Capella University

PSY6810: Principles of Sport Psychology

A study guide to Capella's PSY6810, a graduate course applying psychological theory to explain and improve sport performance, from attention and anxiety to motivation and confidence.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

PSY6810 at Capella University applies psychological theories to explain and improve sport performance.

The catalog lists personality, attention, anxiety, arousal and arousal adjustment strategies, cognitive-behavioral intervention, causal attribution, motivation and self-confidence, and mentions customized coaching strategies.

It is the first course in the sport psychology sequence, and it asks you to evaluate new research for professional practice. The skill is turning general psychology into something an athlete or coach can use.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityCapella University
Course codePSY6810 (catalog title: Principles of Sport Psychology)
Credits5
LevelGraduate
Subject areaSport psychology
PrerequisitePSY6110. Accelerated Master's Pathway (BS in Psychology/MS in Psychology option) students: PSYC3700 and PSYC4101 completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or better
Typical workDiscussions and written assignments (general; check your course room)

What the Catalog Says

Capella's course catalog (2025-2026) describes PSY6810 in these terms: Students apply psychological theories to explain and improve sport performance. Students evaluate the implications of new research for professional practice in sport psychology and explore the ways in which they can meet the unique needs of others through customized coaching strategies. Students examine personality, attention, anxiety, arousal and arousal adjustment strategies, cognitive-behavioral intervention, causal attribution, motivation, and self-confidence.

Use that wording as your checklist. Every assignment in the course should map back to one or more of the ideas in it, so it is worth re-reading before each submission.

What PSY6810 Covers

The catalog description breaks down into these areas, explained in plain language:

AreaWhat it means in practice
Personality and attentionHow individual differences and focus relate to performance
Anxiety and arousalStress responses and strategies to adjust arousal
Cognitive-behavioral interventionTechniques that change thoughts and behaviors affecting performance
Causal attribution and motivationHow athletes explain results and what keeps them going
Self-confidence and coaching strategiesBuilding confidence and customizing support

Key Concepts Explained

Arousal and Performance

Too little arousal can leave an athlete flat; too much can disrupt skill. Optimal levels differ by person and task.

Invented illustration: A golfer making a precise putt may need calm focus, while a sprinter before a start may benefit from higher activation.

Attribution

Athletes who attribute losses to unstable, controllable causes tend to stay more motivated than those who see causes as fixed.

Pattern: Event, the athlete's explanation, its likely effect on motivation, and a constructive reframe.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Assignment names and weightings are set in your course room, so check them there. Across graduate psychology courses like this one, the following types are typical:

TypeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Theory application papersExplaining performance with theoryPick a theory and apply it to a sport scenario
Research evaluationJudging new studiesAssess design and relevance to practice
Intervention outlineUsing cognitive-behavioral methodsDescribe goals, techniques and monitoring
Coaching strategy planCustomizing supportMatch strategies to an athlete's profile

Applying Theory to a Sport Scenario

Name the sport and the demand. Concentration in archery differs from concentration in team games, so specifics matter.

State how you would know the intervention helped, using performance measures, self-report or coach observation.

Keep recommendations ethical: within your competence and in the athlete's interest.

A Sample Outline for a Typical Paper

Most written tasks in this course can be organized along these lines, adjusted to your prompt and rubric:

  1. Describe the sport, athlete and issue
  2. Pick the relevant concept: arousal, attention, attribution or confidence
  3. Explain it with theory
  4. Propose a cognitive-behavioral strategy
  5. Say how you will track change
StepWhat to do
1. Read the briefUnderline every verb in the prompt and match each to a rubric row
2. Map the contentLink each section of your answer to one of: personality and attention; anxiety and arousal; cognitive-behavioral intervention
3. Gather evidenceCollect peer-reviewed sources from the Capella library before drafting
4. Draft and checkWrite, then compare the draft with the rubric and the catalog wording

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for PSY6810

How We Help with PSY6810

Send the assignment prompt, the rubric, any readings and instructor feedback from earlier work. A writer with a psychology background prepares a custom answer and explains the reasoning, or reviews your own draft for structure, evidence and APA style. Useful things to send include:

For broader support see our psychology assignment help guide.

GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with Capella University. Our work is a study and reference aid: use it to understand the material, then complete and submit your own work under Capella's academic integrity policy.

Every order is written from scratch and plagiarism-checked, includes free revisions within the scope of your original request, and is refunded in full if it is late.

Make Sense of Your PSY6810 Work

Share the assignment and feedback. A psychology writer prepares a custom answer you can study, or edits your own draft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prerequisite?

The catalog lists PSY6110, plus an accelerated pathway condition for BS/MS students.

Does PSY6810 lead to later sport psychology courses?

Yes, the catalog lists PSY6810 as the prerequisite for PSY6820.

Is there a FlexPath version?

Capella lists PSY-FPX6810; this page covers PSY6810 as in the catalog.

Is it for athletes only?

No, it applies to coaches, practitioners and students interested in performance.

What is the prerequisite for PSY6810?

The catalog lists: PSY6110. Accelerated Master's Pathway (BS in Psychology/MS in Psychology option) students: PSYC3700 and PSYC4101 completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or better. Always confirm against your own program requirements.

Can you complete my PSY6810 assignments for me to submit?

No. We provide tutoring, custom answers, editing and feedback as study support. The work you submit must be your own, under Capella's academic integrity policy, and we cannot promise any grade.