 15:
November 29December 4
Final Exam Review
Week 16:
December 5 - 9
- Summarize Chapters 8
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quizzes on Chapter 8
- due 11/20/11
- Summarize Chapters 14
and post to elearning
Discussions
- Quizzes on Chapter 14
- due 11/28/11
- ----
No chapters and assignments
Final Exam (December 5 to 9)
Final Exam would be Available
from 12:00 AM on December 5
to 11:59 PM on December 9
Due 11:59PM on
12/5/11
Note: Course schedule is subject to change (advance notice will be provided).