Year
2022Credit points
10Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitPrerequisites
NilUnit rationale, description and aim
To achieve success and longevity in the industry, professionals working in high performance sport must have an appreciation of its particular cultures as well as the professional standards required. In this context, culture refers to the social behaviour norms found within sports, organisations and ethnic groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This unit will introduce perspectives of culture and leadership in the high performance sport environment, with the aim to develop in students an understanding of the relationship between culture and values to that of the behaviour of individuals and the organisation. Leadership styles frequently used in professional settings will be addressed, including their place in communication in one-to-one relationships to that of multi-team leadership. Building on the introduced perspectives and understanding, students will further their understanding of strategies for effective communication and conflict management in the high performance sport organisation. An emphasis will be placed on professionals as socially responsible leaders, who exercise concern for the wellbeing of their clients, colleagues and the community, within appropriate standards of ethical practice.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
LO1 - Identify knowledge of the multidisciplinary culture and leadership frameworks in high performance sport organisations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives (GA1, GA2, GA7, GA10).
LO2 - Examine and exemplify appropriate standards of ethical conduct in professional practice, including relevant national and international ethical and code of conduct frameworks (GA3).
LO3 - Investigate the use of a range of strategies for communication and management with individuals and groups in specialist and non-specialist settings (e.g. athletes; coaching staff; support staff; managers; stakeholders), including working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (GA1, GA2, GA3, GA6) .
LO4 - Apply moral reasoning and identify and recognise moral reasoning and non-moral reasoning in sport (GA4).
Graduate attributes
GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity
GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society
GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making
GA4 - think critically and reflectively
GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account
GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively
GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.
Content
Topics will include:
- organisational culture in high performance sport
- principles and theories of professional leadership
- leadership theories, models and styles
- neuroleadership principles
- ‘Brain Based’ coaching in the workplace
- ethics, responsibility and codes of conduct
- moral reasoning in sport
- professionalism and governance in sport
- communication for leadership
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives/knowings.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Learning and teaching strategy is based on the constructive use of a range of approaches, such as active learning, case-based learning, cooperative learning, web-based learning, and reflective/critical thinking activities, delivered over 12 weeks. This range of approaches will constructively, and in a coordinated manner, provide students with appropriate access to required knowledge and understanding of unit content. These approaches will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit. Learning and teaching approaches will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to best enable students to demonstrate unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes, standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with University assessment requirements. A range of assessment strategies are used including: a discussion task to assess the understanding and application of unit learnings; a reflective essay to assess knowledge and understanding of unit content; and an ethics essay to assess critical thinking, application of unit learnings and communication of argument.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes | Graduate Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|
Discussion Board and FlipGrid Activity Enables students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of unit content in discussing a simulated situation/challenge in a high performance sport environment. In addition, peer review and reflection upon own professional practice is supported with this assessment. | 60% | LO1, LO2 | GA1, GA2, GA3, GA7, GA10 |
Ethics essay: Enables students to demonstrate the ability to critically analyse and synthesise selected literature, and communicate and argue findings clearly and coherently. | 40% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 | GA1, GA2, GA3, GA4, GA6, GA7, GA10 |
Representative texts and references
Walker, S. (2017). The captain class. New York, USA: Penguin Books (available online as an eBook and in ACU Bookshop)
Cassidy T, Jones R and Potrac P (2015) Understanding sports coaching: The social, cultural and pedagogical foundations of coaching practice. (3rd ed) London: Routledge. (available as an eBook)
Dubrin AJ (2015) Leadership: Research findings practice and skills. (8th ed.). Boston: Houghton and Mifflin.
Kotter J P (2012) Leading change. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press
Marlin D, Apoifis N & Bennie A (2020) Aboriginal Sports Coaches, Community, and Culture (Indigenous-Settler Relations in Australia and the World, 2, Springer
Morgan W J (ed) (2018) Ethics in sport (3rd ed) Champaign, Il: Human Kinetics
Lumpkin A (2011) Practical ethics in sport management. Jefferson: McFarland & Co. (is also an eBook available in Kindle)
Rock D (2009) Your brain at work: Strategies for overcoming distraction, regaining focus and working smarter all day long. New York, USA: Harper Business
Rock D & Ringleb A H (2013) Handbook of neuroleadership. California: Createspace Independent Pub
Rock D & Page L J (2009) Coaching with the brain in mind: Foundations for practice. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons
Simon R L (2016) The ethics of sport: What everyone needs to know. New York: Oxford University Press (available as an eBook)
Sinek S (2011) Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. USA: Portfolio Penguin