Football Coaching and Development

Only accepting Year 2 and 3 applications

Turn your passion for football into a varied and exciting career. You'll learn about the football industry, including coaching, player development, talent identification, inclusion, leadership and management, performance analysis, practical football development, and how football can be used as a force for positive social change. This course is packed with real-life, hands-on experience, so you get ample opportunity to put theory into practice. We work closely with our partners, Plymouth Argyle’s Community Trust and Devon FA, to ensure that you have the very best learning experience, and you'll be taught by both university lecturers and industry professionals.

You’ll consider the role of football within the wider sports industry, applying your learning to real-life situations through football development projects, coaching, and performance analysis. You'll run football development programmes, organise events, and develop a critical understanding of how the football industry works. And through these experiences you'll improve your communication, leadership, and teamwork skills.

One of the highlights of BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Development is the 100+ hours of work placement in year two alongside a Practical Football Development module in which you'll deliver ‘live projects’ in collaboration with football organisations.

You will have the chance to gain an array of industry-recognised football coaching qualifications. Marjon funds coach education awards from FA Level, 1 Level 2, and UEFA B. Awards will be matched to your level of experience and expertise. The UEFA B licence is for experienced coaches and subject to a successful application with Devon FA (and is the minimum qualification needed to coach at a professional football club academy). These coaching awards will boost your employability and give you a richer variety of experiences.

You will consider and debate many football-related topics including issues affecting coaches, administration, development and governance of football as a whole. You will also be introduced to the application of sport science principles, performance analysis, and football event management and their role in the development of football initiatives.

You'll gain professional endorsement of the Professional Occupational Standards for ‘Assistant Coach’, and 'Coach' from the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) the industry body. This endorsement is built into the qualification so there is no additional assessment or cost. It demonstrates to employers that you have achieved the professional standards required in the sport and physical activity sector.

What might I become?
Career opportunities are worldwide, and include working as a coach, development officer, project manager or analyst; working in the commercial, charitable or public sectors as well as with the FA and professional clubs.

Why study at Marjon?

• Small, person-focused university
• No.2 university in England for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2024)
• No.4 university in the UK for Career Prospects (WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2023)
• No.4 uni in England for Education (Student Experience) (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023)

Phil Brown -Course Lead, Football Development and Coaching; “During the first year you’ll learn how sport is managed from grassroots through to elite level. You will also learn about football in the community and how analysis is used in football coaching. In the second year you will undertake a work placement, learn about sport event management and have the option to select some modules based on your interests. Your third year involves looking more in-depth at elite level sport while also learning what it takes to be an elite coach and performer.” 1st Year Engaging with Football Coaching and Development (immersive module), Foundations in Sport Development, Football in the Community, Introduction to the Management of Sport, Introduction to Performance Analysis in Football, Coaching for Football and Physical Activity, Year 2 Engaging in Employability: Football Coaching and Development, Practical Football Development, Principles of Football Coaching, Developing Players in Football, Inclusion in Sport and Physical Activity, Research and Critical Inquiry in Sport, Year 3 Inclusive Coaching in Sport & Physical Activity, Performance Coaching, Leadership, Management and Mentoring in Sport, Graduate Employability in Sport, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Honours Project

1st Year
Football in the Community
Sport Coaching and the Coaching Process
Introducing Analysis in Sport Coaching
Foundations in Sport Development
Introduction to the Management of Sport
Engaging with Learning: Football Development & Coaching

2nd Year
Engaging with Employability: Football Development and Coaching
Sports Event Management
Research Methods
Sport Policy and Governance
Sport and Education
Sport Marketing
Practical Aspects of Performance Analysis in Sport
Applied Sport Science for Sport and Physical Education
Coaching Theory & Practice
Inclusion in Sport
Independent Study

3rd Year
Honours Project
Strategic Sport Development
Sport and Excellence
Pedagogy in Practice
Performance Coaching
Applied Resource Management

Case-study, Critical Review/literature review, Essay, Practical project delivery, Football coaching project, Online in class test (multi choice), Job Application Pack (Letter, CV, Interview and Presentation), Portfolio, Poster Presentation, Research proposal, Honours Project (Coursework)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS