Applied Sport Mechanics

Endorsed by SHAPE America SHAPE America is endorsing the textbook Applied Sport Mechanics, Fifth Edition, by Brendan Burkett for use in the Physical Educators curriculum. This comprehensive resource is an invaluable asset for physical educators, providing a robust foundation in sport mechanics and practical applications that enhance teaching and coaching effectiveness.

Part I: Foundations of Sport Mechanics offers a thorough overview of how sport and anatomy relate to physical education content. Chapters such as Introduction to Applied Sport Mechanics, Anatomical Requirements for Sport, Sport Mechanics Fundamentals, and Fundamentals of Sport Kinetics equip educators with essential knowledge to understand the interplay between anatomy and sport mechanics.

Part II: Applications in Sport delves into specific sport skills and activities relevant to physical education. Chapters on Linear Motion, Linear Kinetics, Angular Motion, Angular Kinetics, Stability and Instability, and Moving Through Fluids provide detailed discussions on various motion types and their implications for sport skills.

Part III: Putting Your Knowledge of Sport Mechanics to Work is where the textbook truly shines for teachers and coaches. Chapters like Analyzing Sport Skills, Identifying and Correcting Errors in Sport Skills, and Optimizing Sport Mechanics offer practical guidance on breaking down individual skills, providing specific feedback, and improving students’ efficiency of movements. These chapters emphasize the importance of understanding the phases of sport skills and prioritizing feedback to avoid overwhelming students and ensure effective skill development.

Overall, Applied Sport Mechanics is a comprehensive resource for physical educators seeking to deepen their understanding of sport mechanics and apply this knowledge to enhance their teaching and coaching practices.

Brendan Burkett, PhD, is a professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees in engineering and attained his doctorate in biomechanics. Burkett’s teaching specializations are biomechanics, sport coaching, and performance enhancement. His research revolves around technology developments in human health and performance, and he has written more than 180 peer-reviewed articles and 240 conference publications for journals in sport science, biomechanics, and coaching.

As an international elite athlete, Burkett represented Australia for 13 years as a swimmer. He was a Paralympic champion, world champion, and world-record holder, and he was the winner of multiple medals in the Commonwealth Games and Australian national championships. He served as the Australian team captain for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and as the flag bearer for the opening ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Following his sporting career Burkett has been the sport scientist for the Australian Paralympic team for the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Championships and the 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Paralympic Games. He has attended the past nine consecutive Paralympic Games, from 1988 to 2020, and was the head coach of the Australian Paralympic Swim Team from 2018 through 2022.

Burkett has received several awards, including the Australia Day Sporting Award and the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), as well as induction into the Sunshine Coast Sports Hall of Fame, Swimming Queensland Hall of Fame, and the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.