Football and Community Development

Why choose this course?
This course combines your passion for football with positively impacting communities. This foundation degree provides a unique blend of practical coaching skills, community engagement strategies, and industry knowledge, preparing you for exciting careers in football coaching, sports development, and community work.

You will:
Have opportunities to work with Wrexham AFC Foundation, gain professional qualifications and work on real-world projects
Have the chance to network with industry professionals
Graduate with the tools, experience, and confidence needed to succeed in this dynamic field
Be ready to coach the next generation of players, deliver impactful community programs, or progress into further studies

Key Course Features:
Access to Professional Facilities: Learn and train in state-of-the-art facilities, including high-quality pitches at the national football development centre, Colliers Park preparing you for real-world environments.
Engaging Learning Experience: Applied experience working for Wrexham AFC Foundation.
Opportunities for Networking: Access opportunities to network with local football clubs, community organisations, and governing bodies, giving you a head start in building professional connections.
Pathways for Future Growth: Receive guidance for further study or career progression, with the option to top-up your degree to a full BA (Hons).

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)
You will gain a strong foundation in understanding the role football plays within the community. You will gain practical coaching experience alongside theoretical knowledge, preparing you for careers in grassroots football, sport development, and community outreach. This year also introduces essential academic and professional skills to support further study and career progression in the football and sports industry.

MODULES:
Change Maker in the Community
Asset-Based Community Development
Football Coaching for Player Development
Introduction to Management and Business
Health Inequalities and Social Justice
Academic Discovery within the Sport Sciences

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)
This year will build on the foundational knowledge, focusing on advanced engagement techniques, sport development strategies, and leadership in community football. Through practical experience and industry engagement, you will develop the skills needed to design and implement football programmes that drive both player development and community growth. This year prepares you for higher-level study or direct entry into careers in coaching, sport development, and community outreach.

MODULES:
Be the Change: Football in the Community
Working with Communities
Strategies for Health Improvement and Promotion
Becoming a Coach
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Sport Research Methodologies

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential and the introduction of our Active Learning Framework (ALF) helps deliver this commitment. Grounded in the University’s values of being accessible, supportive, innovative, and ambitious, ALF will support flexible learning that makes the best use of spaces on Campus together with digitally enabled learning opportunities designed to be accessed anytime, anywhere as appropriate. In addition, ALF embodies ways of teaching and learning that create and support a sense of belonging for students – critically important for us as a university that prides itself on being a supportive community.

Incorporating everything mentioned above, our teaching will use a combination of face-to-face and online techniques. There are practical elements across all years that may include off-campus trips to environments that facilitate the learning experience. On average, students will receive 16 hours of taught content through the delivery of ALF per week.

In addition, the university offers workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

ASSESSMENT
A wide range of assessment methods will be used to test your knowledge and understanding. This includes essays, portfolios, practical sessions, reports, presentations, online discussions, and case study evaluations. You will be assessed on your ability to describe, explain, and analyse sport/fitness coaching concepts. This will be achieved through the investigation of previously published research, individually collected field-based data and specialist computer software and equipment.

If Level 6 study is taken, your time with us culminates in the submission of an independent Learning opportunity (dissertation project), in an area that supports your future aspirations.