Advanced Strength and Conditioning Physiology

Module title	Advanced Strength and Conditioning Physiology
Module code	ESS3509
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	15
Module staff	Mr Oliver Whitton (Convenor) Dr Matthew Campbell (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	11	0

Number students taking module (anticipated)	155

Module description

This module seeks to provide you with the practical and theoretical skills to succeed in the Strength and Conditioning environment.

You will cover four main areas of theory on this module, alongside continuing to develop your anatomical knowledge, including advanced training load, advanced neuromuscular physiology and adaptations to training, recovery II and biomechanics in strength and conditioning. Theory will be presented alongside practical workshops. The practical aspects of the module will complement the theoretical content by teaching you how to apply the information learnt to real world situations, relevant to working with athletes. This will include development of your own practical lifting skills, analysing various lifting techniques in detail to understand the effect different techniques have in relation to factors such as anatomy and neuromuscular physiology, and how technology can be employed to improve performance through areas such as biomechanical analysis, quantification of training load and optimising recovery.

The Stage 2 module, ESS2508 Strength and Conditioning Physiology is a prerequisite and it is suitable for non-specialist students who have also studied this module.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module content and the practical skills learnt are crucial for those looking towards a career in Strength and Conditioning and the wider athlete support network. In particular you will develop the following graduate attributes

Applied critical thinking and problem solving - applying the knowledge you have gained to develop effective programmes for all types of athletes taking into consideration the needs of the athlete
Communication skills - discussing ideas and techniques with peers, module teaching team and a wider lay audience
Data management skills - through collection, recording and analysis of data
Technology application - why, why and where technology is appropriate and how best to utilise it.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Prepare in depth athlete programmes for use in Strength & Conditioning environments
2. Operate and justify the use of technology in monitoring and testing athletes
3. Interpret, evaluate, and construct purposeful uses for Strength and Conditioning data
4. Describe key physiological mechanisms that regulate muscle contraction

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Report knowledge to both a scientific and lay audience.
6. Recall key anatomical terminology & knowledge

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. Take responsibility for your own learning and development of the key skills of evaluation and prioritisation
8. Demonstrate data analysis, presentation and communication skills
9. Employ reasoned decision making to shape practice

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Theory Content
- Advanced Anatomy for S&C
- Advanced Training Load:
  - Workload Management
  - GPS

- Advanced Neuromuscular Physiology:
  - Calcium kinetics & Rate of Force Development

- Recovery & Injury II:
  - Sleep
  - Advanced Injury Management

- Biomechanics in Strength & Conditioning
- Communication of Information - Pitching it at the right level

Practical Content
- Advanced lifting techniques
- Adaptations for the individual
- Technology and how it can be used to assist the Strength and Conditioning Coach:
  - Training Load
  - Biomechanics

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
38.5	111.5	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	22	Lectures and Theory Videos
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	16.5	Practical classes
Guided Independent Study	111.5	Completion of set readings from book chapters and web resources and practice of practical S&C skills

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Weekly online anatomy quizzes	5-10 minutes	6	Online
End of topic consolidation quizzes	10 minutes	2,3,6,7,8,9	Online

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Short ELE Essay - Scientific vs Lay You will produce two short essays on a question regarding neuromuscular physiology. Both essays are to convey the same information one aimed at the scientific community, one aimed at a lay level such as the athlete.	30	2 x 500 words	4-5	Annotated script and feedback sheet
Video Case Study I You will use yourself as a case study, analysing yourself performing one exercise of your choice as a before and after. You will detail and justify the methods used to improve the technique over the year. The exercise will be a free choice excluding the Olympic lifts and the standard back squat.	35	Maximum 7.5 minutes	1,3,6,7-9	Written feedback
Video Case Study II You will be asked to present a technical model of one of the two Olympic lifts. You will then use your technical model to analyse and critique video footage of the lift and provide advice for future development.	35	Maximum 7.5 minutes	1,3,6,7-9	Written feedback
	0
	0
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Short ELE Essay - Scientific vs Lay	Short ELE Essay - Scientific vs Lay (30%)	4,5	August Assessment Period
Video case study I	Video case study I (35%)	1,3,6,7-9	August Assessment Period
Video case study II	Video case study II (35%)	1,3,6,7-9	August Assessment Period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to retake all components you have failed. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Indicative basic reading list:

Essentials of strength training and conditioning. Thomas Baechle and Roger Earle. 3rd edition. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.
Training for Speed, Agility and Quickness. Lee Brown and Lance Ferrigno. 2nd edition. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.
Strength and conditioning for team sports. Paul Gamble. Routledge, Abingdon UK
NASM Essentials of Sports Performance Training. Michael Clark and Scott Lucett, Lippincott, Baltimore. 2010.
Designing Resistance Training Programmes. Fleck, S., and Kraemer, W. 2014 (4th Ed). Human Kinetics.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE page: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9432 – readings, lecture notes, web-links and follow-up exercises will be posted on the module’s ELE site.

Key words search

Strength training, Olympic lifting, applied anatomy, training load, technology aplication

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	ESS2508 Strength & Conditioning Physiology
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	19/02/2020
Last revision date	27/02/2023