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Unit outline_

EDPN6015: Elite Athlete Development

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit is designed to investigate the techniques and procedures involved in athlete development. Specifically this focuses on identifying talent and appropriate recruitment systems, discussing what makes an athlete successful, and providing for a smooth transition from junior to senior ranks.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Education
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Donna O'Connor, donna.oconnor@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Donna O'Connor, donna.oconnor@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Case study and presentation
Case study and presentation
50% Week 08
Due date: 20 Sep 2024 at 23:59
2000 words + 10 min presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO6 LO8
Assignment The road to expertise report
This assignment has a performance profile and an action plan with goals
50% Week 11
Due date: 18 Oct 2024 at 23:59
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO5

Assessment summary

Case study and presenation 

This task allows students to select an athlete development challenge relevant to their coaching context and develop a case study (context, issue, influencing factors, potential strategies/problem solving). The 10 min presentation involves Q&A on their case study. Further detail is provided on canvas.

The Road to Expertise Report

This report has two components – (a) performance profile; and (b) action plan for achieving goals (IPP). Further detail is provided on canvas.

Assessment criteria

Result name Mark range Description
HD 85-100 Consistently strong and ongoing demonstration and evidence of superior organisational and conceptual skills. The work is extremely well conceived, coherent, logical, original and lucid as well as professionally prepared
Dist 75-84 Consistently strong and ongoing demonstration of very good organisational and conceptual skills. The work is well conceived, coherent, logical and lucid as well as professionally prepared
CR 65-74 Strong organizational & conceptual skills and evidence that the task is logical and coherent and professionally prepared
Pass 50-64 Demonstrates task organization and conceptual understanding in a style which is mostly logical, coherent and flowing
Fail 0-49 Attempts are made to demonstrate a logical & coherent understanding of the assessment task but some aspects may be confused or undeveloped

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per Faculty guidelines (5% per day for maximum 10 days).

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit introduction. Elite athlete development overview Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 02 Athlete development models and pathways Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6 LO8
Week 03 Factors influencing development Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 04 Sport Expertise Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO8
Week 05 Talent Identification and recruitment Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Talent Development Environments Workshop (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO8
Week 07 Athlete Development Systems Workshop (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 How coaches can influence athlete development Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO8
Week 09 Case study presentations Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO8
Week 10 Transitions, roadblocks & challenges Workshop (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Athlete mental health and well-being Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO5 LO7 LO8
Week 12 Athlete development & performance Workshop (2 hr) LO8

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

A Unit of study reading list is available on canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Critically evaluate the theories and principles that underlie athlete development
  • LO2. Analyse and evaluate a variety of practices that are designed to identify athletic talent
  • LO3. Develop skill in designing an athlete support and referral network
  • LO4. Demonstrate an understanding of the processes involved in talent identification, recruitment and development
  • LO5. Identify and explore political, and controversial issues relating to athlete recruitment
  • LO6. Critically evaluate the cultural, ethical, political and economic issues involved in adopting another countries talent development system
  • LO7. Assist the athlete with the transition from junior to senior ranks
  • LO8. Apply information gained from reading and class discussion to the solution of real-life problems presented in cases

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This Unit is consistently updated to reflect the needs of the students

We welcome feedback on this Unit of Study. Please take the time to offer constructive written feedback at the end of the semester. The teaching team is committed to the participation of learners in the process of planning and evaluation of courses.

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