IIT Madras, in collaboration with NPTEL, is set to launch seven new online courses in the field of Sports Science in India. These courses, designed to be accessible at no cost, aim to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical applications. Specifically tailored for the Indian and South Asian body structure and cultural nuances, the courses aim to cater a diverse audience, including coaches, athletes, trainers, physiotherapists and nutritionists, according to an official release.
The inaugural classes for these seven courses will commence on February 19, 2023. Interested individuals can apply for the courses on the NPTEL website before this date. Covering essential topics such as biomechanics, injury prevention, sports psychology, strength training for Indians and cultural aspects of sports, these online courses are offered through the National MOOCs portal of India, SWAYAM. While enrollment in SWAYAM is free, the final exam for each course will be in-person, centre-based and proctored, with a nominal fee of Rs 1,000 per course, the release mentioned.
Delivered by the centre of excellence in Sports Science and analytics at IIT Madras, the courses cover a wide range of areas, including exercise physiology, movement science, sports nutrition, injury prevention, training fundamentals, strength conditioning and sports psychology. Attendees have the opportunity to acquire both foundational and in-depth knowledge, culminating in a domain certification in Sports Science upon completion of five core courses and two elective courses, as per the release.
“These courses are for everyone. For anybody who is an enthusiast, a sports person, or who is interested in topics like strengthening, fitness, conditioning, sports, nutrition and psychology,” Mahesh Panchagnula, co-principal investigator, centre of excellence, Sports Science and Analytics, IIT Madras, said.