FdSc Sport Coaching and Physical Activity

The Foundation Degree in Sport Coaching and Physical Activity (FDSc) is through our collaborative partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). The programme is designed to equip students with the practical coaching skills, academic knowledge and professional understanding required for employment in the sport, fitness and physical activity sectors.

The course focuses on developing confident, reflective and effective coaching practitioners. Students combine classroom‑based learning with practical application, exploring key topics such as coaching practice, human physiology, responses to exercise, and the organisational and professional structures that support modern sport and physical activity environments.

Year 1 Modules

Introduction to Coaching and Physical Activity - This module is aimed at giving the students an introduction to the experiential, theoretical, contextual, and applied nature of coaching both sports and physical activity, respectively

Professional Research Development - The purpose of the module is to enable students to identify, understand, develop and articulate their key personal abilities in the context of their future career aspirations

Introduction to Sport & Exercise Psychology - The module aims to introduce the students to basic principles of sport psychology and enable them to understand and recognise how these principles can inform the practice of coaches and leaders in the delivery of sport.

Pedagogy of Coaching and Performance Analysis - This module examines the theoretical and practical aspects of coaching pedagogy in order to examine contemporary coaching developments with a focus on the learning environments a coach can create

Anatomy & Exercise Physiology - The module aims to introduce students to fundamental anatomy and physiology concepts with a specific application to sport and exercise

Sports Event Management - This module will consider a range of issues relating to successful sporting event management, including bidding and developing the event; assessing the risks and planning the event; staffing of events; and evaluation of the event’s success.

Year 2 Modules

Applied Issues in Sports Development & Society - This module aims to evaluate the academic study of sport. It explores the significance of sport and physical activity in contemporary society and investigates how sport is part of the social and cultural world in which we live.

Career Focused Professional Development - The Career Focused Development module provides students with the opportunity to further analyse the skills required to undertake work-related learning interlinking with other applied modules to be studied throughout the year

Psychological Issues in Professional Sport - The module will focus on the cognitive and affective processes influencing human functioning. It will specifically focus on the complex interplay between cognitive and affective processes and the resulting impact on performance in a range of sport settings.

Coaching Skills Project - The module will focus predominantly on the development of students’ knowledge of practical coaching and theories relevant to coaching, and sport development policy and practice

Physiology of Strength and Conditioning Exercise - The module will introduce students to the principles of the physiology of strength and conditioning, providing a comprehensive overview of the changes in physiologic function during exercise and due to exposure in extreme environments (hot, cold and hypobaric) and the implications for training and performance

Research Development - The module aims to extend students’ knowledge and skills needed to perform applied research of sufficient quality and rigour to make a valuable contribution to their academic field.

Students are assessed through a variety of coursework-based methods, designed to reflect real industry practice, including:

Written assignments and reports

Practical coaching assessments

Case studies and presentations

Reflective logs and portfolios

Applied projects related to sport and physical activity contexts

Assessment methods are designed to develop both academic understanding and professional competence.