Free Courses in Sports Science

IIT Madras - NPTEL

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) - NPTEL is launching seven new online courses on Sports Science, which is a fast-growing field in India. The courses can be taken online free of cost.

These comprehensive online courses are aimed at bridging the gap between theory and practical applications. The courses are tailored for the Indian and South Asian body structure and cultural aspects.

The first batch for these seven courses will commence classes on 19th February 2024, which is also the last date to apply for the courses on NPTEL Website.

The National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) was initiated by seven Indian Institutes of Technology (Madras, Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Guwahati and Roorkee) along with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 2003.

Highlights

Highlighting the importance of this course, Prof. Andrew Thangaraj, Coordinator, NPTEL, IIT Madras, said, “This comprehensive set of courses will be a game-changer, addressing India-centric sports needs and promoting a well-rounded approach. There is a high demand for skilled personnel across sports domains with competitive sports expanding rapidly in India. These NPTEL courses equip learners to understand how to enhance performance, monitor diet and training frequencies, formulate recovery programs, and offer a holistic approach to sports science.”

• With a recommended Class XII pass as a qualification, learners can take this introductory NPTEL course to explore this growing field. The courses are relevant for students pursuing Bachelor’s and Master’s in Sports Sciences, Physiotherapy, and Physical Education, and other related areas. On completion, students can pursue Diplomas or PG degrees in these areas. The Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics at IIT Madras has introduced courses in this domain.
• Speaking about this course, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Co-Principal Investigator, at the Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics, IIT Madras, said, “These courses are for everyone. For anybody who is an enthusiast, a sports person, or who is interested in topics like strengthening, fitness, conditioning, sports, nutrition, and psychology.”
• While the courses are being offered online on the National MOOCs portal of India, SWAYAM (swayam.gov.in), for which enrolment is free, the final exam will be in-person centre-based and proctored, which carries a nominal fee of Rs. 1,000/- per course.
• These courses are targeted towards a broad audience including coaches, athletes, trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists, among others. It covers crucial sports topics such as biomechanics, injury prevention, sports psychology, strength training for Indians, and cultural aspects of sports.
• The areas covered include exercise physiology, movement science, sports nutrition, injury prevention, training fundamentals, strength conditioning, and sports psychology. Through theory and practical knowledge, participants will gain invaluable insights to build a career in sports science.
• From exercise physiology fundamentals to practical applications like nutrition strategies and biomechanics techniques, attendees will gain foundational and in-depth knowledge to build a successful sports science career.
• NPTEL contains the largest online repository in the world of courses in engineering, basic sciences and selected humanities and social sciences subjects. Its YouTube channel for NPTEL is the most subscribed educational channel, with 1 billion views and 42+ lakh subscribers.

Courses

Students can gain a Domain Certification in Sports Science by completing five core courses and two elective courses. The complete list of courses offered in the domain:

• Strength & Conditioning for the Indian Population
• Sports and Performance Nutrition
• Fundamentals of Sports Training, Load Management and Recovery
• Essentials of Sports Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation
• Human Movement Science
• Introduction to Exercise Physiology & Sports Performance
• Sports Psychology

Source: Press Information Bureau