Physical Anthropology, Selection and Sports Excellence

Code:

PDCD034

Acronym:

CDDGCM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Sports Sciences

Instance: 2013/2014 - SP

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Sport Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDCD	1	Plano em vigor a partir de 2009	1	-	5	45	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1º Understand the significance of research in selection and sports excellence.

2º Have a solid knowledge about human biological variability from physical anthropology perspective and its Olympic games´ projects

3º Understand, accurately, the notion of selection in sport, available selection systems and the complexities of prediction

4º Know well statistical methods related to classification problems as well as the detection theory.

5º Understand the concept of sports talent, their intrinsic problems as well as the long term preparation.

6º Familiarize with champion’s biographies.

7º Have a precise notion of genetic fundamentals applied to families of athletes and their response to training.

Learning outcomes and competences

The syllabus contents are coherent with curricular unit aims, as they enable students to understand and evaluate the relevancy of Physical Anthropology, Selection and Sports Excellence in their future work in other curricular units as well as in their final dissertation. From a theoretical basis regarding research questions and data analysis in genetics and sport, students with acquire adequate knowledge in diverse research designs always context specific. We also aim to have students with autonomous knowledge in the use of SPSS and SYSTA software’s (cluster analysis, discriminant function and regression/decision trees. Syllabus contents will give students plentiful occasions to present published papers allowing for critical analysis of their content given the knowledge they have.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Physical anthropology

1.1. Human biological variability and the homo performator

1.2. Variability in complex traits

1.3. Darwinian paradigm and its application to Sport

1.4. Olympic games and anthropological projects: Rome, Mexico, Montreal

1.5. “Racial” variability and sports excellence

2. Selection

2.1. Concept of sports selection and operational problems

2.2. Systems of athlete´s selection in different countries and sports

2.3. Training and competition demands and athlete´s multivariate profiles

2.4. The problem of prediction – clinical versus actuarial

2.5. Classification methods and detection theory

3. Sports excellence

3.1. Concept and complexities of its operational structure

3.2. Generic idea of sports talent and long term preparation

3.3. Practical examples from champions biographies

3.4. Genetic factors and sports families

3.5. Variability in training response and its genetic basis

3.6. Tracking high athletes performance

Mandatory literature

Bouchard C, Malina RM, Pérusse L ; Genetics of fitness and physical performance, 1997
Neil AM, Creelman CD ; Detection theory. A user´s guide, 2005
Guion RM ; Assessment, measurement, and predicton for personnel decisions, 2011
Guion RM ; Essential of personnel assessment and selection, 2006
Bouchard C, Hoffman EP ; Genetic and molecular aspects of sports performance, 2011

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes have a triple format. Theoretical presentations and discussion of syllabus contents will be firstly addressed. Secondly, practical sessions include the use of SPSS and SYSTAT software’s (classification and decision algorithms) dealing with problem solving, as well as visits high level sports clubs. Thirdly, all students will present a published paper of his/her interest, putting themselves in a “researcher skin”.

Evaluation will be done with two types of task. The first one relates to the presentation of a written paper by groups of two students (centered in any of the covered topics and linked to a unique sport); the second one is a written exam concerning all syllabus contents. The final mark will be the weighted sum of the two marks, given that the second task weights 60%.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Final mark: (research paper*40+exam*60)/100