About This Unit

Understanding the role of a sports scientist or allied health practitioner is paramount in monitoring and evaluating an individual’s sport and exercise performance. Using a range of assessment methods, this unit will apply testing protocols commonly used by the sports scientist and health professional in both field- and laboratory-based settings.

The unit will explore the use of clinical assessments to enable you to appreciate the stages involved when planning, administering and interpreting the outcome of testing protocols. You will develop the understanding and practical skills necessary to accurately conduct anthropometric and fitness assessment protocols that establish body composition and density, identify somatotype body types and profile a performer’s fitness capacity.

You will become familiar with a variety of testing procedures and will be able to replicate them under scientific conditions. You will gain clinical skills in order to be proficient in the preparation, testing, data handling and critical analysis of applied assessment methods. From the data produced through practical field and laboratory-based testing, you will profile a selected sports performer. This unit focuses specifically on the practical aspects used by both the sports scientist and allied practitioner.

These skills and methods will enable you to expand on your understanding of safe and ethical working practice, testing protocols and data evaluation skills that are essential for the sports scientist. These activities will prepare you for a variety of careers, and form a good basis for higher education study in sport and further sport and exercise science qualifications, such as sport and exercise science.