Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of:

• The special characteristics of the selected sport, through its history, content, competition forms, techniques and tactics
• The preparation and implementation of the selected sport in relation to developing one’s own skills, mastery, motivation and enjoyment.

Skills

The candidate can/has:

• Apply the above knowledge in their training activities
• Guide and direct the athlete in learning situations in practice
• Adequate skills in the selected sport; the candidate can, amongst other things, demonstrate exercises and techniques that illustrate pedagogical aspects, which, in combination with sufficient physical fitness, provide the required mental approach to coaching/supervision situations.
  

General competence

The candidate can:

• Organize and implement training and exercise for various groups and individuals in the selected sport, with reflective and well-founded scientific justifications.

Course Description

Students will gain experience in their selected sport and through practice and theory will acquire competence, experience, skills and knowledge. Making students aware of how they think, act in practice, and learn in relation to the sport is emphasised. Observation, analysis and critical reflection on one’s own abilities and learning are important elements of the course.

The specialisation course in volleyball will provide a thorough theoretical and practical foundation for activating, coaching and mentoring athletes, both individually and in groups, at various performance and skill levels:

• Differentiated practical guidance at individual and group levels in volleyball and beach volleyball skills.
• Differentiated practical guidance with respect to planning and leading training and matches at various levels, and how to provide constructive feedback to the individual player and the team as a whole.
• Through the acquisition of professional knowledge, practical guidance and feedback, students will become familiar with the coach’s role and functions in the work involved in developing both athletes and teams at different performance and skill levels.
• Students will be given the opportunity to observe and analyse training and games at both general and elite levels.
• Students will be able to practice analysing teams’ and players’ choice of solutions and execution during practice and games.
• The course will include internal volleyball tournaments, which will be implemented and managed by the students.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Approximately 4 hours per week during the autumn and spring semesters.

The course will alternate between teacher-led and student-led teaching. Students must complete a minimum of 100 hours of practice during the autumn and spring semesters, distributed between two-thirds teaching and one-third observation of other trainers/athletes.

Students will write a field log with descriptions and reflections on all the activities in the specialisation course, which will form the basis for a practical training report submitted at the end of the academic year.

The field log will include:

• Description of the content and exercises in the specialisation course
• Aims of the athletes’ group/team that the student will be coaching during their period of practical training
• A pedagogical development goal related to the student’s coaching role

The content of the practical training report content should be based on the lower two indents in the description of the field log above, and shall also provide a description and reflection of how students have worked and how well they have succeeded in developing both themselves as coaches and in the progression of the team’s skills related to their own defined development goal.

Assessment Methods

• Individual practical-methodical examination in the spring semester, followed by an oral examination in which students will be examined in relation to completed sessions and the syllabus literature. Graded mark counts for 100%.
• Students must fulfil a minimum of 75% active participation in the sport in order to be permitted to sit the practical-methodological examination.
• The practical training must be approved.
• The submitted practical training report will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.

All the course components must be passed in order to attain a final passing course grade.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean