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Sport Psychology

Code: 102557
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Psychology OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Yago Ramis Laloux
Email :
yago.ramis@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Anna Jordana Casas
Dorottya Molnár
Joel Guillen Cots
Eduardo Amblar Burgos
Yago Ramis Laloux

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

The course Sport Psychology (102557) constitutes, together with the course “Physical Activity and Health” (102558), the subjects of the “Sports Psychology and Physical Activity” area.

The course Sport Psychology is framed in the Specialization in Psychological Intervention on Welfare and Quality of Life and in Analysis and Intervention in Educational Psychology. Coursing this subject allows the student to obtain one or both mentions, depending on the chosen subjects’ itinerary.

This course does not require previous knowledge of other subjects. It is convenient that students that want to specialize in the sports psychology field also course the subject 102558 – Physical Activity and Health, besides developing the Degree Project (TFG) based on one of the areas’ demands.

Lectures will be given in Catalan. Students can use one of the three official languages of the UAB (Catalan, Spanish, and English) in class and in their assignments.

Objectives

The main aims of this subject are:

  • To know the role and tasks of professionals in sport psychology and the theoretical frameworks guiding their role.
  • To analyze the initiation and development of young athletes and their environment (i.e., coaches and families).
  • To describe the basic psychological processes involved in athletic performance and the main interventions techniques to enhance athletes’ performance.
  • To analyze the athletic career from a holistic perspective, career transitions and dual career.
  • To develop a Scientific Evidence-Based Professional Project (PPBEC) and apply it in the sports psychology field.

Learning outcomes

  1. Distinguish between the main characteristics of the theoretical focuses in the study of sports psychology and physical activity.
  2. Identify the main theoretical models used in the study of psychological aspects related to sports performance.
  3. Contrast the main theoretical models used in the study of the psychological aspects of sport initiation.
  4. Analyse the consequences of sport on the health and wellbeing of those who practice it.
  5. Describe the consequences of sports initiation on health and wellbeing in children, adolescents and young people.
  6. Identify the relevant aspects of interaction between sports players and their physical and social environment.
  7. Contrast the demands and psychological needs of coaches, referees, officials and spectators at sporting sports contexts.
  8.  Analyse the demands and psychological needs of athletes in sports situations.
  9. Contrast the demands and psychological needs of children, adolescents and young people related to the sports initiation.
  10. Distinguish and decide the most appropriate methods and tools to assess the psychological needs of athletes in sports situations.
  11. Identify and decide on the most appropriate methods and tools to assess the psychological needs of coaches, referees, officials and spectators at sporting sports contexts.
  12. Define and decide the most appropriate methods and tools to assess the psychological needs of children and young people related to the sport initiation.
  13. Identify the different methods of treatment and intervention in the field of psychology applied to sports performance.
  14. Contrast the different methods of treatment and intervention in the field of applied psychology training, arbitration, the management and spectacle of sporting events.
  15. Specify the various methods of treatment and intervention in the field of psychology applied to sport initiation.
  16. Analyse scientific texts written in English.
  17. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  18. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  19. Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
  20. Propose new experience-based methods or alternative solutions.

Contents

Block 1. Roles and functions of the specialist in sports psychology

1.1. Roles and functions of the specialist in sports psychology

1.2. Conceptual frameworks and theoretical positions that underpin professional practice

1.3. History of sports psychology


Block 2. Youth sport and development of athletes and their environment

2.1. Youth sport: Sport development and objectives

2.2. Psychology of youth sports

2.3. Social agents in the environment: Training in youth sport

2.4. Social agents in the environment: Parenting young athletes


Block 3. Cognitive processes involved in sports performance and main intervention techniques

3.1. Psychological training programs and need analysis

3.2. Intervention techniques (Goal setting, Imagery, Self-control, Self-talk, Micro and macro routines)

3.3. Group processes: Team dynamics, Team culture, Leadership and communication


Block 4. Athletic career from a holistic perspective, career transitions, dual career and gender perspective

4.1. Athletic career models

4.2. Predictable transitions (e.g., junior to senior transition and retirement) and unpredictable career transitions (e.g., disruption of the Olympic cycle, injuries)

4.3. Women in sport and careers

4.4. The dual career

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
D2. Lessons to work on the Scientific Evidence-Based Professional Project (seminars, small groups) 12 0.48
S2. Tutoring sessions related to the full grup evidences 8 0.32
A2. Development of the Scientific Evidence-Based Professional Project 70 2.8
S2. Supervision of the Scientific Evidence-Based Professional Project 8 0.32
D1. Challenges development and achievement 24 0.96
A1. Documentation and preparation of challenges 28 1.12

Large group sessions based on challenge-based learning. There will be 4 challenges to be achieved and evaluated in a series of 3 sessions. The 4 challenges will have the same structure: (a) first session of planning by the teachers in the classroom, (b) second session of supervised work in the classroom, and (c) third session of evaluation and return to the classroom.

