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Unit outline_

EXSS1040: Introduction to Strength and Conditioning

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This introductory unit will provide students with fundamental skills and understanding of strength and conditioning practice. Students will learn how to safely and effectively supervise strength and conditioning activities, and to design, implement and evaluate a basic strength and conditioning program.

Unit details and rules

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

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Daniel Hackett, daniel.hackett@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Shane Ball, s.ball@sydney.edu.au
Daniel Hackett, daniel.hackett@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) David Bourke, david.b@sydney.edu.au
Guy Wilson, guy.wilson@sydney.edu.au
Allen Wang, boliang.wang@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
End-Semester Exam
Written exam consisting of multiple-choice and short answer questions.
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Sport Specific Profile
Written report on an athlete and their sport.
15% Week 06
Due date: 08 Sep 2023 at 23:59
1200 word limit.
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment group assignment Sport Specific Exercise Program
Designing a strength and conditioning program for an athlete.
15% Week 10
Due date: 13 Oct 2023 at 23:59
No more than 5 x A4 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Skills-based evaluation Resistance Exercise Instruction
Instruction of two resistance exercises across weeks 11 and 12.
30% Week 12 15 min
Outcomes assessed: LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 23:59 on the due date.

All assessment tasks are compulsory. Failure to complete any of the tasks will result in a grade of Absent Fail (AF).

Assessment criteria

Result name Mark range Description
High distinction 85 - 100 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard.
Credit 65 - 74 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.
Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.
Fail 0 - 49 When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

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:

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.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 The Strength and Conditioning Coach Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Exercise Instruction (3 lifts) Practical (2 hr) LO3
Week 02 Physiological Profile of Sports and Attributes of Successful Performances Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Analysing Requirements of a Sport Tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 03 Assessment and Interpretation of Muscle Strength and Power Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Exercise Instruction (3 lifts) Practical (2 hr) LO3
Week 04 Assessment and Interpretation of Anaerobic and Aerobic Capacity Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Muscle Strength and Power Assessments Practical (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Goal Setting and Training Theory Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Assessment Interpretation and Goal Setting Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Exercise Prescription for Development of Muscle Strength and Power Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Exercise Instruction Competency Practical (2 hr) LO3
Week 07 Exercise Prescription for Development of Anaerobic and Aerobic Capacity Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Anaerobic and Aerobic Assessment and Prescription Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Flexibility, Mobility, Warming up and Cooling Down Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Designing Training Programmes for Athletes Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 09 Flexibility & Mobility; Exercise Instruction Assessment (practice) Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Recovery Techniques for Athletes Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO4
Recovery Strategies; Exercise Instruction Assessment (practice) Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Long-Term Athlete Development Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 12 Testing and Prescription Considerations for Special Populations Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 Revision and Assessment Feedback Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

While attendance at lectures, practical classes, and tutorials are not compulsory, it is strongly recommended that students attend all allocated classes in order to keep up with the work and to take the opportunity to ask questions of their teachers to clarify their understanding. 

Practical classes are very important to attend to help prepare you for the Resistance Exercise Instruction assessment. 

In every class, you will be learning essential information for becoming a Strength and Conditioning coach. Additionally, the information covered will be important for anyone wanting to work as an Exercise Physiologist or Exercise Scientist. So it is important to take your learning seriously and attend and participate in class as best as you can.

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

Haff, G. Gregory, and N. Travis Triplett, eds. Essentials of strength training and conditioning 4th edition. Human Kinetics, 2015.

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. Identify the needs and requirements of an athlete and team. (a) Ability to analyse the strength and conditioning needs and requirements of an activity and sport. (b) Develop profiles for an athlete participating in a strength and conditioning program using appropriate assessment measures. (c) Develop short and long-term goals for a strength and conditioning program.
  • LO2. Plan a strength and conditioning training program to meet identified needs. (a) Explain strategies used to identify needs and requirements of an athlete. (b) Be able to select core exercises and lifts commonly used in strength and conditioning to address identified needs and requirements of an athlete. (c) Develop a program schedule to meet the identified needs, requirements and objectives of an athlete. (d) Manipulate exercise prescription variables to maximise conditioning outcomes throughout a program. (e) Identify equipment and resource requirements for a session within the program. (f) Describe evaluation methods to monitor the program prior to implementation.
  • LO3. Implement strength and conditioning training programs. (a) Demonstrate the correct use of equipment, set-up, and performance of core exercises and lifts commonly used in strength and conditioning programs. (b) Instruct core exercises and lifts commonly used in strength and conditioning programs in accordance with accepted best practices. (c) Understand the liaison required between coaches and specialists when working with athletes throughout strength and conditioning programs.
  • LO4. Monitor, evaluate and modify strength and conditioning programs. (a) Understand how to evaluate a strength and conditioning program. (b) Understand the importance of reviewing training records to monitor ongoing progress. (c) Describe assessment measures that can be used to assess the ongoing progress of an athlete. (d) Explain the importance feedback from participating athletes, teams and support personnel. (e) Demonstrate the ability to make modifications to a program, where relevant, to meet identified needs.

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.

There have been additional practical sessions included this year. These sessions are focused on: 1) assessment of muscle strength/power, 2) assessment and prescription of anaerobic and aerobic fitness, 3) flexibility & mobility, and 4) recovery strategies. The number of lifts examinable has been reduced from 7 to 6, and now there are sessions focused on the competency of instructing the lifts and preparation for the practical assessment. The final exam will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions - since previous years only included multiple choice questions.

Work, health and safety

At the beginning of the first practical session (week 1), a Work, Health, and Safety (WHS) Induction will be conducted. Students will be required to attend this induction and sign off on the WHS induction checklist prior to participating in the practical sessions in EXSS1040.

 

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.