All content
Hundreds of educational interactives, games, quizzes, videos and podcasts, plus 1000s of articles written by academic experts and guest contributors.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Highs and lows and highs again: How football has changed in the past 50 years
Money has had a huge impact on football in the previous 50 years. Simon Rea investigates the key changes over this period to our national game.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
The evolution of sports medicine over the last 50 Years: From the wet sponge to holistic care
Dr Caroline Heaney is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Fitness at The Open University. She discusses the advances made in sports medicine and what the future holds.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Past and present: A 50-year celebration of British Sportswomen
Jessica Pinchbeck, a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Fitness at The Open University, reflects on her sporting heroes and charts the success of female sportswomen.
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Physical activity: a family affair
This free course, Physical activity: a family affair, aims to explore the effects that the family has on the amount and nature of physical activity a child participates in. The beliefs and behaviours of the family environment are the key psycho-social factors we investigate here.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
The science behind wheeled sports
Please note: This course contains two Flash activities which are no longer playable. These are being updated. This course can still be studied, but you may like to postpone your study for now if you would rather have the full experience.
free course icon
level 2: intermediate icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Exercise and mental health
Each year thousands of pounds are spent on medications to treat conditions such as anxiety and depression. These medications often have negative side effects. Exercise is an alternative treatment that is low cost and has few side effects. In this free course, Exercise and mental health, we will look at the links between exercise and improved ...
free course icon
level 2: intermediate icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
A question of ethics: right or wrong?
This free course, A question of ethics: right or wrong?, discusses ethical and professional principles in sport and fitness environments. Working closely with individuals and developing relationships is an inherent and often satisfying part of the work of a sports coach or exercise instructor. However, it can bring about ethical and professional...
video icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Calling the game: Sexism in World Cup punditry
Eniola Aluko has worn the three lions - so why did her ITV colleagues treat her knowledge of football as a surprise? We've got a way to go to chase sexism out the commentary box, says the OU's Kath Woodward.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
The psychology of World Cup fans
Sure, football is popular but it's never as popular as during a World Cup. Why is that? And does all this on-pitch conflict lead to countries hating each other a little bit more? Chris Stiff explores the psychology of people caught up in the men's World Cup.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
OpenLearn Live: 2018 World Cup Special
You might have noticed that England have made the Semi Finals of the men's World Cup. With football writing 'HOME' on a big piece of cardboard and standing hopefully at the side of road with its thumb out, fight the big match nerves with some calming insights into the world of soccer.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Football culture: the use of banners
What role do team banners play in the wider context of football culture?
article icon
History & The Arts
Match report: England v Scotland, 1872
The first international football match took place between England & Scotland in Glasgow, on November 30th 1872. Here's how it went.