This micro-credential is designed for those involved in amateur sports who want to learn more about the fundamentals of sports injuries. This includes players, coaches, referees, parents, or spectators.
Sports Injuries: An Introduction for Amateur Sports
Overview
| Subject Area | Performance Science |
| Credits | 5 |
| NFQ | 8 |
| EFQ | 6 |
| Start Date | 20th January 2025 |
| Duration | 8 Weeks |
| Mode of Delivery | Online |
| Lead Academic | (opens in a new window)Professor Eamonn Delahunt |
| Fee | Full Fee: €650 *Subsidised Fee: €325 *50% Learner Fee Subsidy for eligible learners (Please see below) |
| Application Deadline | 19th January 2025 |
Injuries are commonly sustained by people who participate in sport. Across sports, injuries are associated with significant participation loss, treatment costs, decreased team or individual performance, and long-term negative side-effects. The protection of player health and the prevention of sport-related injuries are key policy concerns of many national governing bodies of sport. Considering this, it is essential that all stakeholders (e.g., players, coaches, etc …) have a fundamental understanding of sports injuries, as well as their treatment and prevention.
This micro-credential is designed for those involved in amateur sports who want to learn more about the fundamentals of sports injuries.
This micro-credential will receive input from several expert speakers in the field and is also designed for people who may not have a medical or scientific background.
You will explore sports injuries through 8 key topics; by the end of this micro-credential we hope you will be able to:
- Understand the negative impact that sports injuries can have on: (i) team/individual performance; (ii) athlete health
- Describe the most common injuries sustained by people who participate in popular sports in Ireland (e.g., soccer, Gaelic football, hurling, rugby union).
- Understand what a muscle injury is and how muscle injuries are treated
- Understand what a ligament injury is and how ligament injuries are treated
- Understand what a tendon injury is and how tendon injuries are treated
- Describe the most common soft tissue injuries sustained by children, adolescents, and youth athletes
- Understand the principles of injury prevention
- Describe the effectiveness of injury prevention programs
To achieve these goals, this micro-credential will cover 8 main topics:
- Why injuries matter
- Injury surveillance and injury epidemiology
- Muscle injuries
- Ligament injuries
- Tendon injuries
- The under-age athlete
- The theory of injury prevention
- Injury prevention progams in practice
The micro-credential will help learners understand the fundamentals of sports injuries.
This micro-credential is delivered through the UCD online learning platform (Brightspace) and will consist of short video lectures, text, infographics, and specialist presentations.
A repository of resources will be available to support your learning, and as a UCD student, you will have full access to the library.
This is a 5 ECTS micro-credential and involves approximately 100 hours of learner effort.
Applicants should hold a Level 7 degree or international equivalent, in healthcare or another relevant discipline, including the social and natural sciences. Applications will also be considered from individuals who do not possess a level 7 qualification but who have significant experience working with sports teams.
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proof of English proficiency as per UCD's minimum English language requirements. All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The course will conclude with a multiple-choice question test to assess the learners' comprehension of the topic.
Learners will get their MCQ result in addition to a short description explaining the answer to each question.
If you have any questions about this micro-credential, or would like to speak to a UCD staff member, please contact (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie.
Please note: Learners can avail of only one form of funding per application.
Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy-Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3
The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy has been introduced to enable more learners to address critical skills gaps and engage with lifelong learning through micro-credentials. The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy is funded by Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
HCI Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidies are available on identified micro-credentials only from March 2024 until October 2025. Funded places are limited and course providers will administer the subsidy on a first come first serve basis.
Please see Eligibility Criteria for further information.