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SPORTS SCIENCES What do professionals in sports sciences do? Sports Science is the study of those aspects of the physical sciences, life sciences, and behavioural sciences which influence participation and personal performance in sports. Sport Science is an area of study that provides a professional qualification for students seeking to enter occupations in sport, fitness agencies, business settings, recreation and allied hetitleh agencies. The field of Sports Science is concerned with preventing injury and with improving or maintaining performance The goal of sports medicine professionals is to help an athlete in achieve top performance while achieving optimal hetitleh .. Professionals in this field acquire knowledge and skills in the areas of: exercise physiology, biomechanics, psychology, sociology, coaching, education, motor skill acquisition, nutrition, resistance training, exercise programming, sports injury and exercise rehabilitation. Sports medicine refers to many different areas of exercise and sports science that relate both to performance and care of injury. Within sports medicine are areas of specialization such as clinical medicine, orthopedic, exercise physiology, biomechanics, physical therapy, athl etic training, sports nutrition, sports psychology, and more. Many schools and universities have programs in sports medicine, and many professionals use the title of sports medicine. Nevertheless, the term sports medicine is vague and has multiple meaning . Many professionals, in fact, use the term "sports medicine", when in reality they are either team physicians, orthopedic surgeons, exercise physiologists, biomechanists, physical therapists, athletic trainers, or others. Therefore, studying sports medicine means the study of one of these fields which combine medical principals and sciences with sport and physical performance. The main question, then, is not how and where to study sports medicine, but which of these field of study interests you. Job Options: The athletic trainer is a qualified hetitleh care professional that works with athletes in high schools, colleges, or professional teams to treat and prevent sports injuries. The six domains of the athletic trainer are: prevention of athletic injuries, recognition and evaluation of athletic injuries, management, treatment, and disposition of athletic injuries, rehabilitation of athletic injuries, organization and administration of an athletic training program; and education and counseling of athletes. In cooperation with physicians and other allied hetitleh care personnel, the athletic trainer functions as an integral member of the athletic hetitleh care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, Professional sports programs, sports medicine clinics, and other hetitleh care settings. Coaches organize, instruct, and teach amateur and professional athletes in fundamentals of individual and team sports. The main objective of these professionals is to improve the athlete's agility, strength, endurance, flexibility, and power. In individual sports, instructors may often fill this role. Coaches train athletes for competition by holding practice sessions to perform drills and improve the athlete's skills and conditioning. Using their expertise in the sport, coaches instruct the athlete on proper form and technique in beginning and later in advanced exercises attempting to maximize the players' potential. Along with overseeing athletes as they refine their individual skills, coaches also are responsible for managing the team during both practice sessions and competitions. They may also select, store, issue, and inventory equipment, materials, and supplies. During competitions, for example, coaches substitute players for optimum team chemistry and success. In addition, coaches direct team strategy and may call specific plays during competition to surprise or overpower the opponent. Sports instructors teach professional and nonprofessional athletes on an individual basis. They organize, instruct, train, and lead athletes of indoor and outdoor sports such as bowling, tennis, golf, and swimming. Because activities are as diverse as weight lifting, gymnastics, scuba diving, and may include self-defense training such as karate, instructors tend to specialize in one or a few types of activities. Like a coach, sports instructors may also hold daily practice sessions and be responsible for any needed equipment and supplies. Using their knowledge of their sport, physiology, and corrective techniques, they determine the type and level of difficulty of exercises, prescribe specific drills, and relentlessly correct individuals' techniques. Some instructors also teach and demonstrate use of training apparatus, such as trampolines or weights, while correcting athlete's weaknesses and enhancing their conditioning. Exercise Physiologist studies the acute and chronic physiological responses and adaptations resulting from physical activity. Today, exercise physiologists work and study in commercial, clinical, and workplace settings to increase hetitleh, fitness, and quality of life in the general population. Personal trainers typically work one-on-one with an individual or a group. They plan and supervise conditioning programs to improve hetitleh or sports performance. Trainers can work independently or in a facility. An undergraduate degree and certification, such as the ACSM or ACE is essential. Fitness directors manage hetitleh promotion programs in a variety of settings, including corporations, community, commercial, and hospital facilities. Typically these positions will manage exercise programs and supervise fitness staff, as well as providing hetitleh promotion and wellness education programs. Education Required: Some entry-level positions for coaches or instructors only require experience derived as a participant in the sport or activity. Many coaches begin their careers as assistant coaches to gain the necessary knowledge and experience needed to become a head coach. To reach the ranks of professional coaching, it usually takes years of coaching experience and a winning record in the lower ranks. Public secondary school coaches and sports instructors at all levels usually must have a bachelor's degree and meet State requirements for licensure as a teacher. Licensure may not be required for coach and sports instructor jobs in private schools. There are many certifying organizations specific to the various sports and their training requirements vary depending on their standards. Participation in a clinic, camp, or school usually is required for certification. To become an athletic trainer , an individual completes a nationally approved curriculum in athletic training leading to a BS or MS degree; or completes an internship requiring a minimum of 1,500 hours of experience supervised by a NATA Certified Athletic Trainer over a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years while obtaining a BS or MS degree. A career as a fitness director usually requires an undergraduate degree is highly recommended and business experience is also useful. It is also recommended that fitness directors hold a recognized certification, such as the ACSM, YMCA or ACE. The area of exercise physiology requires a minimum of an undergraduate degree (a Master's degree is preferred). Recognized certification is also recommended , such as one from the American College of Sports Medicine. Skills Required:
Industries and Organizations that employ professionals in sports sciences:
Professional Associations: American College of Sports Medicine National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Athletic Trainers' Association National Strength and Conditioning Association National Collegiate Athletic Association Web sites that provide more information about the field
of Sports Science: Information taken from the following web sites: Stop by the Office of Career Services |
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