Open Educational Resources and Kinesiology

• Foundations of Kinesiology: Understanding Human Movement (Runk, 2025) (CC BY-NC)

  The Foundations of Kinesiology textbook introduces students to the field of kinesiology through an interdisciplinary lens, highlighting the connections between physical activity, health, and society. It explores how kinesiology intersects with disciplines such as philosophy, sociology, biomechanics, and psychology, while also guiding students through a range of traditional and emerging career pathways.

  

• Introduction to Kinesiology (Titus, 2024) – LibreTexts (CC BY-NC-SA)

  This textbook acts as an introduction to kinesiology exploring the wide variety of subdisciplines of the field. Special emphasis is placed on continuing education and experience in each field leading to a career.

  

• Introduction to Kinesiology (Ragsdale and Schaefer, 2025) (CC BY)

  The Introduction to Kinesiology book provides a comprehensive overview of human movement, exploring the scientific, social, and applied aspects of the field. It covers key topics such as anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise physiology, it offers students foundational knowledge and practical insights into careers in kinesiology.

  

Students will need to use the official textbook from the certifying organization, either the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, etc.  The resources listed below should not be used to replace the certifying organization’s material, but only to complement that material.

• First Aid Scenario and Discussion Answers (Friedlander, 2019) (CC BY)

  This resource can be used to apply the student’s knowledge gained during a First Aid class. The scenarios can be used in lecture format or in small groups to encourage the discussion and application of first aid skills. 

  

• Physical Education and Athletic Training: First Aid and Safety Resources (Licensing varies – open license can not be presumed)

  This collection of resources, developed by the Maxwell Library at Bridgewater State University, provides links to resources to about first aid and CPR for babies, children, and adults.  Includes links to resources for sports injuries.

• The Politics of Sports (Carroll & Wakefield) (CC BY-NC-SA)

  

• Biomechanics of Human Movement (Hamm, 2020) – Pressbooks (CC BY)

  An open textbook comprised of ten chapters catered to the needs of kinesiology students enrolled in a first-year biomechanics course. Chapters include anatomy basics, linear kinematics in one and two dimensions, angular kinematics, linear kinetics, work power and energy, mechanisms of injury and more

  

• Sociology of Sport (Georgia Highlands College, 2022) (CC-BY-NC-SA)

  An open textbook comprised of 16 chapters with videos and Powerpoint presentations. Chapters include youth sports, high school and college sports, race/ethnicity, age & disability, religion, and more.

  

• Basic Foundation of Nutrition for Sports Performance (Byerley, 2022) – LibreTexts (CC-BY-SA)

  APUS Basic Foundation of Nutrition for Sports Performance (Byerly, 2020) – LibreTexts (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
  An open textbook comprised of 23 chapters and 152 pages. Chapters include digestion and absorption, metabolism and energy, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals, hydration and more.

  

• Essentials of Exercise and Sport Psychology (Zenko; Jones, 2021) (CC-BY)

  An open textbook of 33 chapters. Primarily directed at undergraduate students, this well-referenced book is also appropriate for graduate students. The topics covered are broad, ranging from an Introduction to Exercise Psychology (Chapter 1), to an Introduction to Sport Psychology (Chapter 19), to Working in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology (Chapter 33). Importantly, students should recognize that each author brings their individual perspectives, experiences, and expertise to this book. Therefore, some chapters may share overlapping content, but the content is discussed in unique ways. For example, Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 focus on physical activity and exercise behavior. While content in these chapters is related, it is not redundant. To fully understand the complex world of exercise and sport psychology, students are encouraged to engage with diverse perspectives from many authors. Chapters also contain learning exercises to prompt students and instructors to engage with the material on a deeper level.

  

• Sport Psychology in Sports, Exercise and Physical Activity (Nielsen, 2021) (CC BY)

  This seven chapter book introduces readers to topics within sports psychology with a special focus on motivation, behavior change, and personalities. The chapters focus on unique populations around the world. Must download individual chapters rather than the entire book. Chapter 1 and 2 could be used in Introduction to Kinesiology course using OER.

  

• A Guide to Physical Activity (Eydie Kramer, 2018) (CC-BY)

  A three chapter open textbook from faculty at the University of Minnesota. Chapter 1 is Physical Activity Foundation; Chapter 2 is The Benefits of Physical Activity; and Chapter 3 is Nutrition for Health & Physical Activity

  

• Exercise Science 335: Kinesiology & Biomechanics (Melissa Thompson) – Canvas (CC-BY-NC-SA)

  An open course on Canvas intended for a 300-level kinesiology and biomechanics courses at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

  

• Wellness (Pepe Aragon) (CC-BY)

  An open course and easily accessible without needing to use a course management system. One section is geared toward health topics with readings on nutrition, violence, cancer, infectious diseases, etc. The other section is geared towards fitness with sections on the components of fitness. Includes an additional chapter on complementary and integrative health and one on consumer health.

