Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit explores the psychological theories and evidence that underpin optimal performance and wellbeing in high-performance sport environments. Students will examine how to effectively support diverse athlete populations through culturally responsive and inclusive practices. Students will develop understanding of arousal regulation strategies, goal-setting techniques, and motivational environments that foster thriving team cultures. Students will critically evaluate leadership qualities using evidence-based models relevant to high performance contexts and enhance their interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships. The unit also explores athlete experiences of injury rehabilitation, including the mental and emotional challenges associated with injury and recovery. Mental health and wellbeing are central themes, with discussion of ethical boundaries, referral pathways, and scope of practice for those working in support roles. Additionally, the unit addresses the importance of sleep hygiene and mental recovery strategies to sustain high performance. The aim of the unit is to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills to positively impact performance and wellbeing across diverse high-performance settings, using evidence-based frameworks and applied learning.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Understand theories and evidence underlying the ps...
Learning Outcome 01
Demonstrate knowledge of interpersonal skills and ...
Learning Outcome 02
Critique interpersonal skills and leadership pract...
Learning Outcome 03
Evaluate the role of a sport scientist in managing...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Working with diverse populations in high performance sport
- Arousal regulation
- Goal setting for performance
- Motivational environments and thriving cultures
- Models of leadership
- Interpersonal skills and communication
- Mental health and wellbeing in sport performance – including scope of practice
- Psychology of rehabilitation
- Sleep hygiene
- Mental recovery
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to best enable students to achieve unit learning outcomes and develop graduate capabilities, standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with the University assessment requirements. Assessment one requires students to consider the individual needs (including diverse populations) of athletes and how these needs influence motivation and sport performance. The second assessment task requires students to evaluate interpersonal skills and leadership practices in relation to a high-performance environment and the influence of these practices on performance and wellbeing. The final assessment task requires students to demonstrate skills learnt across the unit in an athlete check-in consultation.
Overview of assessments
To successfully pass the unit, students must demonstrate achievement of all learning outcomes and achieve a minimum overall mark of 50% from all assessments.
Assessment Task 1: Quiz Assesses knowledge and...
Assessment Task 1: Quiz
Assesses knowledge and understanding of foundational unit content
25%
Assessment Task 2: Written assessment Assesses...
Assessment Task 2: Written assessment
Assesses understanding and application of theories and evidence related to culture and leadership
35%
Assessment Task 3: Oral Assessment Demonstrate ...
Assessment Task 3: Oral Assessment
Demonstrate effective interpersonal and motivational skills for rehabilitation management.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
The learning and teaching strategy of this unit is designed to allow students to meet the aims, learning outcomes of the unit, and ACU graduate capabilities. It is intended to reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. This unit fosters student-centred active learning and accommodates diverse student needs, including a combination of self-paced, online learning and real-time classes. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to engage actively with unit content and learning activities.
The unit contains three modules that complement the learning outcomes. The first module considers the individual needs of athletes from a motivational and performance perspective. The second module focuses on the leadership styles and practices that support staff (incl. coaches, High Performance staff, medical staff) can use to influence the performance and well-being of athletes. The third module explores some of the challenges to thriving athletes, centred on wellbeing and performance. Learning is scaffolded within and across activities with the intention of combining knowledge and promoting deep and critical thought. Strong emphasis is placed on scientific enquiry and the links between theory, evidence, and practice. To support this emphasis, learning activities engage students in independent thought, collaborative discussions, and applied practice.