Sports Coaching Science

Course Aims and Learning Outcomes

The main educational aims of the course are to:
• Prepare students for a variety of careers in sports coaching science, education and performance analysis.
• Provide students with a detailed knowledge of the industry contexts in which sports science and coaching takes place.
• Enable students to develop the communication, analytical and problem-solving skills demanded for career advancement in a variety of settings.
• Develop students’ understanding of contemporary approaches to evidence based practice in sports coaching science.
• Develop students’ understanding of, and experience in, the application of sports coaching science skills and techniques.
• Provide students with opportunities to engage with the sports coaching science industry throughout the course, utilising distinctive delivery locations and professional relationships.

What students will learn:

Knowledge
• Analyse the varied external environments in which sports coaching science takes place.
• Evaluate core coaching and sport scientific concepts and their application in different sports and performance settings.
• Evaluate techniques for coaching and the application of sports science in community, talent and high performance contexts.
• Evaluate and apply various skills relevant to a multi-disciplines of sports science within in a coaching setting.
• Develop applied skills in a range of coaching environments.

Thinking skills
• Engage in critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and decision making to solve problems.
• Solve problems concerning coaching and sport science contexts.
• Apply existing frameworks to new contexts and situations.
• Explore professional knowledge in new environments.

Subject-Based Practical skills
• Apply relevant legislation and ethical frameworks to the planning and delivery of sports coaching sessions.
• Critically analyse the role and responsibilities of sports coaches.
• Demonstrate awareness of multi-disciplines of sports science within coaching practice.

Skills for life and work (general skills)
• Demonstrate effective leadership skills in a coaching context.
• Communicate information clearly and coherently in a range of forms relevant to intended audiences.
• Work harmoniously and productively with others to achieve shared outcomes.
• Manage time effectively in order to meet deadlines and achieve performance targets.

Learning and Teaching
Primarily this course is delivered through face-to-face lectures, seminars, workshops and practical coaching sessions.

In classroom based sessions you will have access to lecturers and support staff as well as industry professionals, all of whom will support the introduction to and development of academic theories and models, the scientific principles of coaching, as well as real-world examples and case studies. Taught sessions will involve high levels of student engagement through classroom tasks and be supported by tasks to be completed independently.

Practical, sessions will form a core component of the delivery method. Here, you will be participants in tutor led sessions and be tasked with planning, delivering and reviewing your own group and individual coaching practices and sessions. Furthermore, you will be introduced to the key principles of sports science to assess, monitor and evaluate physical, mental and skilled performance.

You will have access to a variety of technologies that will support the reflective process. Peer review, as well as tutor feedback, will allow for you to feed-forward in preparation for coaching outside the degree and with direct links to academic assessment.

Finally, a comprehensive library of resources will be available for you to access through the UCFB online learning platform.

Year 1 (Level 4)
Fundamentals of Sports Coaching; Introduction to Scientific Coaching Principles; Industry Competencies (Mental Wealth); Coaching in Education and the Community; Skill Acquisition for Sports Coaching; Foundations of the Psychology of Sport, Exercise and Performance.
Year 2 (Level 5)
Talent Development and Scouting; Strength and Conditioning: From Theory to Practice; Industry Readiness (Mental Wealth); Research Methods; Coaching in Education Settings; Applied Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology.
Year3 (Level 6)
High Performance Coaching; Applied Coaching Science; Professional Project; Industry Engagement (Mental Wealth); Performance Analysis

A range of assessment types are used across the course, as appropriate to each module. Assessment is predominantly continuous, employing items that will include academic essays, reports, presentations, portfolios, reflective writing as well as practical coaching sessions. Applied assessment tasks are used as far as possible to enable students to link theory with practice, thereby assessing knowledge and understanding alongside subject-specific skills and key skills.

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