  

• KIN 4370: Virtual Exercise Testing and Prescription Lab Manual (Markofski, 2021) – Pressbooks (CC BY-NC-SA)

  This is a lab manual to accompany the University of Houston Virtual KIN 4370 course: Exercise Testing and Prescription.  The lab activities have been modified from face-to-face environments to an at-home virtual learning community. Each lab activity includes protocol description, comprehension questions and tables to help with test interpretation. Labs are included for testing flexibility, agility, muscle strength and power, estimating body composition, and more.

  

• Anatomy and Physiology for KINS 1100 (Fonseca, 2021) – Pressbooks (CC0, Public Domain)

  An open textbook that was adapted from an OpenStax’s anatomy and physiology textbook and follows the scope of most two-semester anatomy and physiology courses.  Enrichment elements provide relevance and deeper contexts for kinesiology students with relevance to their intended careers.

  

• HKIN 110: Human Anatomy I for Kinesiology – LibreTexts (CC BY-SA)

  An open textbook with seven chapters.  There is a chapter on the skeletal system, one on the nervous system, and the remaining five chapters are on the muscles, bones and joints throughout the body.

  

• Stretching in Sports Medicine (DeRollo, 2020) – OER Commons (CC BY-NC)

  Provides an overview of the different types of stretches (static, dynamic, PNF) and 10 for the upper extremities and 10 stretches for the lower extremities using proper hand placement and form.

  

• Methods for Stress Management (Allen Urich) (CC BY-SA)

  Composed of ten chapters. Includes one thorough chapter on relaxation methods. Other chapters are on managing anger, communication skills, types of anxiety disorders, healthy eating, exercise, time management, and developing a stress reduction plan.

  

• Anatomy Illustrations (Alice Roberts, 2019) – Flickr

  No licenses stated, stated they can be used for private use or any sort of teaching but needs to credit Alice Roberts. High quality, colored illustrations of the bones, joints, and organs. Some illustrations have labels and others drawn lines requiring students to label during an exam.

  

• Basketball Transition Defense 101 (Boeve, 2021) – OER Commons (CC BY)
  Provides an overview of the basics of transition defense, outlines the basic options, different philosophies, and the drills to teach the defense.

• Dance Studies: Choreographing Dance and Life (Worth) – LibreTexts (CC BY)

  Any survey of dance studies should begin with the question: What is dance? Dance is more than movement. “Dance is a transient mode of expression, performed in a given form and style by the human body moving in space. Dance occurs through purposefully selected and controlled rhythmic movements; the resulting phenomenon is recognized as dance by both the performer and the observing members of a given group” (Keali’inohomoku, 1983). This book will survey many dance forms from around the world. But why study dance at all?

  

• Waltzing Through Europe: Attitudes towards Couple Dances in the Long Nineteenth Century (Bakka; Buckland; Saarikoski; Wharton, 2020) (CC-BY)

  An open textbook that explores the changing reception of fashionable couple dances in Europe from the eighteenth century onwards. It is essential reading for researchers of dance in central and northern Europe, while also appealing to the general reader who wants to learn more about the vibrant histories of these familiar dance forms.

  

• Introduction to Golf (University of Georgia), 2019) – Galileo (CC-BY)
  An open textbook composed of eight chapters covering etiquette, rules, clubs, types of shots, and body mechanical skills needed for success. Includes photos and videos.

• Introduction to Volleyball (University of Georgia, 2019) (CC-BY)
  An open textbook with chapters covering etiquette, rules, serving, passing, attacking, blocking, strategies and equipment. There are photos and instructional videos.

• Walking and Jogging for Fitness (Flynn et al., 2018) (CC BY 4.0)
  An open textbook of six chapters covering such topics as benefits of walking and jogging, technique, nutrition and injuries.  Also included are PowerPoint slides, homework questions and recorded visual demonstrations for labs.

• Ch. 1 – Weight Training (UGA PEDB Program) (CC BY 4.0)
  This single-chapter resource focuses specifically on the fundamentals of weight training, offering an overview of key concepts such as proper technique, safety guidelines, and basic program design. It is designed as a targeted module for courses or lessons centered on strength training.

• Yoga for Beginners (Cerny, 2021) – OER Commons (CC BY)
  An activity for groups of students to come up with a yoga flow of poses.  Students should feel comfortable and confident teaching their classmates. 
• Yoga I and II Digital Textbook (Mist Belk, year not provided) (License not stated, free and open-source stated)
  Free textbook with material on fundamentals, Yama & Niyama, Postures, Breathing Techniques, Mediation and Styles of Yoga. Developed by an instructor at North Carolina State University.