Did you know that OpenLearn is full of content exploring the fascinating and exciting world of sport and fitness?

In these three videos, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Olympic gold medallist rower, talks about coaching, family influences and team dynamics

Whilst sport is a largely physical endeavour, the psychological aspects of sports performance, and the role of the coach, should not be underestimated.

Have you ever experienced a sport injury? Have you ever thought there could be a psychological dimension to sport injuries, as well as a physical one?

Sport injury is relatively common among sport
and exercise participants, and while the physical impact of injury is often easy to recognise, the psychological impact is less obvious. In this free course, Exploring the psychological aspects of sport injury, you will examine the relationship between injury and psychological factors. You will look at the link between injury and psychology
at two distinct points – before an injury has occurred and then following an injury. First, you will consider the psychological factors that may increase the likelihood of sustaining a sport injury (pre-injury), and then you will consider psychological reactions to the incidence of a sport injury (post-injury). The course will also allow you to
examine how sport and exercise psychology can be used both to help minimise the risk of injury and to help people cope better with sport injury rehabilitation. The video below featuring OU student and Olympic Gold Medallist Helen
Richardson-Walsh explains more.

Are you responsible for supporting sport and physical activity coaches to become inspirational and excellent in their practice? This course is designed for coach developers, educators, mentors and tutors who support coaches to improve. You will explore how people learn, what are the skills and qualities of an effective coach of coaches, as well appreciate how to ask powerful questions and listen actively. You will consider the processes associated with resolving difficult situations where differences of opinion arise, how to measure success and provide constructive feedback. By the end of this course you should feel more confident in your ability to support colleagues and help them to become even better at what they do.

This free course, Exploring sport coaching and psychology, investigates how scientific and management ideas contribute to success while also taking you on a journey through unique sporting case studies and insights that will change how you view and study sport. You will consider how the mind, the body, the environment and training techniques all contribute to optimum fitness.

Have you thought about how you give feedback? Giving feedback in a more structured way using the AID (Action, Impact, Desired outcome) model may help for both highlighting positive behaviour, and challenging behaviour that needs developmental action.

The coach–player relationship in tennis is very important. Find out the vital factors in getting this right.

Can you help a talented child athlete make it all the way to the Olympic finals based on the choices you make for them at key stages in their development? Try our game and find out.