Sport Psychology and Coaching

Modern coaching is a wide ranging arm of sports science which is relevant at competitive, community and participation levels. Coaching and teaching represent different skill sets from the same spectrum, applied in varying environments and supported by other essential areas of knowledge such as sport psychology, human movement, social impact of sport and the value of applying sports development to lifelong progression. Both sports coaching and physical education operate on the same spectrum, the aim being to encourage, develop and progress others in terms of sporting performance or participation. Coaching can apply at elite performance level but equally at community level where coaches stimulate people who have never taken part in sport and exercise to reshape their lives. When directly involving youngsters coaching works side by side with physical education. Increasingly schools are out-sourcing sports delivery to coaches and likewise more sports practitioners are entering teaching through a coaching pathway.

The course offers progressive development of coaching and teaching skills across the full three years, supported by a 6-badminton court size sports hall and extensively equipped sports science labs. Staff have wide ranging coaching knowledge and qualifications up to international and world championship levels. Other modules on the course are equally well supported by experienced staff and facilities.

This degree course will prepare you specifically for a career in any aspect of coaching. Likewise it is possible to progress to apply to take a post graduate qualification in teaching or make use of coaching experience to enter teaching via a work-based learning scheme. Previous graduates have gone into careers within team sports, individual coaching, community coaching and P.E. teaching. Quite a number also go on to take MSc qualifications in specialised areas such as sport psychology, strength and conditioning and sport sciences.