Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching

Required qualifications

Typical entry requirements are below. Applicants should have 40 UCAS points made up of a combination of the following:

• A Levels with a minimum grade of D, E
• BTEC Extended Diploma grade PPP, BTEC QCF Diploma grade MP or equivalent
• Access to HE Diploma full award

Other Requirements:

• Entry to this course requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check and an Occupational Health Check

What skills will I develop?

Throughout the course you will explore global coaching issues, and be encouraged to utilise a range of learning, teaching and sports science technologies. You will be expected to coach both your peers and external participants

There will be opportunities for coaching work-experience throughout the course, helping you to develop the skills to meet the real-life needs of sports people across a range of ages, level of performance, and sports settings.

In addition, you will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and attributes to work independently and as part of a team within the coaching profession, preparing you for employment opportunities in a wide range of other sport-related careers.

A good graduate of this course will be able to:

• Coach a wide range of participants in many different settings (e.g., club, school, performance, community).
• Use the theoretical knowledge from the course to help inform current and future practice.
• Use the industry experiences gained through placement modules and apply them in a range of work settings.
• Use transferable skills developed throughout the programme as preparation to pursue a range of careers within the sporting field.

Careers

Many students who undertake the Foundation Degree may be currently employed in area within sports coaching and are wanted to build on existing knowledge. However, those who are not, would find this a great help in embarking on a career in coaching and instructing.

This course will prepare you for employment in a range of roles within the Sport and Physical Activity sector, which contributes approximately £40 billion to the UK economy each year and employs approximately one million people. Professional Standards for roles in this sector are developed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

Our employability modules enable you to explore sport coaching and school sport related career pathways and engage in career development planning that prepares you for graduate-level employment in a competitive industry. As part of these employability modules you will reflect on the experiences and skills you have gained in order to articulate your readiness to work in the coaching field and school sport industry.

Placement modules are a leading feature of the course allowing you to gain hands-on experience and mentoring in an applied setting. During the course you will complete sport coaching fieldwork and placements (in University and outside of University).

In the first year you will focus upon understanding coaching and learning developing key skills of observing, analysing and communicating your experience. During the placement in the second year of the course you will teach participants and refine your key skills of organising planning, making informed decisions and reflecting upon your practice.

Upon completion of the Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching you can seek a top-up degree at university. There is a progression route to level 6 with University of Wolverhampton.

English and maths

As a higher education course, it is expected that you have good English and maths skills in order to gain access to the course.

Whilst on the course you will continue to develop and enhance these skills throughout each module with both English and maths embedded in all delivery. Your use of English to help to communicate your knowledge and understanding of the subject will be a focus of all feedback and instruction. We will also work with you to develop your academic writing and your professional communication skills.

It is recognised that all students have differing abilities and challenges to face with their English and maths skills and you will be able to take advantage of an extensive network of support and assistance in this area from the college

Other important information

Applicants will also be required to provide a satisfactory personal statement and two references (academic/employer).

Fees for this course are £6,165 pa