Coaching in the Community (Football)

Kick-start your career in the most popular sport on the planet through our unique partnership with Stoke City FC.

The Coaching in the Community (Football) foundation degree, studied over a two-year period, will prepare you for working in professional and grassroots environments.

We’ve teamed up with Stoke City FC Community Trust to offer you amazing work experience opportunities which will help strengthen your coaching capabilities. You’ll also take part in activities at the bet365 Stadium, Clayton Wood training ground and The Academy Dome.

And if you show on-the-field talent to a professional level, you could be selected for the Championship club’s Player Pathway programme.

You’ll also have the chance to complete professional coaching qualifications and to ‘top up’ your foundation degree to honours degree level with an extra year of study. It means you will leave us work-ready and with plenty of skills.

In the first year, we will introduce you to industry practice and sport science, including physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, and strength and conditioning. This will give you a grounding in all the essential components to work in football.

You can then tailor your studies to particular interests through optional modules in your second year. You will be taught through a combination of face-to-face sessions and online learning.

Other aspects of the course include coaching diverse groups, such as people with disabilities, and exploring contemporary issues in sport.

As well as the relationship with Stoke City and its Community Trust, we have an extensive network of contacts. It includes other football clubs, sports organisations and schools both nationally and internationally.

You’ll also get to meet and build connections with successful sports professionals through talks from industry experts. Previous speakers have included Manchester United FC Coach, Mike Phelan and Head of Coaching at Brighton and Hove Albion FC, Nick Levett.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: FdSc Coaching in the Community (Football)

Year One Core: Coaching Diverse Groups; Exploring Academic Skills and Industry Practice; Foundations of Sports Coaching; Sport Science for Coaches and Teachers
Year Two Core: Industry Project; Reflections of Learning Practice; Sport Placement
Year Two Optional: Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement for Sport, Exercise and Health; Coaching Diverse Groups; Exploring Academic Skills; Fundamental Introduction to Exercise Prescription; Fundamentals of Exercise Physiology; Individual Differences and Psychometrics in Sport and Exercise

You will be assessed in a range of formats performing/undertaking industry relevant activities, these include practical coaching assessments, observations, presentations and podcasts, amongst others. After conducting these assessments, you will receive specific feedback and guidance on your assessment performance, identifying areas for development and areas in which you display a strong ability, which in turn can be applied to future assessment/work experience. Ultimately, this feedback will enable you to further improve your personal and professional skill sets, preparing you for the workplace, or further study.