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When I was a trainee I was also a new mum. I needed to do as much of my learning and development as I could online while my daughter slept. I found some really valuable courses which were completely free. With the lockdown meaning work is quieter than normal I’ve been using the time to top up my professional development and have really enjoyed it so thought I should share some of the great courses out there for those interested in Sport and Exercise and Psychology. They all come from either Open University, Future Learn, Coursera or Class Central so each are worth checking out if you are looking to do some free learning.

Sport Psychology specific

Exploring sport coaching and psychology
Open University
Course explores the influence of coaching and psychology through the lens of sports people and teams who have been successful. Focuses on coaching practices used with young people and adults, including research and advice of leaders in their fields.

Exploring communication and working relationships in sport
Open University
Covers skills required to boost your ability to vary your communication approach according to the situation and the needs of the people involved.

Exploring the psychological aspects of sport injury
Open University
This course examines the relationship between injury and psychological factors, looking at the link between injury and psychology at two distinct points – before an injury has occurred and then following an injury.

Learning from burnout and overtraining
Open University
A course looking at those sports people who have thrived and those who have experienced burnout. By exploring burnout you will gain a deeper understanding of the physical and mental aspects of sport such as athletic identity, overtraining and perfectionism.

Motivation and factors effecting motivation
Open University
This course explores the term ‘motivation’ and factors affecting motivation. This includes looking at the most influential theories of motivation that contribute to understanding the causes of motivation. The motivation of sports people and people working in sport and fitness environments are used to help understand the theories presented.

Working with client skills

Developing Clinical Empathy: Making a Difference in Patient Care 
St George’s, University of London
To learn skills to help you understand a client’s situation. Helps to develop relationship-building skills such as compassion and empathy. Covers different types of empathy, explores non-verbal cues, and understanding key opportunities for showing empathy in clinical care.

Psychology

Introduction to Psychology
Yale
Provides a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of thought and behaviour by exploring topics such as perception, communication, learning, memory, decision-making, persuasion, emotions, and social behaviour.

Science of Wellbeing
Yale
Challenges designed to increase happiness and build more productive habits. Covers the misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change.

Learning how to learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects
University of California, San Diego
Provides access to learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, maths, science and sports. Covers illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects.

Wider Sport Science

Science of Endurance Training and Performance
University of Kent
Learn about the science behind endurance sports training and performance, including effective preparation and rehabilitation.
(NB: Course not running right now but you can sign up to get an email when it does).

Managing your health – the role of physical therapy and exercise
University of Toronto
Course covers the concepts and benefits of physical therapy and exercise.

The Science of Exercise
University of Colorado, Boulder
Helps you to have an improved physiological understanding of how your body responds to exercise, and will be able to identify behaviours, choices, and environments that impact your health and training.

Introductory Human Physiology
Duke University
Learn to recognize and to apply the basic concepts that govern integrated body function (as an intact organism) in the body’s nine organ systems.

Lifestyle medicine

Essentials of Lifestyle Medicine and Population Health 
Doane University
Covers the foundations of population health and lifestyle medicine and makes the argument for why healthcare delivery models based on these foundational principles are essential to addressing global healthcare crises.

Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine 
Doane University
Lifestyle Medicine is the science and application of 49 healthy lifestyles as interventions for the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, some neurological conditions and some cancers. It is bridges the science of physical activity, nutrition, stress management and resilience; sleep hygiene and other healthy habits to individuals through clinical practice in healthcare.