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
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Capella University |
| Course code | PSY6820 (catalog title: Performance Enhancement in Sports) |
| Credits | 5 |
| Level | Graduate |
| Subject area | Sport psychology |
| Prerequisite | PSY6810 |
| Typical work | Discussions 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:
| Area | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Mechanisms of limits | How athletes perceive and move past mental and physical limits |
| Visualization | Mental rehearsal of performance |
| Meditation and relaxation | Calming and focusing techniques, including progressive relaxation |
| Hypnosis and autogenic training | Structured methods that influence attention and arousal |
| Biofeedback | Using 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:
| Type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Technique review | Knowledge of methods | Describe, explain the mechanism and cite evidence |
| Intervention plan | Applying techniques | Plan a program for a fictional athlete |
| Evidence critique | Evaluating studies | Assess quality and relevance |
| Ethics reflection | Professional boundaries | Discuss 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:
- Introduce the athlete and performance goal
- Select one or two techniques and explain the mechanism
- Summarize supporting evidence and limits
- Set a practice schedule
- Describe monitoring and ethical cautions
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Read the brief | Underline every verb in the prompt and match each to a rubric row |
| 2. Map the content | Link each section of your answer to one of: mechanisms of limits; visualization; meditation and relaxation |
| 3. Gather evidence | Collect peer-reviewed sources from the Capella library before drafting |
| 4. Draft and check | Write, then compare the draft with the rubric and the catalog wording |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Treating techniques as interchangeable. Say what each does.
- Overclaiming. Use cautious language about effects.
- No measurement. Define how progress is tracked.
- Ethics. Address competence and consent.
Study Tips for PSY6820
- Create a one-page technique comparison.
- Try basic relaxation exercises yourself to describe them accurately.
- Use research on athletes.
- Review PSY6810 notes on arousal.
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:
- The full prompt and the grading rubric
- Assigned readings or the library sources you plan to use
- Your draft or outline, if you have one
- Feedback from your instructor on earlier work
For broader support see our psychology assignment help guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The catalog lists PSY6810.
Visualization, meditation, hypnosis, autogenic training, biofeedback and progressive relaxation.
The catalog lists it as the prerequisite for PSY6830 and PSY6840.
Capella lists PSY-FPX6820; this page covers PSY6820 as in the catalog.
The catalog lists: PSY6810. Always confirm against your own program requirements.
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.