Course Objectives

The aim of the course is to analyse and understand the relationship between trainers, athletes, sports and society, and how this shapes the new role of the trainer.

Course Description

• The role and function of sport in society
• Old methods and new trends
• The Norwegian sports model - elite sport versus inclusive sport
• The trainer’s role and function in the past and present
• From volunteers to professionals
• The transmission of knowledge or myths
• The trainer and the contest between integrity and money
• The trainer as hero or villain
• The role of the individual under the power of the system

Learning Methods

Two hours of lectures per week during the autumn and spring semesters.
The subject material will primarily be presented in the form of lectures. The course material will be rendered more concrete by relating it to the students’ own experiences, thus motivating and engaging them to participate and discuss the relevant issues. Course literature will be made readily available, so that students will be able to prepare for lectures, participate in discussions, ask questions and make comments on the subject material. Students will be divided into groups and assigned oral or written presentations on a relevant problem. These problems may be drawn from themes discussed in the lectures, curriculum material or from a relevant topic within the field which the students find to be of particular interest.

Assessment Methods

The individual students will write three essays on assigned themes. They will be expected to integrate theoretical and empirical material in their reports. They will receive grades on each essay, which collectively will result in a final grade.

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