Sports psychology: educational and social aspects
PROF. FLAVIO NASCIMBENE; PROF. CRISTINA CASTELLI
FIRST SEMESTER: Educational aspects (Prof. Cristina Castelli)
COURSE AIMS
Sports psychology is an area of study, research and application that is extremely
multi-disciplinary in nature and which makes use of disciplines such as
psychology, medicine, sociology, pedagogy, philosophy, etc.
The aim of the course is to discuss the main psychological dynamics implicit in the
educational relationship between the professional caregiver (trainer, coach,
personal trainer, etc.) and the individual in contexts of typical and atypical
development along the life cycle, within a systemic theoretical framework. In
particular, reference will be made to the systemic-developmental model put
forward by Pianta (2001), in which the educational relationship can provide
support in both conditions of normality and situations of risk/disease.
Furthermore, the principal components of decision-making and the essential skills
for educators will be covered.
The course will be divided into two broad sections: one covering developmental
aspects and one covering educational aspects.
COURSE CONTENT
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A short introduction to the psychology of development and of education.
Concepts of typical, at risk and atypical development.
Development in the life cycle (the life-span perspective).
Physical and motor development.
New frontiers: mirror neurons and Neuroscience.
EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS
1. The principal educational models of reference: Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner.
2. The General Theory of Systems applied to the educational relationship with the
professional caregiver: trainer, coach, personal trainer, etc.
3. Key psychological components of the education-sports relationship: emotions,
motivation, coping and resilience, theory of the mind.
4. Decisions in sport: how they developed, fairness, complaints/regrets.
READING LIST
In preparing for the exam it will be necessary to study the slides presented at lectures (these
can be downloaded from the lecturer’s webpage) and the following two texts:
L. CAMAIONI-P. DI BLASIO, Psicologia dello sviluppo, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2007 (Chapters: 1, 2, 6).
F. CARUGATI-P. SELLERI, Psicologia dell’educazione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2005 (Chapters: 1, 2, 3).
Also one of the following texts:
C. CASTELLI (editor), Sport e resilienza - il modello della polisportiva Laureus, Vita e Pensiero,
Milan, 2013.
I. CASTELLI, Problematiche affettive e relazionali nella scuola dell’infanzia e nella scuola primaria.
Collana “Psicologia e scuola”, La Scuola Publishers, Brescia, 2004.
A. MARCHETTI-I. CASTELLI, Come decidono i bambini. Psicoeconomia evolutiva, Raffaello Cortina,
Milan, 2012.
TEACHING METHOD
The course foresees lectures and practical lessons/small workgroups using applied
materials presented by the lecturer.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Written exam, subsequent oral exam if necessary.
NOTES
Further information can be found on the lecturer's webpage at
http://docenti.unicatt.it/web/searchByName.do?language=ENG, or on the Faculty notice
board.
SECOND SEMESTER: Social aspects (Prof. Flavio Nascimbene)
COURSE AIMS
The course will provide students with a conceptual and operational framework of
the principal psychological variables applied in sporting activities, with particular
reference to the educational and social aspects. The objective of the course will be
to introduce and investigate the principal psychological dynamics that together
build the relationship between the trainer (coach, teacher, educator) and the sports
group (or individual athlete / sportsman/woman).
The course will tackle a wide range of problems, from an analysis of the
organisational context (society, club, school, etc.) and the group dynamics between
leader and team, to the individual aspects of sports psychology – always from a
relational point of view ie. from within the relationships between trainer, group and
organisation. Last, but not least, the complex relationship between sports trainer
and the families of his group members, with particular attention in cases where
these are children.
COURSE CONTENT
1. The sportsman/woman and their reference figures important within the sporting
and family context: the “psycho sport system”. The relational-hypertextual
approach to the psychological and social aspects of sport. Perspectives of
Sports Psychology: from the study of mental skills to analysis of the contexts.
The work centred on the figure of the sportsman/woman and their networks of
social, educational and psychological reference.
2. Communication in sport: the axioms guiding the pragmatics of human
communication within a sporting context, communication networks within
sporting groups, team building. The relationship between trainer-leader (coach,
teacher, educator) and the working team: notes on the dynamics existing in
each of the developmental stages from the psycho-social point of view.
3. The relationship between trainer and sporting/school organisation, and the
relationship between trainer and families of athletes/students/sportsmen; the
“sports trainer – sportsperson - sportsperson’s family” triangle. Professional
objectives and personal expectations: three-dimensional goal-setting. From the
Integrated Model in Sports Psychology to the relational-hypertextual approach.
Ambits and tools of Sports Psychology.
4. Motivations behind sport: the basics of and work methods in the relationship
with the sportsperson. Mental training in sport: evaluation and management of
anxiety before, during and after a sporting activity. Profiles of emotions and the
flow state
READING LIST
F. NASCIMBENE, Guida alla Psicologia dello Sport 2011 Verso un approccio relazionale-
ipertestuale, Edizioni Libreria dello Sport, Milano, 2011.
F. NASCIMBENE, Prospettive in Psicologia dello Sport, EDUCatt, Milano, 2002.
C. GOZZOLI-F. NASCIMBENE-C. MANZI, Relazioni interpersonali nello sport, in C. Gozzoli-C. Manzi
(edited by), Sport: prospettive psicosociali, Carocci, Roma, 2009, pp. 51-65.
TEACHING METHOD
During teaching sessions, various approaches will be used, such as lectures, practical
lessons under guidance, small workgroups, the viewing and discussion of visual materials
and PowerPoint presentations (video-projection of slides specially prepared by lecturers).
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Each student will be expected to prepare a subject covered by the course programme, to
be presented by way of an oral presentation during the set exam times.
NOTES
Further information can be found on the lecturer's webpage at
http://docenti.unicatt.it/web/searchByName.do?language=ENG, or on the Faculty notice
board.
SECOND SEMESTER: Educational aspects (Prof. Cristina Castelli)
COURSE AIMS
Sports psychology is an area of study, research and application that is extremely
multi-disciplinary in nature and which makes use of disciplines such as
psychology, medicine, sociology, pedagogy, philosophy, etc.
The aim of the course is to discuss the psychological dynamics implicit in the
educational relationship between the professional caregiver (trainer, coach,
personal trainer, etc.) and the individual in contexts of typical and atypical
development along the life cycle, within a systemic theoretical framework. In
particular, we will refer to the systemic model proposed by Pianta (2001), who
considers the individual as a developmental system, inserted into multiple contexts
and employed in different development tasks, a model in which the educational
relationship can perform an action of support both in conditions of normality and
in situations of risk.
The course will be divided into two macro areas: one related to the developmental
aspects and one to the educational aspects.
COURSE CONTENT
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A short introduction to the psychology of development and of education.
Concepts of typical, at risk and atypical development.
Development in the life cycle (the life-span perspective).
Physical and motor development.
New frontiers: mirror neurons.
EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS
1. The principal educational models of reference: Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner.
2. The General Theory of Systems applied to the educational relationship with the
professional caregiver: trainer, coach, personal trainer, etc.
3. The principal psychological components in the educational-sporting
relationship: feelings, motivation and coping, the mind theory.
4. Decision in sport: developmental aspects.
READING LIST
The reading list will be provided at the start of the course and will be published on the
lecturer’s webpage.
TEACHING METHOD
The course foresees lectures and practical lessons/small workgroups using applied
materials presented by the lecturer.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Information will be given at the beginning of the course.
NOTES
Further information can be found on the lecturer's webpage at
http://docenti.unicatt.it/web/searchByName.do?language=ENG, or on the Faculty notice
board.