Exploring Sport and Fitness is a comprehensive guide to the development of essential professional and interpersonal skills in the sport, leisure and fitness sector. Designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, the book introduces the fundamental principles of reflective practice in sport and fitness, and explains how students and professionals can develop their personal effectiveness and workplace performance.

The book draws together important material from a wide range of academic and professional sources, including articles from leading experts in sport management, psychology and coaching, and explores key topics such as:

• reflective practice

• the importance of effective communication
• motivation and Leadership
• working in teams
• working with customers
• learning and instructional frameworks for coaches and instructors
• organizational cultures in sport and fitness

Exploring Sport and Fitness is essential reading for all students of sport, leisure and fitness management, sports coaching or sports development, and for all sport and fitness professionals looking to improve their performance and practice.

Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective is an examination of the psychological factors that help or hinder the development of participants in sport. This includes influences such as families, coach-athlete interactions, and transitional episodes on an individual's pathway in sport. This edited collection of topical chapters shines a unique psychological perspective on the athlete's development through sport. It explores a range of contemporary themes that influence athlete's development including: An introduction to athletic development which orientates a holistic, psychological perspective of the athletic development process. Social influences on athletic development, which explores the impact of varied social influences (e.g., coach, family, peers, school) on sports participation and performance from a psychological perspective. Athlete wellbeing, which explores various aspects influencing mental health and welfare as an athlete progresses through their sports career. The book combines key theory with illustrative case studies, to analyse the complexities of athletic development. It takes a critical perspective highlighting some of the debates and controversies in these areas and uses spotlight boxes in each chapter to focus on questions or topics of particular interest. Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective is a key reader for all students in the fields of sport and exercise psychology, sport coaching, and related sport science subjects.

Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective is an examination of the psychological factors that help or hinder the development of participants in sport. This includes influences such as families, coach-athlete interactions, and transitional episodes on an individual's pathway in sport. This edited collection of topical chapters shines a unique psychological perspective on the athlete's development through sport. It explores a range of contemporary themes that influence athlete's development including: An introduction to athletic development which orientates a holistic, psychological perspective of the athletic development process. Social influences on athletic development, which explores the impact of varied social influences (e.g., coach, family, peers, school) on sports participation and performance from a psychological perspective. Athlete wellbeing, which explores various aspects influencing mental health and welfare as an athlete progresses through their sports career. The book combines key theory with illustrative case studies, to analyse the complexities of athletic development. It takes a critical perspective highlighting some of the debates and controversies in these areas and uses spotlight boxes in each chapter to focus on questions or topics of particular interest. Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective is a key reader for all students in the fields of sport and exercise psychology, sport coaching, and related sport science subjects.

Exploring Sport and Fitness is a comprehensive guide to the development of essential professional and interpersonal skills in the sport, leisure and fitness sector. Designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, the book introduces the fundamental principles of reflective practice in sport and fitness, and explains how students and professionals can develop their personal effectiveness and workplace performance.

The book draws together important material from a wide range of academic and professional sources, including articles from leading experts in sport management, psychology and coaching, and explores key topics such as:

• reflective practice

• the importance of effective communication
• motivation and Leadership
• working in teams
• working with customers
• learning and instructional frameworks for coaches and instructors
• organizational cultures in sport and fitness

Exploring Sport and Fitness is essential reading for all students of sport, leisure and fitness management, sports coaching or sports development, and for all sport and fitness professionals looking to improve their performance and practice.

Sport and fitness has become a key contemporary industry. Those working within the sector are now expected to demonstrate greater expertise and professional competence than ever before. The Sport and Fitness Sector: An Introduction is a vital resource for all students of sport, leisure and fitness management, offering an essential guide to professional practice and a wealth of background information on current issues within the industry. Drawing together new material and an edited selection of readings from a wide range of academic and professional sources, the book has been designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, opening up the theory and practice of sport and fitness management for those undertaking either work-based study or conventional degree courses. Accessible and comprehensive, the book explores sport, health and fitness provision across the public, private and voluntary sectors, and examines key topics such as: sport policy trends in the sport and fitness industry management of sport and leisure services legislation and regulation crisis management health and safety customer service and retention staff training and development. The Sport and Fitness Sector: An Introduction is essential reading for all students of sport, leisure and fitness management, and for any sport and fitness professional looking to improve their vocational skills and knowledge. Ben Oakley is Head of Award for Sport, Fitness and Health in The Open University, UK. Martin Rhys is Staff Tutor in Education at The Open University in Wales.