Presenting at Maidan Summit 2011, Mr Arun Kumar Uppal talked about identification of talent as a key deliverable that sport sciences should offer. Highlighting five areas of sport-oriented courses in colleges and universities, he mentioned scientific sport training methodology, exercise physiology, sport psychology, sport biomechanics, and sport medicine to be important ingredients of sport curriculum in colleges and universities. In his presentation, Mr Uppal detailed all five of these elements, and elaborated on how their proper integration and use in sport programmes can help sport contribute to the larger domain of development.

1. SPORTS SCIENCE AND NEED FOR ITS
INCLUSION IN THE CURRICULUM OF
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Dr. A. K. Uppal

2. Some one has rightly said:
“Sports Science is one of the pillars of success
in sports. It helps sportspersons to enhance
their level of performance in consonance
with their potential”

3. INTRODUCTION
The modern sports training process has become very
complex. In order to attain sports performances comparable to
world standard, the sportspersons have to work on a long term
training process which may extend from 8 to 12 years or even
more. From the commencement of basic training and up to the
attainment of peak performance, the coaches and sportspersons
have to fix immediate, intermediate and ultimate goals
(objectives) and then train scientifically in order to ensure their
attainment. In this process, the coach alone is not in a position to
tackle different types of problems and barriers that interfere in
the development of a sportsperson. Today a team of experts is
needed to deal with the problems interfering in the process of
development of sports form. The knowledge from various sports
sciences namely Exercise Physiology, Sports Psychology, Sports
Bio-mechanics, Sports Medicine, Science of Sports Training,
Sports Nutrition, Sports Sociology, Kinanthropometry, and the
like is to be systematically incorporated in the long and short
term training programmes of sportspersons.

4. Sports Science can help in the following ways:
1. It helps in identifying potential sportspesons and provided ample
knowledge to the coaches for their scientific grooming.
2. It helps the coaches to understand the nature of sports performance
and learn to analyze it in its all ramification.
3. With the help of knowledge of different sports science areas,
namely Exercise Physiology, Sports Bio-mechanics, Sports
Psychology, Sports Medicine, Sports Nutrition, Sports Training
Methodology etc. the coaches are able assess the performance of
their sportspersons and based on that regulate their training
programmes.
4. It assists the coaches in assigning the individuals to particular sport
keeping in mind their abilities and capacities.
5. It helps the sportspersons to prevent the sports injuries and at the
same time assist in providing appropriate treatment to enable them
to re-commence their training at the earliest.

5. 6. It provides knowledge for developing new sports facilities
conducive to high sports performance.
7. It assists in improving sports techniques and help in their
continuous evaluation.
8. With the help of sports medicine and nutrition experts it assists in
prescribing nutrition (pre-competition, during competition and post-
competition) according to the nature of sport and specific
requirements of sportspersons.
9. It provides knowledge to the coaches regarding maintenance of
objective records of sports performance and evaluates them through
scientific means.
10. It assists in disseminating new knowledge by way of publishing
literature (Books, Journals, Periodical etc.), which can be
effectively utilized, by the coaches and sportspersons to get abreast
with latest trends and developments in the field of games and sports.

6. Scientific Sports Training Methodology
This area of sports science guides the
coaches and helps them to work out target
training zones so as to correctly calculate
training loads as per ones ability and in order
to make the load effective, suggest load-
recovery ratio. The expert in this area works in
close cooperation with the coach and helps in
planning short and long term training
programmes and guarantee improvement of
performance.

7. Exercise Physiology
In this area of sports science the
experts examine how different body
systems react to various training regimes,
how the adaptation process takes place
and factors that can limit adaptation.

8. Sports Psychology
This area studies and analyzes the
behaviour of individuals during training
and competition. Psychological skill
training helps in goal setting, arousal
management, imagery training, improving
confidence, enhancing concentration,
developing pre competition routines so as
to help in the development of
performance.

9. Sports Bio-mechanics
This area of sports science analyzes
physical movements of games and sports in
the light of principles of mechanics. The
kinematic (speed, velocity, acceleration, angle
and position of CG) and kinetic (force, inertia,
impulse, work, power and energy) principles
are applied to sports performance in order to
analyze them for better results. Videography
and cinematography have greatly helped in the
perfection of skills.

10. Sports Medicine
Extra stress and strain put on the
muscles, bones, joints, tendons and
ligaments result in injuries to
sportspersons. The responsibility of a
sports physician is to suggest measures to
prevent injuries, correctly diagnose and
prescribe treatment, to enable the
sportsperson to return to training sessions
at the earliest.

11. Realizing the importance of Sports Science in
enhancing performance of sportspersons at all
levels it becomes imperative that it should find
a place in the curriculum of physical education
at all levels. One of the very important
responsibilities of a teacher of physical
education/coach is to prepare sportspersons for
participation in inter-institutional
competitions. Knowledge of different
disciplines of sports science would be handy
to teachers of physical education as well
students in achieving their goals.

12. THANK YOU