Dear future Sport & Exercise Science Student,
What is Sport Science?
Sport Science is a subject that requires you to consider how the different systems within the body such as the cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal and muscular work together in order to achieve human motion. This concept is then explored in a range of topics to establish how performance can be optimised. In doing this, you are exposed to all the possible career paths and interests within sport science in order to make an informed decision of your next step.
Which topics will you start with in sport science?
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Functional Anatomy- An examined unit where you will have to apply your understanding of how the systems mentioned above contribute to performance. You will look at each system in detail and take an exam to establish what you've learned.
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Coaching for performance and fitness- a coursework unit where you will begin to develop and implement your coaching skills. In addition to planning and delivering your own session.
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Specialised fitness training- a coursework unit where you will begin to look at principles of training and fitness testing. You will then look at performance cycles and how these can be tweaked in order to tailor and optimise training.
Transitional Tasks
Which activities will prepare you for September ?
Functional Anatomy:
The most challenging aspect of functional anatomy is movement analysis. This is where you will need to discuss how the joints, bones and muscles play a role in specific sporting actions. A good way to prepare will be to learn the bones, muscles and joints. The activities below will help you do this. Go to:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qkdbd9zRV3GpvgMWd_CCi25p-2c-BFtk3fzhi1kRYzg/edit or view PDF here
Coaching for performance and fitness:
You could start to understand the skills of a coach by watching the netflix documentary “The playbook a coach’s rules for life”
Specialised Fitness Training:
Start understanding the term “normative data” and get familiar with reviewing the tables that are produced as a result of fitness testing. Have a look at the different tests and what they measure, also look at the normative data tables. https://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/index.htm
What reading or documentaries are relevant?
Below is a list of general reading and films/documentaries that will prepare your mind for what is to come. It will help you develop some mental strength but also start to get you thinking outside of the box which is necessary for someone more interested in an entrepreneurial path.
Summer Reading & Watch list
Books/ Audiobooks:
Shoe Dog - Phil Knight the founder/creator of Nike.
Start with why- Simon Sinek
Outlier the story of success- Malcolm Gladwell
Elon Musk- Ashlee Vance
The 4 hour work week- Timothy Ferriss
Core Textbooks:
Pearson Btec National Sport and Exercise Science
Revise Btec National Sport and Exercise Science Revision Guide
Revise Btec National Sport and Exercise Science Workbook
Summer Watch List (Netlix):
The last dance Michael Jordan
The Game Changers
What the Health
Ronnie Coleman
Formula One Drive to Survive
The Playbook a Coach’s Rules for Life
Ted X (YouTube):
Kobe Bryant - The Mindset of a Winner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSceuiPBpxY
Karishma Boolani - How Sport Science is Creating Super Athletes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78nuYJNZFCo
Billie Jean King - This Tennis Icon Paved the Way for Women in Sports https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2yka9lyvMA
David Epstein - Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8COaMKbNrX0
Lewis Pugh - My Mind-Shifting Everest Swim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QISHX5UKky0
Aimee Mullins: Changing my Legs - and my Mindset https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG5X31CDg_g
John Wooden: The difference between winning and succeeding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MM-psvqiG8
YouTube:
Sport Science Explores who has the Hardest Kick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQy8dFco_xY
Sport Science: Stephen Curry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOiH1eVCggw
The Immune System: Running as Preventative Medicine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWALtT0umpI
Sport Science: LeBron James’ Court Excellence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1kuQZqsgcE
The Science Behind Mayweather vs. McGregor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orr8JffO7a0
Sport Science: Penalty Kicks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S50yhCPOyQw
On sports science, who strikes faster, a boxer or a snake? Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3VSUaUtQs4
Cristiano Ronaldo- tested to the limit! a machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4achmhzLNoY
Al Pacino “inches” speech, any given sunday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b7bgtu2O4E