Sport Coaching BSc(Hons)

Course structure 

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, group activities and hands-on experience. The balance of knowledge and practical skills is designed to prepare you for career success in the sport coaching field.

You will contribute to theoretical discussion and then plan ways of applying theories to your own studies, practical coaching placements and practical activities.

In your second and final year you choose two option which you can use to specialise in an area of particular interest. 

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, we will inform you of any improvements or innovations to the curriculum through Student View.

Areas of study

Year 1 provides a broad introduction to coaching in topics such as physiology, psychology, biomechanics, training principles, sport development and sociology. This sets the foundation for years 2 and 3, when you can start to explore your own interests by selecting from a wide range of optional modules.

Throughout the course, you will gain practical coaching experience in a variety of situations, ranging from coaching fellow students in the first year to completion of external coaching placements during years 2 and 3.

We have established links with many sports organisations where you can complete coaching placements as part of the course.

Year 1

Modules

• Fundamentals of Coaching

  This module will enable you to develop your understanding of roles, responsibilities and processes of coaching. The content focus is on consideration of the many foundation skills and knowledge bases required to create a successful coaching environment. You will reflect on your coaching experience in order to re-conceptualise coaching, and practice your coaching skills in unfamiliar and challenging contexts. The module will also explore implications to coaching of policy and legislation.

• Practical Application of Coaching

  This module will give you the opportunity to apply fundamental coaching principles in a range of different settings. The module targets the planning, application and reflection of foundation skills which are generic to all coaching contexts. You will be challenged to display fundamental coaching skills in increasingly challenging contexts. Alongside this practically oriented module, you will contribute to on-going analysis and discussion of coaching case studies.

• Who Runs Sport?

  Understanding why sport is structured and organised in the way it is has become the most important factor for anyone thinking of developing a career in sport. This module will introduce you to issues of governance, government, policy initiatives, funding and media coverage. Content includes a view of the relationships between sport and sports coaching, sport and health/physical activity, sport and physical education, the sources of funding for sport and why sport is such 'big business'.

• Sport Practical, Physical Activity and Performance

  This module will introduce several sports and physical activities from four categories (invasion games, divided court games, aquatics and also striking and fielding games). The combination of physical activity, knowledge, and applied physiology knowledge will enable you to develop a greater understanding of the demands on the activity. You will acquire the breadth of understanding necessary to provide the basis for further developments in one or more of these categories at levels five and six.

• Science of Movement

  This module combines the study of physiology, psychology and biomechanics into a module designed to meet the needs of PE, sports studies and sports-coaching-based students.

  You will develop an understanding of muscular and cardiovascular aspects of human development and movement. You will study skill acquisition and gain an understanding of motor control. Finally, you will develop biomechanical understanding through recording, analysing and evaluating human movement and performance using qualitative analysis.

• The Scientific Study of Sport and Exercise

  This module will provide you with basic skills in critical analysis, interpretation and analysis of numerical data, and research methods, which are fundamental for a sport and exercise science graduate.

Year 2

Modules

• Effective Coaching
• Coaching Professional Practice
• Data Analysis and Research Methods 
• Coaching Contexts and Methodologies

Options*

• Sport for Development and Peace
• Learning and Teaching Through Games and Dance
• Learning and Teaching Through Athletic and Adventurous Activities
• Learning and Teaching Through Gymnastics and Swimming
• Accredited Physical Education
• Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise
• Nutrition for Physical Activity
• Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Performance in Environmental Extremes
• Sport Psychology in Action
• Performance Assessment and Training Prescription in Strength and Conditioning
• Performance Analysis
• Young People and Youth Subcultures
• Outdoor Adventurous Activities
• Healthy Mind, Healthy Body: Physical Education and Wellbeing
• Teaching Physical Education
• Games

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

Modules

• Advanced Coaching
• Dissertation
• Coaching Professional Enquiry

Options*

• Community Sport Development: Policy and Practice
• Theorising Critical Issues in Sport
• Education Studies 3: Inclusive Practice
• Physical Education and the National Agenda
• Applied Sport Psychology
• Science of Physical Training/The Study of Physical Training
• Injury and Rehabilitation in Sport and Exercise
• Advanced Strength and Conditioning
• Advanced Performance Analysis
• Martial Arts and Combat Sports: Theory and Practice
• Sport and Deviancy
• Gender, Sexuality and Physical Culture
• Racism in Sport and Popular Culture
• Sports Nutrition
• Level 6 Practical Activity
• Primary Physical Education: Active Learning in the Primary Setting
• International Cooperation for Development
• Enterprise and Innovation

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placements

You’ll have a placement opportunity in both the second and final year of your course to put your classroom learning in to practice.

During your second year you’ll plan a project supported by a mentor and implement the project with the organisation. In your final year you’ll spend around 40 hours with an organisation.

For both placements our employability hub will help you find one to meet with your interests and career aspirations.

We will fully support you before, during and after your placements and keep in touch with your placement host.

Meet the team

Dr James Wallis

Course leader

James is a principal lecturer on the Sport Coaching BSc(Hons) and Sport Coaching and Development BA(Hons) top-up degree. He is very active in professional and community coach education, currently working in professional cricket and in several European partner universities. He is the co-editor of the 2016 text 'Becoming a Sports Coach' published by Routledge.

James's main teaching commitments are in the theoretical bases of coaching and pedagogy, specialising in the development youth performance.

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Service Management are listed here.

• DBS checks, where required, are included in the fees.
• For all journalism students there are professional body examinations from the National Council for Training of Journalists. The university pays for your first attempt at each examination and this cost of around £400 is included in the course fees. But if you don’t pass an exam you will be responsible for resit fees, at an average cost of £45 per examination.
• UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
• For courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
• The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.
• All work is electronically submitted. You may need to provide a printed copy of your final dissertation. Estimated cost £5 per student in the final year.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships, as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

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