Course summary

Are you passionate about helping people realise their sporting potential? A Sports Coaching degree will help you develop the skills to work as an effective sports coach in a variety of settings. On this course you’ll learn how to coach, how to reflect on your own and others’ coaching skills and styles, and develop a critical understanding of the coaching process. You'll study coaching models and styles, as well as psychosocial aspects such as learning and leadership. We’ll help you to understand the professional codes of practice to which coaches must adhere, exploring the ethical and moral responsibilities of the coach. Understanding the scientific principles of sports coaching is crucial, so you’ll learn how to identify performance indicators and coaching strategies across a variety of sports. You’ll examine the physiological components of performance, learning about skeletal and muscular anatomy and function. You will be taught in small groups to enable you to gain quality practical experience to 'learn through doing' with guidance and support from experienced staff. You’ll complete professional work placements, either at home or abroad, and will have the option to work with business experts in your final year to develop your own viable business plan. Plus, you’ll develop sector-specific skills and experience of using the latest high-performance sport technology, such as GPS tracking and 3D motion tracking equipment. At the start of your degree, you'll study modules shared with the Physical Education and School Sport and Physical Education and Sports Coaching degrees, giving you core underpinning knowledge and skills to progress on this degree or the option to change to either of these other two courses. Professional placements Our students typically complete placements at semi-professional and professional sports clubs, community schemes or grassroots-level clubs. You could also work in primary or secondary schools in school sport or teaching roles. Opportunities also exist working in sports foundations and sports development roles promoting health and wellbeing through sport participation. You can also go abroad, providing teaching and coaching sessions or working with international charities using sport for development at the same time as contributing to fundraising, coaching and teaching in developing countries. Career opportunities Sports coaching is a very person-centered discipline. As such the programme content and the interpersonal qualities developed through the course can equip you for many graduate opportunities. Graduates can work as professional sports coaches or performance analysts for sports clubs. Some choose to work in school sport or to promote sport and physical activity as a sport development officer. The degree prepares you for postgraduate study or teacher training in a variety of specialisms. Previous graduates have progressed onto graduate schemes and others have used the degree as a stepping stone to enter the police force.