15th
for student satisfaction
1. Complete University Guide Subject League Table 2021
Top 30
UK University
2. Guardian University Guide 2022
14th
for teaching quality
3. Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021
Overview
Examine the physiological, biomechanical, and psychological principles of sports performance
Our BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching course provides you with an understanding of the role of coaches across a range of contexts.
This three-year course allows you to examine the physiological, biomechanical, and psychological principles underlying the enhancement, monitoring, and analysis of sports performance.
You will develop practical skills, explore ethical considerations, and use evidence-based research to prepare you to meet the vocational demands of the coaching profession.
As such, you should have a keen interest both in coaching and in the enhancement of sports participation and performance through the application of scientific principles.
On this course you will:
- Understand the role of the coach as you develop your coaching expertise and meet the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) professional standards for coaching.
- Examine the physiological, biomechanical, and psychological principles underlying contemporary sports coaching.
- Participate in a range of practice-based modules that will develop your ability to coach a variety of sports.
- Learn from internationally renowned researchers and practitioners.
The Course
Develop your coaching skills in line with the CIMSPA professional standards for coaching
Our BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching allows you to engage with and understand evidence and research from a range of coaching-related disciplines.
In the first year, you will learn the fundamental theories and practices of coaching, before you deliver a number of sessions to your peer group.
In your second year, you will expand your coaching practice through supported coaching placements and experiential, on-site learning.
Your final year allows you to focus on a specialist area such as psychology, physiology, or biomechanics via your module choices and dissertation, leading to professional skill development for your chosen career path.
You have a wide range of optional modules to choose from including the chance to explore scuba diving and alpine residential environments.
Select a year
Evaluating Sport, Exercise and Health
This module will use a sport, exercise and health science context to develop study and research skills through practical application. You will be introduced to simple methods of quantitative research and data analysis together with the rational for those methods. You will experience a wide range of learning modalities to develop your study skills including: practical data collection, computer laboratories, group seminars and group and individual tutorials.
Fundamentals of Human Physiology
This module will allow you to examine how key systems such as the musculoskeletal system, the cardio-vascular system, and the respiratory system affect human performance. Specific attention is paid to energy metabolism in the context of the exercising human across the breadth of the energy spectrum.
Introduction to Coaching Contexts in Sport
The module will discuss the role of different providers for coaching, coach education, and development and identify the impact of political and financial climates as drivers behind the developing opportunities to work within a diverse range of contexts. the implications of these on the skill set required to be an effective coach within different contexts will be examined along with potential employment opportunities.
Introduction to Skill Acquisition
This module explores the psychological factors that affect the learning and performance of skills in sport. You are introduced to selected theories of performance and learning and the strengths and weaknesses of these theories are examined. Research findings will be used to help you make the connections to your responsibilities as sports coaches.
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
Sport and exercise contexts provide a fascinating and complex opportunity to investigate the psychology of human affect, cognition and behaviour. This module aims to introduce you to diverse areas of psychology in the context of sport performance, exercise, and well-being.
Principles and Practice in Sport and Coaching
This module facilitates an understanding of the principles and processes associated with planning, delivering, and evaluating a coaching session. You will learn about the coaching process and the role of coaching in supporting participation and performance. the module will also outline the key factors associated with the delivery of an effective coaching session.
Questioning Sport, Exercise and Health
You will be introduced to study skills for higher education and discover the philosophical underpinnings of research in the sport and health sciences. You will also be introduced to qualitative research methods.
Children and Youth Sport
This module aims to give you an overview of a number of issues related to coaching children in sport and/or providing sports opportunities for them. the module examines the development of the young performer from a multidisciplinary perspective and aims to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge through appropriate assignments.
Coaching Practice and Delivery (Placement)
The module introduces various evidence-based and interdisciplinary practices and requires you to apply these practices in real-world coaching. This is achieved via peer coaching in taught practical sessions, and during the coaching placement hours (normally 50) required across the duration of the module.
Developing and Monitoring Physical Performance
This module aims to provide you with the skills and knowledge to design interventions for improving both health and skills-related physical fitness. You will develop the ability to complete a health screening and needs analysis on clients and athletes, establish goals, select appropriate methods of individual physical performance assessments, and design interventions to improve physical performance.
Diving
Explore the complex interaction between the hyperbaric aquatic environment, and the physiological coping mechanisms of the human. Environmental issues will be discussed, as will medical emergencies and progression opportunities in diving. This module will also provide you with the opportunity to gain the SSI Open Water Dive award.
