Applied Methods: Softball & Volleyball

Curriculum guideline

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Course
SPSC 2325
Discontinued
Yes
Course code
SPSC 2325
Descriptive
Applied Methods: Softball & Volleyball
Department
Sport Science
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
202130
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Contact hours
4 hours per week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Tutorial
Learning activities
  1. Lecture
  2. Discussion groups
  3. Practical applications and experiences
  4. Field observation 
  5. Technology assisted learning
  6. Guest Instructors (provided by the Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations)
Course description
This course will provide students with the knowledge and experience necessary to teach or coach softball and volleyball lessons. Students will learn to analyse, plan, lead, and perform softball and volleyball activities using a Sport Education approach.
Course content
  1. Historical and Theoretical Factors in Softball and Volleyball
    The student will:
    • Describe the origin and historical development of each game
    • Describe positional concepts related to on-ball and off-ball roles, rules, and common terminology of each game
  2. Fundamental Factors for Effective Performance
    The student will:
    • Describe and apply affective, cognitive, and psychomotor elements in the educational setting
    • Describe and apply technical, tactical, physical, and psychomotor elements in the coaching setting
  3. Techniques and Tactics in Softball and Volleyball
    The student will:
    • Describe and demonstrate technical elements of effective individual performance including, but not limited to the following for softball:
      • ready position
      • movement (i.e. body – feet, hands, head, etc.)
      • throwing and receiving
      • pitching
      • hitting and bunting
      • base running
    • Describe and demonstrate technical elements of effective individual performance including, but not limited to the following for volleyball:
      • ready position
      • movement (i.e., body – feet, hands, head, etc.)
      • passing
      • 3attacking
      • blocking
      • serving
    • Describe the appropriate sequencing of skill acquisition and progressions
    • Link inter-task and intra-task transfer of skills to each game, where and when applicable
    • Describe and demonstrate tactical elements of effective team performance including, but not limited to the following:
      • Attack Concepts (related to On-Ball and Off-Ball Elements):
        • variety / control
        • tempo / power
        • deception
        • distraction
        • improvisation
        • transition
      • Defensive Concepts (related to On-Ball and Off-Ball Elements):
        • concentration
        • anticipate and adjust
        • read and react
        • communicate and commit
        • control and restraint
        • transition
      • Systems of Play:
        • formations and structures – offensive and defensive set plays
  4. Observation and Analysis Methods and Procedures
    The student will:
    • Describe and demonstrate:
      • scope: components of observation and analysis
      • approaches: types and methods of observation and analysis
      • qualitative and quantitative analysis
      • error detection, prioritizing, and correction
      • analyzing individual and team performance
  5. Instructional Strategies and Professional Development
    The student will:
    • Describe and demonstrate the six key features of Sport Education
      • Seasonal (or Unit) planning
      • Affiliation (and Roles) related to successful teams
      • Record Keeping (of game statistics and technical and tactical performance criteria)
      • Competition (using graded teams and different tournament structures)
      • Festivity (enjoying the sport experiences from multiple roles)
      • Culminating event (planning for end-of-season play and team related celebrations)
Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:

  1. Identify historical and theoretical factors that have influenced the development of the games of softball and volleyball
  2. Integrate educational and coaching elements in the overall design of instructional or seasonal units and lesson plans for softball and volleyball
  3. Demonstrate correct performance in selected skills of softball and volleyball
  4. Apply observation, analysis, and feedback methods and procedures to detect and correct errors in selected skills and tactics during game performance of softball and volleyball
  5. Work through the Sport Education instructional model and its application to selected skills and tactics for softball and volleyball, while developing communication, organizational, and administrative abilities and skills needed to present a professional image and portfolio as a teacher or coach
Means of assessment

Assessments forms will be left to instructor discretion in relation to the following guidelines and understanding that all four of the following areas are relevant to course objectives and are to be included in the assessment processes stipulated by the instructor.

Professionalism and Personal Movement Competence not more than 25%
Activity / Games Knowledge not more than 25%
Skill and Tactical Analysis Ability  not more than 30%
Instructional Knowledge and Skill  not more than 30%
Textbook materials

Will be decided by course instructors. Potential resources include: 

  • Atomic Volleyball Instructor’s manual (Volleyball Canada, 2007)
  • Community Sport Ongoing Participation manual (Softball Canada, 2008)
  • Parmalat Learn to Play manual (Softball Canada, 2004)
  • Applied Methods Course Pack & Supplementary materials (i.e., article readings) when required

Certifications/Conference requirements:

As part of the course, instructors and students may engage in extra-curricular certification processes that overlap with the curriculum of the class. Fees for professional certification, where applicable, will be borne by the student. Potential certifications relating to this course include:

  1. Atomic Volleyball (specific to Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (P/TSO) – Volleyball BC)
  2. Learn to Play / Coach and Community Sport Ongoing Participation (specific to P/TSO – Softball BC)