Skip to main content
Unit of study_

EXSS3040: Physiological Testing and Training

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study provides students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills (laboratory and field-based) for the physiological assessment and training of elite athletes. The application of current tests and measurements in sports science together with training theory and practice will be critically reviewed. Special attention will be given to the role of speed, strength and endurance in sports performance. Fundamental questions concerning the nature of the training stimulus, training thresholds, plasticity of muscle, dose-response relationships, detraining and overtraining will be investigated. Teaching and learning strategies include lectures, case studies, practical test and measurement skills. On completion of this unit of study students will demonstrate competency within the sports testing environment and a capacity to provide well researched consultancy advice on sports training theory and practice.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EXSS3040
Academic unit Movement Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
EXSS2022
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Tim Davies, timothy.davies@sydney.edu.au
Demonstrator(s) Grant Lynch, grant.lynch@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Jonathan Freeston, jonathan.freeston@sydney.edu.au
Shane Ball, s.ball@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Short-release, take-home exam.
35% Formal exam period 3 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2 LO4
Online task Online Quiz 1
Quiz on Canvas of only MCQ on material from weeks 1-2
5% Week 03
Due date: 26 Aug 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 26 Aug 2021
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Online task Online Quiz 2
Quiz on Canvas of only MCQ on material from weeks 3-5
5% Week 06
Due date: 16 Sep 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 16 Sep 2021
25 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Online task Online Quiz 3
Quiz on Canvas of only MCQ on material from weeks 6-7
5% Week 08
Due date: 07 Oct 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 07 Oct 2021
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Presentation Case Study Defence
Case Study Defence
20% Week 11
Due date: 29 Oct 2021 at 08:00
8 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Client assessment report
Competency assessment and report
30% Week 13
Due date: 12 Nov 2021 at 23:59
5 pages and references/appendix
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Online Quizzes (15%): Three quizzes that will cover all teaching material, including lectures and practicals. Quiz 1 covers material from weeks 1-2, quiz 2 covers material from weeks 3-5 and quiz three covers material from weeks 6-7. All quizzes will consist of multiple-choice questions only.
  • Case study defence (20%): A defence of the testing and programming decisions based on a real-life case study of an athlete in a sporting context.
  • Client assessment report (30%): A report based on the case study defence to provide a written component to rationalise the decisions made in the case from needs analysis to programming strategy to achieve the athlete’s goal(s).
  • Final exam (35%): The final exam encompasses all content taught during the semester (including lectures and practicals). This exam will be a Type D final examination which is a short-release (3 hours) with extended response questions only.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on the EXS3040 Canvas site.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.html

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Written work submitted electronically after 11.59 pm on the due date will be considered to have been submitted late. For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. The penalty will be calculated by first marking the work, and then subtracting 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded. The marker may elect to, but is not required to, provide feedback on such work.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Lecture 1: Introduction, Evaluating an Athletes Needs, Athlete Movement Proficiency Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 02 Practical 1: Testing and Training of Muscular Strength and Power (Zoom) Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Lecture 2: Testing Muscular Strength and Power Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 03 Lecture 3: Advanced Training for Muscular Strength and Power Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Week 04 Lecture 4: Testing and Training Speed, Agility and Change of Direction Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Practical 2: Testing and Training Speed, Agility and Change of Direction (Zoom) Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Lecture 5: Testing Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 06 Lecture 6: Training Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Practical 3: Assessing Movement Proficiency/Testing and Training Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity (Field-Based) (Zoom) Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Lecture 7: Part I: Special Athletic Performances; Part II: Stimuli and Sensors of Muscular Hypertrophy Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Practical 4: Needs analysis to exercise prescription for athletes - Case study preparation Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Practical 5: Testing and Training of Muscular Strength and Power (Face-to-Face) Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Lecture 8: Part I: Performance Data Visualisation. Part II: Doping, Ergogenic Aids and Performance Lecture (2 hr) LO4
Week 10 Lecture 9: Environmental Factors Impacting Performance Lecture (2 hr) LO4
Practical 6: Testing and Training Speed, Agility and Change of Direction (Face-to-Face) Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Lecture 10: Monitoring Team Sport Athletes Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Lecture 11: Overtraining Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Practical 7: Assessing Movement Proficiency/Testing and Training Aerobic/Anaerobic Capacity (Face-to-Face) Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 Lecture 12: Genes and Performance Lecture (2 hr) LO4
Week 14 (STUVAC) Exam Revision - Drop-in Zoom Session Lecture (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Students are strongly encouraged to attend all lecture and practical classes. All lectures and online practicals are recorded for future viewing for students.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Haff, G., & Triplett, N. T. (2016). Essentials of strength training and conditioning. Fourth edition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the physiological basis of testing and training specific domains of athletic performance
  • LO2. understand the physiological and mechanical basis of training and how the body adapts to a training stimulus
  • LO3. demonstrate how to use appropriate testing and training protocols based on accurate needs analyses to improve the performance of athletic individuals
  • LO4. describe how environmental conditions, overtraining and an individual's genetic expressions can alter the body’s ability to perform and adapt to exercise.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In light of previous feedback, the unit has been remodelled to include a more well-rounded focus on all components of athletic performance. Moreover, there are changes to the online quiz to slightly reduce difficulty and lecture content to discuss muscular hypertrophy.

This unit of study may require you to attend a teaching activity timetabled in teaching venues installed with the University’s Clinical Recording and Observation System (CROS) in the Susan Wakil Health Building. Students should be aware of the privacy and information management implications of this system. For more information, please refer to the University’s Privacy Statement.

Work, health and safety

Students are to adhere to current policies and procedures associated with on-campus practical classes including, but not limited to, checking-in with QR codes, wearing of PPE and physical distancing between class members.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.