Sports Coaching, BSc (Hons)

Course summary

This course aims to produce competent, confident and reflective coaches with strong practical application of scientific knowledge. You will experience a range of opportunities to develop your coaching practice, emphasising optimal youth development.Sports coaches can provide support to professional sports teams and national governing bodies developing future sports stars, help build skills and confidence as PE teachers in school settings, or positively impact lifelong participation in physical activity.

• The course aims to foster the skills to be an exceptional sports coach and develop a range of attributes such as leadership, teamwork, and communication required to gain employment in the graduate job market.

• A large element of the taught content and assessment will be practical, giving you the opportunity to apply coaching theories to your coaching practice, considering the needs and wants of the participants.

• The breadth of sports coaching in community settings and schools (e.g. sports clubs, physical education and youth projects) and talent pathways (e.g. professional teams and national governing bodies) is covered throughout the degree programme, supporting diverse career pathways.

• Expert guest lecturers specialise in community coaching, physical education, elite talent pathways and high-performance sport.

• High levels of student satisfaction related to assessment and teaching delivery (Module Evaluation Questionnaires show >90% are satisfied with the modules studied).

• Students have the opportunity to complete a level 2 coaching qualification at no additional cost, and numerous placement opportunities are available in a range of coaching settings, enabling students to gain applied experience during their degree programme 2.

• Staff who teach on the degree programme actively engage in scholarship, coaching practice, and research, creating an opportunity for students to explore and understand current research and practical applications in contemporary topics in sports coaching.

• Graduate attributes will be a central theme embedded throughout the degree to enhance employability.

Year One Modules consist of fundamental practical and theoretical approaches to sports coaching. The coaching process, which includes planning, delivery, reflection, and various pedagogical approaches, will be introduced. In addition, you will gain knowledge of bio-psycho-social, which will help inform a broad understanding of the needs and wants of the individual or group. You will develop their discipline-specific study skills and professional practice. A key aspect is acquiring the necessary skills base and understanding the process of practical coaching in preparation for year two study, where these skills will be developed further. In addition, you will have the opportunity to gain a national governing body coaching qualification.  Modules Professional Skills in Sports Coaching Foundations of Sports Coaching Physical Development in Sports Coaching Pedagogical Approaches to Sports Coaching Foundations of Psycho-Social Principles in Sports Coaching Motor Learning and Control Year Two Modules build on the fundamental knowledge gained in year one. You will develop competence in the coaching process, with an emphasis on the critical analysis of the pedagogical approaches and scientific principles underpinning practical coaching sessions. You will apply your knowledge to practical scenarios, enabling you to continue developing your professional skills and their application, particularly reflective practice and career management. In addition to this, you will further develop research skills and employability by exploring qualitative and quantitative approaches to research and a mandatory structured work experience module. Placement Year There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement* can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future. If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee* of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement. Final Year Modules encourage independent and innovative approaches to the coaching process. You will further develop self-awareness informed by critiquing, synthesising and applying a range of appropriate information from scientific and non-scientific sources. Critical self-awareness allows you to enhance your coaching practice and develop a specialism in an independent research project. In year three, modules focus on contemporary issues, community participation, and high-performance pathways to further develop your employability profile.  We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated. Before accepting any offers, please check the website for the most up to date course content. For full module details please check the course page on the Coventry University website. *For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website