Challenge 1: Promote a professional practice based on scientific evidence (sessions 1-3)

Challenge 2: Educational and equitable sports initiation (sessions 4-6)

Challenge 3: Healthy and ethical high sports performance (sessions 7-9)

Challenge 4: The holistic and ecological conception of the sports career (sessions 10-12)

In the small group seminars, 6 sessions will be held throughout the semester to develop a Professional Project Based on Scientific Evidence (PPBE) based on demands from people or sports institutions.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
EV3PP1: PPBEC Scientific congress and project presentation 10 0 0 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19
EV6PP3: Professional Project Presentation 15 0 0 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20
EV1R1: Group Exhibition on Challenge 1. Promotion of a professional practice based on scientific evidence 15 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 17, 20
EV2R2. Written test on challenge 2: Basic concepts of youth sport 15 0 0 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 15, 16, 20
EV4R3. Case study on Challenge 3: High performance healthy and ethical 15 0 0 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20
EV7R4: Case analysis on challenge 4 Holistic and ecologic perspective of athletic career 15 0 0 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
EV5PP2: Professional Project Report 15 0 0 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Code Task Weight % Mode Presentation Format Week
EV1R1 Group Exhibition on Challenge 1 15 Both Group In presence 3
EV2R2 Written test on challenge 2 15 Written Individual In presence 6
EV3PP1 PPBEC Scientific congress and project presentation 10 Both Group Both 11
EV4R3 Case study on Challenge 3 15 Written Individual In presence 10
EV5PP2 Professional Project Report 15 Written Group Virtual 14
EV6PP3 Professional Project Presentation 15 Oral Group In presence 14
EV7RE4 Case analysis on challenge 4 15 Both Individual In presence 13


Feedback Evidence Week
Written EV2R2 10

EV4R3 14
Online (Moodle) EV3PP1 14

EV5PP2 19
Classroom EV1R1 3

EV6PP3 14

EV7RE4 13
Tutorship EV2R2 10

EV4R3 14



An assessable student would be anyone who has presented evidences with a weight equal to or greater than 40% of the grade.


To pass the subject for continuous assessment, it will be necessary (a) to obtain a grade equal to or greater than 5 in the weighted sum of all the evidences, and (b) an average score of these greater than 3.5. In case of not meeting these requirements, the maximum grade to be recorded in the academic record will be 4.5 points and the student will have the right to retake.


Students who have made evidence with a weight equal to or greater than 2/3 of the total grade and have obtained a grade of less than 5 points and greater than or equal to 3.5 points may take the retake. Written tests linked to the challenges can be recovered. The professional project based on scientific evidence is not recoverable. In case of passing the retake test, regardless of the grade obtained in each of the evidences recovered, the maximum grade that can be obtained in the subject is a 5.

It is not expected that students in 2nd or subsequent enrolment will be assessed by means of a single non-recoverable synthesis test.


THE SINGLE EVALUATION IS REQUESTED ELECTRONICALLY (E-FORM) IN THE SPECIFIC PERIOD (more information on the Faculty's website).


The single evaluation will be carried out in the second evaluation period. In it, all the contents of the subject will be evaluated with the same evaluative weight as in the continuous evaluation. The 4 written tests linked to the 4 challenges of the subject (60%) will be carried out with an evaluative weight as well as that of the continuous evaluation of the challenges, and a professional project report will be delivered aimed at responding to a specific demand of a sports entity (40%). The approximate duration of the test will be 4 hours. The same recovery process as that of continuous assessment will be applied.


In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed as an integral part of the development of the work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution of the student in personal analysis and reflection. The student should clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used, and include critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Non-transparency in the use of AI will be considered academic dishonesty and may lead to a penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in cases of seriousness


Link to Faculty Evaluation Guidelines: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/graus/graus/avaluacions-1345722525858.html

Bibliography

Castillo, Isabel & Álvarez, Octavio (2023). Psicología Social de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y el Ejercicio. Madrid; McGraw Hill.

Cruz, Jaume. (Ed.), (2001). Psicología del Deporte. Madrid : Síntesis.

Hanrahan, Stephanie. J., & Andersen, Mark. B. (2010). Routledge Handbook of Applied Sport Psychology: A Comprehensive Guide for Students and Practitioners

León Zarceño, E.M., Garcés de los Fayos, E.J. (2024). Fundamentos de Psicología del Deporte. Editorial Médica Panamericana.

Weinberg, Robert & Gould, Daniel (2019). Foundations of sport and exercise Psychology. 7th Edition. Champaign, Il.: Human Kinetics.

Software

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Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 111 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 112 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 113 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed