BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching

Core modules

Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise

This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of biomechanics. This includes linear kinematics and kinetics, and angular kinematics and kinetics. Understanding these biomechanical principles will allow you to apply them to sport and exercise in relation to human movement.

Coaching and Volunteering in Sport Development

In this module, you'll have the opportunity to work in groups and collaborate with others on your joint work. You will gain valuable knowledge and find ways of applying this in your own specific subject area in the future. You will also be able to challenge yourself to learn in different ways and to gain a better and deeper understanding of different topics.

Principles of Sport Development

In this module you will examine the theoretical concept of sport development and be introduced to its structural and organisational origins. You will be involved in discussions and debates regarding contemporary research and topical issues in the practice of sport development. You will develop knowledge of the relationship between sport and society, as they are needed for informed decision making in relation to understanding issues within sport development.

Research and Study Skills

Each week you will explore a different topic area that will help prepare you for your ‘research journey’. You will ask yourself: what is research; why is it important; and how do I successfully undertake it? Learning will encompass how to locate and use information, how to evaluate the quality of the information found, and how to analyse research design. You will explore research examples and be challenged to identify a potential research area that is of interest to you.

Sport Psychology and Skill Acquisition

In this module you will learn about different psychological topics such as confidence, motivation, and anxiety and how these can influence an athlete's participation and performance. You will discuss and consider how as coaches we can have an impact on these different constructs. You will discover the different stages of the learning process in which athletes learn and develop new skills and gain an understanding of how athletes process the information around them and make effective decisions.

Sports Coaching and Fitness Instruction

In addition to learning the theories that underpin the subject of sports coaching and fitness instruction in sport, you will engage with various topics and learning styles and opportunities, such as coaching topics such as coaching and learning styles, needs analysis, differentiation and progression, long term athletic development and fundamental movement skills. From a gym-based fitness instruction perspective, you will learn safe and accurate delivery of cardiovascular machines, free weight exercises, machine-based exercises and body weight exercise.

Core modules

Applied Research Methods in Sport, Health and Exercise Science

You will learn how to investigate discipline specific problems or issues using both quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry. Leading into your final year Project, you will begin to form your research idea or work placement.

Coaching Innovation Projects

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop a critical appreciation of how sport, health and physical activity programmes can be employed as a medium to facilitate change in the community. From this critical appreciation you are given the opportunity to gain the knowledge to develop your own programme (Coaching Innovation Project – CIP).

Coaching Young Athletes

This module will encourage you to analyse and adapt your methods and approach to coaching by providing you with the tools and understanding to design and deliver sessions that aim to maximise the sporting potential of young athletes. You will examine the various factors that impact young athletes’ development, including physiology, growth and maturation, hydration and nutrition, psychology, and technical factors such as movement skills and athletic competencies. You will also consider various models of athlete development, talent identification, child protection policies and effective coaching practice for athlete development in a variety of sporting activities.

Developing Coaching Practice

This module will encourage you to analyse and adapt your coaching skills to suit your sporting environment. You will consider your use of a variety of skills including: strategic planning, instruction and demonstration, practice, observation and feedback, emotional intelligence, cognitive strategies, and reflective practice.

Optional modules

Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Performance Analysis

In this module you'll develop your tactical understanding in a range of sports through an increased knowledge of game demands and key performance indicators. You will develop the key skills to capture, analyse and review the technical and tactical elements of performance. Methods of increased reliability, accuracy and validity are central to the learning material. You will be exposed to a range of practical issues in conducting performance analysis.

Policy in Practice

You will study a range of policy and practice considerations relating to your specific course area and ask yourself: why do we have policy; how has it developed over time; and what is its key priority?

Sociological Perspectives

In addition to learning the theories that underpin the subject of sociology of sport, you will engage with various topics and learning styles and opportunities. This will ensure you are given different ways to learn and gain confidence in doing so. You will gain valuable knowledge and find ways of applying this in your own specific subject area in the future. You will also be able to challenge yourself to learn in different ways and to gain a better and deeper understanding of different topics.

Strength and Conditioning

This module will teach you the fundamental knowledge and skills of developing key fitness characteristics of athletes in a variety of sports. Topics covered will include screening and monitoring athletes, developing strength, power, speed, agility, flexibility and mobility, energy systems conditioning, and how strength and conditioning is effectively integrated into an athlete’s programme.

Core modules

High Performance Coaching

This module will encourage you to analyse the way you view coaching and provide you with the tools to critically reflect on your coaching practice. You will examine what makes an expert coach, as well as different coaching methods such as planning, observation, decision making, reflection, practice and feedback. You will also have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and experience of athlete recruitment and retention, generic and sport specific talent identification, development and management, holistic coaching practice and athlete mentoring, integrating psychological, physiological and biomechanical performance enhancement into coaching practice, coaching tactical play and ethical issues in coaching including gamesmanship, overtraining and burnout.

Individual Project

This module will provide you with an opportunity to gain experience of undertaking a degree-related individual project. The work will need to be underpinned by subject-specific theory and will demonstrate how it is contributing to the existing body of knowledge relating to that area of interest. Throughout the process you will be expected to consider the ethical and methodological implications of your project and action them accordingly.

Optional modules

Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Applied Performance Analysis

This module will allow students to further develop an in-depth understanding of biomechanical analysis of sport and underpin relevant concepts of notational, time-motion, and computerised analysis through a theoretical and practical approach. Fundamental to the module is the comprehensive understanding of how performance analysis is effectively integrated into an athlete’s programme. By working with various sports practitioners and attached to a sports team, you will develop skills in communication, time management and task prioritisation that befit provision during sport competition.

Applied Strength and Conditioning

Developing on from your second year module you will form an appreciation for the role of an strength and conditioning coach whilst increasing your skills and confidence at delivering performance programmes for athletes. You can gain a level 4 Diploma in Strength and Conditioning and will put yourself in a strong position to move on to full UKSCA Accreditation.

Business Start-up

The key areas of study in this module include the small business enterprise sector where you will look at what constitutes a small business and the typology of small business behaviour in relation to growth and management styles. This includes economic and political influences on small business trends along with key determinants of small business success and failure.

Global and Contemporary Issues

Due to the dynamic and fast paced evolution of this industry, contemporary and global issues within this module are not prescriptive, and topics and themes will change as the industry moves and progresses. Topics will cover trends and growth in sport from grass roots to high performance, facility management and community development, sports retail as well as specific globalisation issues including national identity, sports media and advertising, sports labour migration and sports fandom.

Physical Education and Learning

During this module you will develop your pedagogical skills in teaching physical education - your understanding of how to teach both practical and theory will develop as you gain a greater understanding of the importance of reflection, communication theory, pro-active behavioural management strategies, and teaching and learning methods. You will also develop your pedagogical skills in teaching practical activities including invasion games, net and wall games, striking and fielding games, dance, and gymnastics for key stages 1 to 4.

Sports Nutrition

The importance of good nutrition and hydration for sport and exercise has grown in popularity. This module will enable you to understand the scientific theory of the field, combined with the practical expertise, to apply sports nutrition to improve performance in a wide variety of sporting and exercise disciplines.

Strategic Sport Development

This module offers you the opportunity to apply previous learning and engage in critical discussion and debate across a wide range of highly topical issues that influence sport and physical activity within the UK.