News

University introduces first short course in sports psychology

13 April 2016

With a summer of sport ahead, University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) has launched a short course for sport psychology enthusiasts.

The course, titled ‘Introduction to Sports Psychology’, will take place over ten weeks and is currently the only UK Certificate of Credit in sports psychology that offers university credits.

Throughout the course learners will be able to engage with elite athletes, including Stuart Bingham (2015 Snooker World Champion), Alison Nicholas (1997 US Open winner) and Steve Staunton (102 caps for the Republic of Ireland and ex Liverpool and Aston Villa player), enabling online learners to gain an insight into their personal experience in sport and providing real life examples of how psychology is used within different sporting industries. 

Philip Clarke, Lecturer in Psychology and module lecturer at UDOL, said: “The course will introduce learners to the key psychological areas associated with elite individual sporting performance such as confidence, anxiety, attention and motivation as well as looking at the range of mental skills that sport psychologists use when working with athletes.”

People who play rugby

Introduction to Sports Psychology is ideally suited to anyone wishing to explore this area of study, or professionals working within a sports environment looking to further their knowledge or enhance their Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Dr Ainslea Cross, Academic Lead for Psychology and module leader at UDOL, said: “This course will enable students wishing to study at degree level to develop a variety of transferable skills valued by employers. This is a great course for anyone working in sport to undertake for their CPD.

“The certificate will enable students to have a better understanding of the role that sport psychology has in overall sporting performance.”

The course will start on May 30, 2016 and all study will be done remotely through online learning.