This module develops your knowledge and understanding of key skills in sport and exercise, alongside professional skills that support your future study. It consists of six blocks of study:
Block 1: Pathways to practice
In the opening block, you’ll explore the range of careers available within the sport and exercise industry and the key skills and attributes needed to succeed in these roles. You’ll focus on how people learn through experience, with an introduction to reflective practice, a core skill you’ll develop and use throughout the module.
Block 2: Exploring the development of physical skills
In this block, you’ll examine how individuals in sport and exercise settings learn and develop different types of physical skills. You’ll be introduced to key cognitive theories of learning that explain how skills are acquired, and consider how factors such as environment, feedback, and technology influence learning and performance.
Block 3: Getting the message across
In block 3, you’ll examine the different channels of communication used in sport and exercise contexts. You’ll evaluate what makes communication effective and consider how to increase your influence and impact in different situations. You’ll also learn how communication can be used to build positive professional relationships and develop the skills needed to present data clearly and confidently to different audiences.
Block 4: Motivation in Motion
In this next block, you’ll explore what motivates people and why motivation differs between individuals. You’ll study key theories of motivation and learn how to apply them, both to support your own motivation and to inspire others in work, sport and exercise contexts. You’ll also consider a range of strategies for building motivation in settings such as gyms, schools and sports facilities.
Block 5: Leading teams in sport and exercise
In this penultimate block, you’ll study key theories and concepts that explain how teams come together, develop and work towards shared goals, and examine different leadership styles to understand what helps teams succeed and what can hold performance back. You’ll also consider how leaders balance success with wellbeing, and how diversity within teams and leadership roles can strengthen performance.
Block 6: Shaping your future
In the final block, you’ll focus on developing the knowledge and skills needed to stand out in your career. You’ll have the opportunity to shape your learning by choosing to investigate the future of sport and exercise, explore ways to make the industry more sustainable, or learn how to create and market a new or existing business venture. Along the way, you’ll discover how to develop a strong and confident professional profile, helping you position yourself in a competitive job market.
By the end of this module, you’ll be able to:
This module is relevant to those with a work-related interest in sport and exercise who wish to develop their career in this area.
This module counts as five continuing professional development (CPD) points as a non-endorsed activity with The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMPSA).
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You will have access to a module website, which includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
E129 is a compulsory module in our:
E129 is an option module in our:
Working effectively in sport and exercise (E129) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2033.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
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There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your personal income is £25,000 or less, or you’re on certain benefits, you could qualify for a grant and OU top-up funding to cover 100% of your course fees. Apply online at the same time as you register on your module.
For more information on how to apply, visit our Part-Time Fee Grants for students in Scotland page.
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Joint loan applications
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As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average, the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.
Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
