Sports Coaching

Sports Coaching aims to help coaches to extend their capacity by engaging in learning experiences which promote analysis and critical reflection of their coaching practice.

The programme is for coaches who wish to progress their careers and articulates with plans for the UK Coaching Certificate beyond Level 3.It will develop skills of analysis and critical reflection, improve problem-solving skills, finding innovative solutions to coaching problems and extending the capacity to manage the coaching process.

Your work will be grounded in coaching practice, considering case studies and  hearing from peers and leading coaching practitioners.

Programme Objectives

• can analyse and reflect on their coaching practice.
• evaluate and adjust their coaching process.
• can amend coaching practice to take account of each individual.
• understand the socio-ethical context of their coaching practice.
• develop the capacity to make decisions under pressure.
• have clear personal development goals.

Entrance Requirements

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your  proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill), or  TOEFL: Listening 23, Reading 23, Speaking 23, Writing 23.

Funding

information on possible sources of funding

Modes of Study

Full-time: one year
Part-time: Normally two years, with stand-alone modules able to be taken over four years

Programme Start Date

September

Structure and Content

You must successfully complete seven taught modules and an Applied Coaching Project or Dissertation. For the award of the Postgraduate Diploma students must successfully complete all the taught modules. For the award of the MSc students must successfully complete this and achieve a passing grade in the Applied Coaching Project or Dissertation.

Students will study the following modules:

• The Coaching Process: Provides an opportunity to consider appropriate models of the coaching process and to examine the cognitive expertise required to affect the process
• Pedagogy and Practice: Enables coaches to apply integrated approaches to pedagogy in generating, managing, and directing coaching practice
• Planning the Coaching Process: Equips coaches with a greater understanding of the principles involved in effective planning and practice within the complexity of the coaching process
• Ethics in Sport: Considers the moral and ethical frameworks used by coaches and others in sport
• Research Design and Process: Provides an introduction to designing and implementing research projects, and the use of key methods
• Research Methods for Sport: Developing from Research Design and Process, this module helps students develop research skills in qualitative and quantitative methods
  
• Independent Study: This module allows coaches to identify an area of personalised, context-specific study and develop an agreed learning programme accordingly
  

Students will also choose from either a Dissertation or and Applied Coaching Project:

• Applied Coaching Project: This module will enhance coaches’ capacity for autonomous, professional judgement and practice. It should contribute to the development of the student as a coach who is capable of sustaining enquiry into aspects of his/her professional context.
• Dissertation: The dissertation allows students to conduct a piece of primary research in the form of a 12-15,000-word dissertation.
   

Delivery and Assessment

Assessment will be conducted in such a way as to adhere to adult learning principles. This means that content and learning demonstrate relevance, problem solving, learning by doing, a strong element of self-direction and ownership. Assessment modes will vary according to the context of each module.

Timetable

Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.

RAE Rating

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), Sports Studies was ranked 1st in Scotland and 5th in the UK with 85 percent of publications classed as ‘International Level’ and 15 percent as ‘World-leading’.

Career Opportunities

The climate for developing sport and coaching in Scotland and the UK has never been more positive. With major international events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games being hosted here over the next decade, coach education and development have become a major focus for policy and funding decisions by the UK Government. The establishment of the UKCC across four levels and different coaching contexts has provided an opportunity to modernise existing coach qualification and learning programmes. This programme intends to articulate with the UKCC (post-Level 3) and to develop partnerships with national governing bodies in the delivery of challenging and stimulating coach development programmes.