Capella University

PSY6820: Performance Enhancement in Sports

A study guide to Capella's PSY6820, a course on performance enhancement theories and techniques such as visualization, meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback and relaxation.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

PSY6820 at Capella University examines the mechanisms athletes use to exceed their perceived physical and mental limitations.

The catalog says learners apply performance enhancement theories and techniques to help clients improve athletic performance, with topics including visualization, meditation, hypnosis, autogenic training, biofeedback and progressive relaxation.

The course moves from principles in PSY6810 to specific techniques. Each technique needs explaining, applying and justifying with evidence, rather than being treated as a magic fix.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityCapella University
Course codePSY6820 (catalog title: Performance Enhancement in Sports)
Credits5
LevelGraduate
Subject areaSport psychology
PrerequisitePSY6810
Typical workDiscussions and written assignments (general; check your course room)

What the Catalog Says

Capella's course catalog (2025-2026) describes PSY6820 in these terms: Students in this course examine the mechanisms athletes use to exceed their perceived physical and mental limitations. In addition, students apply performance enhancement theories and techniques to help clients improve athletic performance. Topics include strategies such as visualization, meditation, hypnosis, autogenic training, biofeedback, and progressive relaxation.

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 PSY6820 Covers

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

AreaWhat it means in practice
Mechanisms of limitsHow athletes perceive and move past mental and physical limits
VisualizationMental rehearsal of performance
Meditation and relaxationCalming and focusing techniques, including progressive relaxation
Hypnosis and autogenic trainingStructured methods that influence attention and arousal
BiofeedbackUsing physiological information to learn self-regulation

Key Concepts Explained

Matching Technique to Need

Different techniques address different problems. Visualization supports skill rehearsal, relaxation reduces tension, and biofeedback trains awareness of body signals.

Invented illustration: A swimmer who tightens before races may benefit from progressive relaxation and breathing, while a gymnast learning a routine may use visualization.

Evidence and Limits

Not all techniques have equal support. Reporting what research shows, and what it does not, is part of ethical practice.

Pattern: Technique, mechanism, evidence, suitable athletes, cautions.

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
Technique reviewKnowledge of methodsDescribe, explain the mechanism and cite evidence
Intervention planApplying techniquesPlan a program for a fictional athlete
Evidence critiqueEvaluating studiesAssess quality and relevance
Ethics reflectionProfessional boundariesDiscuss competence and informed consent

Designing a Performance Plan

Describe the athlete and goal, then pick one or two techniques and explain why. Piling on techniques weakens a plan.

Set a schedule for practice and a way to track change, such as weekly self-ratings or performance data.

Be clear about limits. Techniques such as hypnosis need proper training and consent.

Be careful with wording around outcomes. Research on these techniques varies in quality, so phrases such as "is associated with" or "may support" are more accurate than promises of better results, and they show the marker you can read evidence critically.

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. Introduce the athlete and performance goal
  2. Select one or two techniques and explain the mechanism
  3. Summarize supporting evidence and limits
  4. Set a practice schedule
  5. Describe monitoring and ethical cautions
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: mechanisms of limits; visualization; meditation and relaxation
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 PSY6820

How We Help with PSY6820

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 PSY6820 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 PSY6810.

Which techniques are named?

Visualization, meditation, hypnosis, autogenic training, biofeedback and progressive relaxation.

What follows PSY6820?

The catalog lists it as the prerequisite for PSY6830 and PSY6840.

Is there a FlexPath version?

Capella lists PSY-FPX6820; this page covers PSY6820 as in the catalog.

What is the prerequisite for PSY6820?

The catalog lists: PSY6810. Always confirm against your own program requirements.

Can you complete my PSY6820 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.