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Academic Goals
Learning Goals for Psych 436: Developmental Aspects of Sport Competition
Frank Smoll
The goal of this course is to understand biopsychosocial influences of sport participation on youngsters' growth and development. By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
1. The nature and significance of play, games, and sport as sociocultural phenomena
2. History and current status of youth sports in the United States
3. Philosophical issues concerning youngsters' participation in sports
4. The nature and significance of social evaluation in the competition process
5. Biological maturity and anthropometric characteristics of young male athletes
6. The influence of sport participation on physical growth
7. Developmental readiness for participation in youth sports
8. Physiological adaptations to vigorous physical activity
9. Etiology, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of common youth sport injuries
10. Anatomy, physiology, and endocrinology of young female athletes
11. The nature and consequences of sport performance anxiety
12. Moral development, character, and sportsmanship
13. Aggression and violence in youth sports
14. Coaching behavior research and intervention in youth sports
15. Family and gender-based influences in sport socialization of children and adolescents
16. Research designs and methods used to study biological and psychosocial aspects of youngsters' participation in sports
17. The application of critical thinking skills to youth sport policies and practices
18. Future directions in youth sport theory, research, and application
In addition to the above, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate controversial youth sport policies and practices, by writing logical and coherent analyses that rely on scientific evidence.
