Sports Coaching BSc (Hons)

In your first year, we’ll introduce you to a range of practices in sports coaching and help you to develop the necessary academic skills that will provide the foundations for the remainder of your degree and beyond. In addition, you’ll get first-hand experience of coaching groups and individuals through various sports in our state-of-the-art facilities. You’ll learn about the fundamentals of coaching, be introduced to the key topics of coaching pedagogy and learning theory, consider and explore aspects of physiology and biomechanics in relation to sporting performance, and get a grounding in sports research skills. Furthermore, we will also look at and explore the relationship between sport, physical activity and health, as well as the organisation, administration and  management of sport and physical activity.

In Year 2, you’ll deepen and expand upon your knowledge and understanding of various topic areas relating to Coaching. Here your will explore and discuss contemporary issues in sports coaching, consider how ‘learning’ can be facilitated within coaching, and get further hands-on experience and opportunities to develop your skills. You will also develop your expertise in coaching diverse populations and managing health behaviour changes and take a closer look at the key areas of sports coaching, which include fitness testing, analysing performance, athlete learning in coaching, and the coaching process. In addition, you will consider and develop your knowledge and understanding of research methods, in which you will begin to make progress with your research proposal for your final year dissertation.

Your final year gives you the opportunity to get further work experience, understand the role of coach education, and grow your expertise in performance analysis and programming, in which you will have the opportunity to work as a small support team alongside one of Edge Hill’s University sports teams. Moreover, to help you to prepare for graduate level employment, you will undertake a professional practice and placement module, in which you’ll complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate that your skills and understanding match the professional standards of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. Finally, your final year provides you with the opportunity to design, develop and undertake an independent research project (i.e. dissertation), with support and guidance from your tutors.

How you'll study

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, small group seminars, practical activities, tutorials, workshops and study skills sessions, helping you manage the transition to university. In addition, there will be practical work, directed independent study, supervised individual research and ICT-based learning. For each module you will have a dedicated and detailed module page, available via the University’s virtual learning environment (Learning Edge). This will house key content, including a module handbook, assessment guidance and support an interactive reading list with links, and the relevant weekly content for each module. Where appropriate, tutors will also highlight where module content relates to aspects of employment, both in and beyond sports settings, in which there are various opportunities to gain valuable work-related experience and develop your skills throughout the programme, including with partners and other employers off campus.

How you'll be assessed

Assessments are both individual and team-based and enable you to develop key graduate attributes and skills through applied sports coaching tasks, presentations and various pieces of coursework. Coursework includes the writing of essays and individual reports, coaching portfolios and the completion of your dissertation within your final year of study. Here, we seek to provide you with a variety of opportunities that will help to prepare you moving forward, in which there will be critical appraisals of learning strategies, evaluations of coaching practices, preparation of poster presentations, the planning and delivery of practical sessions, developing portfolios of evidence linked to professional standards.

Who will be teaching you

You will be taught by highly enthusiastic and committed staff who have a wealth of experience working with a variety of sport and non-sport organisations. They draw upon these links to ensure you gain valuable vital practical experiences to prepare you for the world of work. Teaching staff are also actively involved in contemporary research projects, both nationally and internationally, which influence the way sport is coached, developed and managed, ensuring you are given the most up-to-date knowledge relevant to your future employment and areas of interest.