IDR221 Sports Psychology and Skill Development (Autumn 2026)

On successful completion of the course, the student will

• Have a broad knowledge of psychological factors of importance for athletic skill development and performance
• Have broad knowledge of talent development in a psychological perspective
• Have a broad knowledge of different aspects of talent identification and selection from a psychological perspective
• Be familiar with different methods for planning and conducting sports psychological testing and experiments
• Have broad knowledge of environmental factors that affect athletic skill development and performance
• Be familiar with psychological aspects of injuries and burnout in sports

In this course, students will work with sport psychological topics that are relevant to sport skill development and performance. Students will be introduced to how sport psychological phenomena can be tested, and how sport psychological experiments can be planned and conducted.

Sports psychology

• Personality in sports
• Motivation theories
• Psychological aspects of sports injuries, burnout and overtraining
• Sports psychology and the competition situation
• Dual careers and career transitions
• Talent identification, development and selection
• Relative age effects
• Early specialisation and versatility in sports
• Talent development and gender differences
• The importance of parents for sporting expertise

Sports psychological testing and experiments

The working methods will vary between lectures, practical work, seminars, group work and individual work.

All teaching related to practical work, including testing and experiments, is mandatory.
See further description in Canvas.

Estimated student workload is 270 hours.

Approved active participation in compulsory teaching.
Approved work requirement in group.

See further description in Canvas.