XNH476 Sport Science Service Delivery and Professional Practices

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2027, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit prepares you to deliver evidence-based sport science services in multidisciplinary sporting environments, teaching you how to design, implement, and evaluate interventions within diverse and culturally safe settings. You will learn to use evidence to address sports-related problems, apply critical thinking to real-world challenges, and leverage emerging technologies to assess and enhance performance. You will evaluate intervention efficacy and develop professional competencies to work effectively with athletes, coaches, and other stakeholders. The unit covers methods of communicating with different audiences, and competencies for effective leadership, including self-awareness, relationship management, and cultural considerations. You will also explore leadership models, professional relationships, and self-reflection on leadership trait. Ethical principles, legislation, and industry regulations associated with sports science practice will also be explored.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Effectively communicate evidence-based feedback and recommendations to culturally diverse audiences, including athletes, coaches, and sport science professionals.
2. Demonstrate advanced judgement, legal responsibility, and ethical accountability in sport science practice, including privacy, governance, and athlete well-being.
3. Apply logical and systematic problem-solving techniques to design, implement, and evaluate inclusive, evidence-based sport science interventions in multidisciplinary settings.
4. Synthesise and critically evaluate evidence-based interventions using sports science principles to address specific sports-related problems.
5. Reflect on and evaluate personal leadership strengths and values to develop a leadership framework that informs ethical and socio-culturally inclusive professional practice

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit uses a blended learning approach combining self-paced online modules, digital learning resources, online discussions, and interactive workshops. You will engage in inquiry-based learning to promote problem-solving, collaborative discussions, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. You will collaborate on culturally diverse case studies and use these to develop your awareness of cultural discrimination, collaborating on intervention strategies to gain confidence and willingness to act on instances of cultural discrimination in professional practice. Formative assessment activities, including collaborative tasks and guided discussions, will support your understanding of professional practices in sport science. Class attendance is expected to maximise learning opportunities and enhance your engagement with the unit content. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit may be provided in the following ways:

• Verbal and/or written feedback on each piece of formative and summative assessment during the semester
• Criteria sheet grading
• Comments, including peer feedback on group work, on summative assessment
• Generic comments back to the cohort via QUT Canvas

As this unit will be related to your practicum experiences, you may also seek informal feedback from supervisors where this is appropriate. 

You are encouraged to communicate with the unit coordinator if you have any questions or concerns about the assessment items.

Assessment

Overview

The assessment tasks in this unit are designed to support your integration of theoretical knowledge with practical experiences in sport science. You will demonstrate your ability to design, implement, and evaluate interventions to address sports-related problems, communicate effectively with different audiences, and apply cultural, ethical and legal considerations in real-world sporting contexts. Reflective practice will help you critically assess your leadership skills and respond to complex professional challenges in sport science environments. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Sport Science Practice Case studies

In this series of case studies, you will explore various scenarios, including situations you may not have encountered during your practicum placement. These case studies will address issues such as athlete preparation, staff management, cultural considerations, and ethical dilemmas in sport environments. Through these case studies, you will demonstrate your ability to apply ethical frameworks, and professional skills to solve complex, real-world problems.  

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.

Assessment: From Problem to Performance: Designing Solutions in Sport Science

Assuming the role of a sports scientist working in a multidisciplinary sports setting, your task is to identify a current or potential problem that may impact service user performance and/or risk of injury within a multidisciplinary sports setting, and to design an evidence-based intervention to address that problem. You will use various forms of data to evaluate current sports sciences services within a sports setting. You will then synthesise and evaluate principles and evidence from two or more sports science sub-disciplines in order to design an evidence-informed intervention. Finally you will devise an evaluation process for determining the efficacy of your proposed intervention.

This authentic task then involves translating scientific information into lay language suitable for a coach, athlete or other service user. Your task is to summarise the information provided in your intervention plan assessment task and to deliver that information in an oral presentation.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is NOT authorised during this assessment. Unauthorised use may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed. 

Assessment: Personal Leadership Reflection

This assessment requires you to produce a reflective piece (oral) directly linked to your practicum placement experiences. You will critically evaluate how these experiences have informed your leadership style, communication strategies, and cultural competency, drawing on concepts from the unit’s modules. Additionally, you will reflect on how your placement shaped your understanding of ethical responsibilities, athlete well-being, and organisational leadership. This authentic task emphasises the importance of self-awareness, professional growth, and the practical application of leadership theories in sport science. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is NOT authorised during this assessment. Unauthorised use may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed. 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There is no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

XN55 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (Honours)

1. Design and deliver advanced exercise assessments and programs to meet the specific needs of contemporary sport, exercise and health contexts.
   Relates to: Sport Science Practice Case studies, Personal Leadership Reflection
2. Critically apply problem-solving, innovative thinking, and analytical reasoning to develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
   Relates to: Sport Science Practice Case studies, From Problem to Performance: Designing Solutions in Sport Science, Personal Leadership Reflection
3. Communicate and collaborate effectively using a range of written, oral and digital formats to transfer complex knowledge to clients and sport and exercise professionals in an inclusive and culturally responsive manner.
   Relates to: From Problem to Performance: Designing Solutions in Sport Science, Personal Leadership Reflection
4. Uphold the professional, legislative, and ethical standards of sport and exercise science expected of learner practitioners.
   Relates to: Personal Leadership Reflection