Holistic Athlete Development 2 (5cr)

Intro

Do you want to master the non-training factors that unlock an athlete's full potential? In this essential course, you will gain deep knowledge of the elements that support holistic athlete development and peak sporting performance. You will learn the underpinning science of sport nutrition, recovery, and monitoring principles. This course equips you to demonstrate the application of this scientific theory directly to the coaching process, ensuring your athletes can achieve sustained success and increased performance.

Learning objectives

After having completed this course of attained an equivalent competence level, the student:
Knows elements which supports or enables holistic athlete development and increased sporting performance; the underpinning science of sport nutrition, recovery and monitoring. Demonstrates the application of the scientific theory of recovery, monitoring and sport nutrition to the coaching process.

Contents

Monitoring
Recovery
Sport Nutrition
Reflection

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

CONTACT / CONTACT BLENDED

Descriptions of implementation methods can be found in Haaga-Helia's website: https://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/implementation-types

You can complete the course unit by demonstrating or by Work&Study even if the course unit doesn't have DEMO or WORKSTUDY implementations. More information about recognition of learning at Haaga-Helia's website: https://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/career-planning/recognition-learning

Learning materials

Recommended reading:

Hausswirth, C., Mujika, I., & Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance INSEP (Eds.). (2018). Recovery for Performance in Sport. Human Kinetics.
McGuigan, M. (2017). Monitoring Training and Performance in Athletes. Human Kinetics.
French, D. N., & Torres Ronda, L. (Eds.). (2022). NSCA’s Essentials of Sport Science. Human Kinetics.
Jeukendrup, A., & Gleeson, M. (2025). Sport Nutrition (4th ed.). Human Kinetics.
Kellmann, M., & Beckmann, J. (Eds.). (2018). Sport, Recovery, and Performance: Interdisciplinary Insights. Routledge.
Kellmann, M., & Beckmann, J. (Eds.). (2022). Recovery and Well-being in Sport and Exercise. Routledge.

Lähtötaso ja sidonnaisuudet muihin opintojaksoihin

Coaching process 1 & 2
Holistic athlete development 1

Assessment criteria - grade 1

When the implementation type of the course is CONTACT, ONLINE or BLENDED it is required that the student is present during those teaching hours that are marked in the study schedule. If you are absent more than 25 %, your grade will be lowered by one. If you are absent more than 50 %, the course is failed.

The student is able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the elements which supports or enables holistic athlete development and increased sporting performance; the underpinning science of sport nutrition, recovery and monitoring.

Assessment criteria - grade 3

The student is able to:
Examine the elements which supports or enables holistic athlete development and increased sporting performance; the underpinning science of sport nutrition, recovery and monitoring. Relate the new knowledge to previous understanding.

Assessment criteria - grade 5

The student is able to:
Discuss the elements which supports or enables holistic athlete development and increased sporting performance; the underpinning science of sport nutrition, recovery and monitoring. Relate the new knowledge to previous understanding, combine information to reconstruct future actions based on the new knowledge.