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Unit outline_

EXSS3044: Biomechanics of Sports Techniques

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The prime focus of this unit is the application of biomechanical principles to the analysis, understanding, assessment, feedback and improvement of techniques to enhance sport performance. Students will be introduced to the biomechanical analysis of various popular sports such as cricket, golf, soccer, weight lifting, tennis, throwing, etc. A significant portion of the lecture material will be based on published research studies. Many of the case studies introduce a component of practical assessment competency. Skills include the development of a qualitative analysis framework in which to use biomechanical principles to analyse sporting techniques. This unit is designed for students who enjoy sport, providing them with an essential working knowledge of sports biomechanics, of importance to all who may work in the sports science industry.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Movement Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
EXSS1018 or EXSS1038
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Rene Ferdinands, edouard.ferdinands@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Rene Ferdinands, edouard.ferdinands@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Live+ supervised) Type A final exam Final exam
2 hours - Short answer and MCQs
55% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Small continuous assessment Practicals
Practical quizzes/reports Note: schedule subject to change due to COVID-19
20% Multiple weeks 2 hour practical followed by quiz
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
In-semester test (Record+) Type B in-semester exam Mid-semester exam
2.0 hours plus 10 minutes reading time - Short answer plus MCQs.
25% Week 08
Due date: 06 Oct 2021 at 13:05

Closing date: 06 Oct 2021
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Type A final exam = Type A final exam ?
Type B in-semester exam = Type B in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Mid-semester exam: The exam questions will cover lecture, tutorial and practical content from weeks 1-7.
  • Final exam: The exam questions will cover lecture, tutorial and practical content from weeks 1-13.
  • Quizzes: Students are required to sit a quiz or submit a written practical assessment at the end of the practical/tutorial sessions. The quizzes will be assessed via Canvas. Written assessments should be filled out during the course of the practical. The highest 8 quiz scores will count for assessment.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

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:

1. Failure to sit an exam will result in zero marks. Students will be required to apply for Special Consideration application to sit deferred exam. 2. Students have to attend practicals in order to gain assessment. 3. Students are strongly recommended to attend all the practicals, since the theory and applications are examined in both the quizzes and exams. 4. Students who do not sit for both exams will automatically fail the unit.

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 Online Lecture: Fundamental Principles of Biomechanics Lecture (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Online Lecture: Biomechanics of kicking Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Online Practical: Video-based analysis of kicking Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 03 Online Lecture: Biomechanics of throwing Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Online Practical: Video-based analysis of throwing Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 04 On-Campus Lecture: Biomechanics of golf swing Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Online Practical: Video-based analysis of golf Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 05 On-Campus Lecture: Gait biomechanics Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Online Practical: Video-based analysis of gait Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 On-Campus Lecture: Cycling Biomechanics Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Field-based Practical: Cycling Biomechanics Subject to schedule change or online assesssment Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 On-Campus Lecture: Inverse Dynamics Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
On-Campus Tutorial: inverse Dynamics Problems, Calculations, Research Examples Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 08 ONLINE: Mid-Semester Exam Individual study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Tutorial: questions Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Online Lecture: Exam Review Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Online Tutorial: Qualitative Analysis Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 On-Campus Lecture: Tennis Biomechanics Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Field-based Practical: Tennis Biomechanics Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 On-Campus Lecture: Cricket biomechanics Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Field-based Practical: Cricket biomechanics Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 On-Campus Lecture: Fundamental Biomechanics of Weight and Resistance Training Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Field-based Practical: Weight and Resistance Training Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 On-Campus Lecture: Sports Biomechanics and Skill Acquisition Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Field-based Practical: Skill acquisition training in golf putting Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance at the lectures, practicals, and tutorials is not compulsory, but highly recommended, since all materials and content covered in the lectures, practicals, and tutorials are examinable. Attendance will be recorded for all classes.

In addition, owing to the unplanned nature of the COVID-19 shutdown periods, the unit of study lecture and practical schedules are subject to change. Students are expected to read their emails to check for the latest updates.

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.

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. understand the fundamental principles of sports biomechanics
  • LO2. develop qualitative biomechanics analysis skills to describe and analyse sports technique
  • LO3. apply the fundamental principles of sports biomechanics to analyse technique in various sports skills
  • LO4. learn to interpret and assimilate details of published case studies in quantitative biomechanics analysis of various sports techniques
  • LO5. understand the interactions between biomechanics, sports performance and injury risk
  • LO6. evaluate the efficiency of sports techniques based on the fundamental sports biomechanical principles and published research findings
  • LO7. obtain a practical appreciation and understanding of sports biomechanics in the laboratory and field.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

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.