Overview of modules

The key figures in the coaches' efforts are the athletes who compete at the highest level. The cornerstone of success, not just at the highest level, is a fundamental knowledge of how athletes control their movements and how they can improve or stabilize their performance. Module 1 enables this interaction through two lectures: "Motor Control and Learning (5 CP)" and "Biomechanics and Systems Theory (6 CP)".

Throughout this module, you will significantly expand your knowledge in various areas, including:

• Critically reflect on the scientific foundations of various motor learning models, their practical consequences, and the differences to sports pedagogical teaching approaches, e.g. Methodical Series of Exercise, Differential Learning,
• Understanding how to use biomechanics for effective movements, setting learning and adaptive stimuli as well as avoiding injury and overuse
• Deepening the foundations of general systems theory, including reflections on self-organization, complexity and emergence, their use and abuse
• Becoming aware of strengths and limitations of scientific knowledge in relation to practical applications

Module 2 offers a lecture on "Theories of Training and Their Practical Consequences (5 CP)" to focus the details of Training and Coaching. This subject is complemented by two additional lectures, one focusing on "New Media Technology in Sports (2 CP)" and the other on "Sports Pedagogical Aspects in High-Performance Sports (5 CP)."

Throughout this module, you will significantly expand your knowledge in various domains, including:

• Digital media in all its forms
• Theories, principles, and models of training and teaching
• Age-dependent trainability of strength, speed, endurance, and flexibility
• Inclusion and participation of adolescent athletes
• Gender and sexual aspects, coaching and diversity
• Athlete’s maturity and education for self-organized training and teaching
• Techniques for raising emotional Feedback
• Methods for a positive coach-athlete-relationship
• Different approaches tailored to sex, performance level, and age
• Approaches for avoiding adolescent drop-out
• Child- and youth-orientated coaching

Athletes’ success often depends on their state of mind. Athletes who can perform at their best under pressure and maintain their self-confidence despite setbacks are more likely to emerge victorious. For this reason, Module 3 covers the field of psychology and sport psychology. The lecture "Sports Psychology (2 CP)" and the laboratory course "Applied Sports Psychology in High Performance Sport (4 CP)" aim to emphasize the significance of a healthy mindset and strategies for achieving success. The module is rounded off by another laboratory course, titled "Methodical Basis for Experimental Studies (5 CP)" that focuses on applying scientific methods and statistics.

Throughout this module, you will significantly broaden your knowledge in various areas, including:

• Insights into neuroscience and clinical psychology
• Psychological sports diagnostics at both individual and group levels
• Application and interpretation of questionnaires
• Key concepts in sport psychology, such as motivation
• Mental training methods, including imagery, goal setting, and communication
• Discussion of leadership principles
• Key concepts in statistics and statistical programs
• Data analysis and application of additional statistical methods

The higher the athlete's caliber and the competition level, the more crucial it becomes to prioritize the athlete's nutrition. Module 4 comprehensively addresses three key topics in this regard: "High-Performance Metabolism and Physiology (4 CP)," "Functional Orthopedics (4 CP)," and "Nutrition Strategies to Enhance Exercise Performance (2 CP)." Each topic is intricately linked to an athlete's success and should be seamlessly integrated into the training plan. With the right balance of training, a positive mindset, and healthy nutrition, everything which external factors can influence is strategically aligned for a successful career.

Throughout this module, you will significantly broaden your knowledge across various domains, including:

• Understanding the nature of function and performance of living systems
• Grasping nutrition strategies and sport-nutritional basics
• Exploring nutrition in connection to travel, training, energy, and potential consequences
• Familiarity with various models describing energy balance and energy availability
• Gaining insights into human functional anatomy and physiology
• Considering environmental factors' impact on health, biology, and biochemistry
• Observing orthopaedic aspects of movement
• Understanding aspects of regeneration, injuries, aging, digestion, and energy utilization

Management and Leadership are closely tied to an athlete's performance. Understanding the structure of high-performance sports on both national and international levels is crucial. The two lectures, "Organization, Governance of World Sport and Federations (2 CP)" and "Managing High-Performance Sports (2 CP)", delve into the political landscape, examining how high-performance sport systems get reformed, getting details on how federations are organized, particularly in relation to high-performance sports. The two seminars, "Innovation and Digitalization (2 CP)" and "Media and Communication Management (2 CP)", while not directly related to coaching, will influence an athlete's success. Both areas become increasingly important in the contemporary sports landscape. Module 5 is complemented by the seminar "Leadership and Ethical Challenges in High-Performance Sports (2 CP)", serving as an introduction to raise awareness of various ethical issues.

Throughout this module, you will significantly broaden your knowledge in various areas, including:

• Understanding the structure of sport and its major stakeholders on both national and international levels
• Exploring the connection between sport structures and the pillars of high-performance sports
• Emphasizing good governance and system regulation
• Learning about the handling of (social) media, media strategies, and communication patterns – also after ethical misconduct
• Addressing ethical questions such as match-fixing, sexism, racism, homophobia, and sexual harassment
• Reflecting on different leadership styles in sports

The emphasis of the HiPer Master's Degree Program extends beyond mere information absorption to the practical application of acquired knowledge. Module 6 facilitates this through the incorporation of an internship (12 CP) into your curriculum, providing a tangible avenue to apply your theoretical understanding. This hands-on experience allows you to directly utilize your acquired knowledge in a professional setting, engaging with your target group in a meaningful way. The "Mentorship Curriculum (4 CP)" complements this by fostering discussions about successes and challenges, deviations from planned outcomes, and the reasons behind them.

Throughout this module, you will significantly broaden your knowledge in various dimensions, including:

• Gaining practical experience in a professional occupational field
• Acquiring valuable insights into the application of your new knowledge
• Analyzing specific situations and addressing challenges
• Developing professional skills and expertise
• Enhancing your ability to self-reflect
• Cultivating intercultural competence
• Improving your ability to communicate, discuss, and collaborate in a team
• Developing skills to handle conflict and criticism adeptly
• Understanding the relevance of personality traits such as independence, creativity, willingness to take responsibility, and performance drive for professional success

Returning to the direct influence on an athlete's performance, Module 7 is dedicated to imparting knowledge about sport-specific coaching. The focus is on not only on enhancing practical coaching skills but also comprehending and implementing them with the backing of theoretical concepts. This is achieved through the lecture "Sport-Specific Coaching (10 CP)" and the laboratory course "Sport-Specific Coaching Practical Implementation (4 CP)", both heavily supported and taught by high-performance coaches across various sports. The module is rounded out by the lecture "Sport-Specific Coaching Theoretical Concepts (6 CP)".

Throughout this module, you will significantly broaden your knowledge across various dimensions, including:

• Crafting training plans tailored to specific high-performance groups (age, gender, culture, etc.)
• Developing awareness of existing coaching models and concepts
• Addressing and resolving coaching problems effectively
• Coaching individuals, groups, specific sports, and organizing training camps

Module 8 encompasses the Master's Thesis itself (25 CP) and the "Colloquium and Ethical Implications in Coaching (5 CP)", a crucial component for structuring the thesis, selecting the appropriate methodology, and applying it within the scientific context of the thesis. The time dedicated to the colloquium will also involve preparing for the thesis by contemplating the implementation and organization strategies.

Throughout this module, you will significantly broaden your knowledge across various dimensions, including:

• Understanding how to write and apply an ethics application
• Independently managing a scientific project
• Developing skills in searching for and evaluating information
• Cultivating conceptual and systematic work approaches
• Enhancing time management skills
• Reflecting on developments and progress in relation to a planned project schedule