The National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has jointly launched free courses on the subject of sports science. It has been done to promote the country’s growing need of skilled personnel for the sports category. The youth of the country looking for a unique career option and are interested about sports science are now free to pursue their dreams through this program. Numerous books on sports science are available in the market today for better understanding of an interested candidate. The rise in the sports industry of the country is also one of the reasons for this development. In this regard, it’s also worth mentioning that the Deakin University (Australia), Rajasthan Royals (IPL team), and NeerjaModi School (India) have last year announced the inauguration of a joint scholarship dedicated to Indian students. Under this scholarship, financial support will be provided to students who dream of pursuing higher education on sports-related courses in Australia.

“These NPTEL courses equip learners to understand how to enhance performance, monitor diet and training frequencies, formulate recovery programmes, and offer a holistic approach to Sports Science”, said Prof. Andrew Thangaraj, Coordinator, NPTEL, IIT Madras, highlighting the growing importance of this subject.   

There are numerous sports science careers for aspiring candidates which includes career in sports physiotherapy, nutrition, coaching, personal training, exercise physiology, performance analysis, psychology and teaching.

Sports physiotherapy

Over the last two decades, we have witnessed an enormous increase in the popularity of some sports. This growth has impacted a lot on the specializations that are required to maintain the needed level of fitness for sportsmen. There has been a huge increase in demand for skilled manpower in the sports physiotherapy category. Physiotherapy has been one of the most appreciated and fulfilling careers in sports science. However, an aspirant would need to finish a two-year physiotherapy postgraduate course after the bachelor degree. As a physiotherapist, one will be able to apply knowledge of all body movements in order to help sportsmen recover from their physical problems that may have been a result of sports injuries.

A classic example of education provided on sports physiotherapy is Cardiff University’s master degree course on sport and exercise physiotherapy that comprises of five core thought modules including a dissertation. Many other specialized courses on sports physiotherapy are offered across the world but this course exemplifies as how much specialized this sector has become in terms of providing a definite program that centres only on the physical parameters required for sports.

Becoming a Sports Nutritionist

The sports industry has immensely contributed to the phenomenal growth of the nutrition industry. Witnessing several popular sporting personalities promoting healthy diets and dietary supplements that helps in boosting body immunity have not only led the general population into buying health supplements, but also have motivated the youth in acquiring knowledge about sports nutrition. The adoption of these supplements by the youth of the country has busted many myths that were prevalent earlier in the society and have provided the scope to rethink sports nutrition. Various courses on sports nutrition are being offered by reputed institutions of the country and even globally renowned universities.

The 6th Nutrition in Athlete Development Summit which was held in Barcelona, Spain in October, 2023 presented a picture as how much wide and specialized all the aspects have become in the sports nutrition category. This was an event where attendance comprised of coaches, sports nutritionists, and professionals workingin the sports industry who wanted to stay updated with the latest trends and research. The summit also gathered top professionals from various kinds of sports and provided a unique opportunity for people to network and get educated from the best in the field. Through a range of interactive workshops, keynote speeches, and panel discussions, it explored the undeniable role of nutrition in athlete development, performance, and recovery.

Choosing Exercise Physiology and Psychology

Exercise dynamics are crucial to fitness in sports. Each and every sport has its fitness quotient and there are specific exercises in order to keep up with the fitness level required. Alongside exercises, it is also important for a sports personality to be at an apt mental state in order to carry on with a positive attitude. This is exactly where the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science as a subject as gained popularity among aspirants.

Macquarie University (Australia) that is ranked among the top 1% of universities globally has started off with a new course in Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science for undergraduate aspirants. It is a one of the specialized sports science courses in the world that has been launched by the university. The course structure for this subject will delve deep into the aspects of human anatomy, nutrition, biomechanics, sports psychology, exercise rehabilitation, physiology and fitness and try to develop precision in the understanding of exercises and their application in sports science. 

Over the last decade, a lot of development has taken place in the sports science education segment. The world has seen the emergence of various new subjects centred on sports dynamics. Many globally renowned universities are launching courses related to this subject and this industry is poised for further growth in the coming years.