TEXT:

Carr, Gerry. (2004). Mechanics of Sport: A Practioner's Guide. 2nd Ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the mechanical principles underlying human movement. It is designed to give a non-mathematical, applied introduction to the analysis of sport skills for non-specialists. This course meets the biomechanics requirement for Golf Management majors, but it cannot substitute for EXER 426 Biomechanics in other programs.

RELATIONSHIP TO UNIVERSITY MISSION:

1. Transferring knowledge and values related to exercise science and fitness development to students
2. Equipping students with needed skills and insights related to exercise science and fitness development, and by encouraging students to grow professionally and develop a strong sense of personal and professional integrity
3. Prepaing future fitness and wellness professionals to live purposeful lives through undergraduate professional preparation and education
4. Providing services to the general community through research, professional service, continuing education, pubications, presentations, and collaboration with fitness and wellness centers.

PROBLEM SOLVING EMPHASIS:

Students will learn to use basic physical principles to assess human movement in various sport settings.

SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

The student will learn to:
1. Observe, analyze, and correct errors in performance
2. Assess the effectiveness of innovations in sport equipment
3. Assess training methods for potential safety problems
4. Assess the value of innovations in the ways in which sports skills are performed
5. Know what to expect from different body types and different levels of maturity
   

ASSIGNMENTS:

Students will take mid-term and final exams, make a formal classroom presentation on an analysis of a sports skill using sport mechanics, and write a short term paper on the sport analyzed.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:

1. Part I. Understanding Mechanics and Sport Technique
   1. Introduction to Sport Mechanics: Chapter 1
   2. Basics of Mechanics: Chapter 2
      1. Weight, Mass, Inertia
      2. Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration
      3. Center of Gravity and Density
      4. Forces and Vectors
      5. Types of Motion
      6. Projectiles
   3. Forces of Movement: Chapter 3
      1. Force, momentum, and impulse
      2. Work, Power, and Energy
      3. Elasticity and recoil
      4. Friction
   4. Angular Motion: Chapter 4
      1. Description of human motion
      2. Levers
      3. Torque
      4. Angular impulse
      5. Angular velocity
      6. Centrifugal and centripetal force
      7. Angular or rotary inertia
      8. Angular momentum
   5. Equilibrium, Balance and Stability: Chapter 5
      1. Linear stability and friction
      2. Rotary stability
      3. Factors determining stability
   6. Mechanics of Fluids: Chapter 6
      1. Hydrostatic pressure
      2. Bouyancy
      3. Drag and Lift
2. Part II. Putting Your Knowledge of Mechanics to Work
   1. Sequential Motion: Throwing, Kicking, and Striking
   2. Simultaneous Motion: Pushing, and Pulling
   3. Analyzing Sports Skills
   4. Observing and analyzing performance
   5. Identifying and Correcting Errors in Sports Skills
   6. Mechanics of Selected Skills

EVALUATION:

GRADING:

• A = 90 - 100%
• B = 80 - 89%
• C = 70 - 79%
• D = 60 - 69%
• F = < 60%

ATTENDANCE:

The university requirement is that the student fails when the number of absences exceeds 15%. That would be 7 classes for M,W,F courses, or . If you are late for class it will constitute 1/2 of an absence. All medical excuses should have infirmary validation. See catalogue for other exceptions.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Adrian, M.J. & J.M. Cooper. (1989). Biomechanics of Human Movement. Indianapolis: Benchmark.
• Blandling, S.L. & J.J. Monteleone. (1992). What Makes the Boomerang Come Back: The Science of Sports. Stamford, CT: Longmeadow.
• Brancazio, P.J. (1984). Sport Science: Physical Laws and Optimum Performance. New York: Simon & Shuster.
• Chaffin, D.B. & G. Anderson. (1984). Occupational Biomechanics. New York: Wiley & Sons.
• Dyson, Geoffrey H.G. (1986). Mechanics of Athletics (8th ed.). Kent, Eng.: Hodder and Stoughton.
• Ecker, Tom. (1971). Track and Field Dynamics. Mountain View, CA: Tafnews.
• Hay, J.G. (1993). The Biomechanics of Sports Techniques (4th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Jorgensen, T. P. (1993). The physics of golf New York, NY : AIP Press.
• Kreighbaum, E. and K.M. Barthels. (1996) Biomechanics: A Qualitative
• Approach for Studying Movement. (4th ed.) Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
• Leadbetter, D. (1993) Faults & fixes. New York : HarperCollins Publishers.