MediaSport 2.0 and Beyond
This module examines the significance of the internet and new media technologies in sports media. Key issues concerning production, consumption, identity, political economy, co-optation, participatory culture, user-generated content, convergence, commerce, social media and gaming will be examined in relation to relevant networks, practices and relationships that shape the twenty-first century sports media landscape.
Performance Analysis in Sport
The analysis undertaken could relate to technical, tactical and/or physical aspects of performance.. the use of sports performance analysis is paramount in light of the limitations of human memory, such as the volume of event recall and subjectivity. the module aims to introduce you to the key concepts, skills, and techniques associated to performance analysis, and outline its place in the scientific support of individuals and teams.
Project Management
This module aims to equip you with the tools and skills necessary to manage sports projects effectively and to demonstrate the importance of following a prescribed project management methodology. You will explore the concepts of project management in a practical way including effective scoping, planning, resource allocation, risk and issue management, project monitoring, reporting and review.
Reflection: Developing Your Teaching and Coaching
This module aims to provide an opportunity to select and develop specialist areas of interest. You will be required to develop skills in introspection, reflection, and reflective practice drawing upon theoretical concepts relating to pedagogy of sport and education. You will agree a suitable programme of work within a professional context of your choice which will involve you immersing yourselves in the culture and practices of this working environment.
Researching Sport, Exercise & Health
You will further develop your skills in research methods and data analysis, with a broad focus on analysis procedures including the qualitative method of interviewing, and quantitative methods of analysis of variance, correlation and linear regression. These methods are commonly used procedures in the sport, exercise and health sciences, and understanding of these will also provide a solid foundation for understanding more advanced research methods that you may learn in your future work including research projects or postgraduate study.
Sport and Exercise in Extreme Environments
This module aims to examine the physiological challenge of performing in extreme and hostile environments and to examine how the human can exercise, maintain homeostasis, and survive. It will explore the theoretical limits of human performance, looking to identify mechanisms of physiological acclimatisation and adaptation. You will consider how this may be used to increase sporting performance and maximise safety e.g. competitions such as the Everest Marathon and Marathon Des Sables.
Sports Injury and Prevention
In this module, you will study basic musculo-skeletal anatomy, including features particularly prone to injury in sport e.g. ligaments; incidence of sport injury. You will explore common injuries to the body and their methods of occurrence, as well as first aid procedures and injury assessment. You will also study the role of biomechanics in predisposing factors, psychology, and prevention of injury, as you consider treatment methods, rehabilitation, and real-world case studies.
Working With Individuals
This module focuses on the multi-faceted process of the coach-athlete and teacher-pupil relationship. Drawing on contemporary psychological research which places this relationship at the centre of athlete and pupil development, this module will explore the sources, nature, and synthesis of sports specific and psychological theory and its application in the development of sporting competence in athletes and pupils.
Adapting Coaching for Different Contexts
This module aims to extend your coaching experience across a range of coaching contexts and develop expertise within less familiar sporting activities and types of groups. You will explore globalisation and the emergence of different sports cultures including countercultural and disability sports.
Adventures in Coaching
You will explore current issues within the coaching process and consider their application within specific adventure sport activities. You will examine the practical scientific assessment tools to identify performer needs.
Applied Sport Psychology: Delivering Mental Strategies
Traditionally, sport psychologists have advocated the use of numerous mental training strategies that are purported to enhance the cognitive, affective, and behavioural states of the performers that they work with. This module provides you with an understanding of the efficacy of these strategies, to provide opportunities to deliver these mental strategies and to reflect on the delivery of these strategies.
Critical Reflection in Coaching and Mentoring
An introduction to theoretical and practical concepts related to the development and mentoring of coaches. You will critically examine the methods and processes through which coaches learn and develop. It will embed theories of learning and critically explore philosophies of education as they relate to the development of competent sports coaches.
Delivering Sport and Physical Activity in the Community
This module examines the importance of staging community sport events or projects in the context of modern sports development. It addresses the role of the practitioner or manager in these types of events and further highlights the fluid and interconnected functions that exist between the coach and sport managers. In essence, the module seeks to allow potential coach and sport managers the opportunity to understand, in part through practical engagement, the complexity of staging community sport events or projects at all levels and the management and administrative processes associated with them.
Dissertation Project
This module is the culmination of previous learning and is the major element of your independent enquiry on your programme. The module requires that you reflect on, and utilise the knowledge base, context, and application of taught modules, as well as placement experiences. It is designed to encourage you to generate and explore your own ‘problem’ assisted by supervision from a tutor.
Entrepreneurial (Business Setup)
This modules focuses on the environmental factors that are directly relevant to a small business context, to allow you to develop a critical understanding of the entrepreneurial process. You will concentrate upon the planning that needs to be undertaken prior to the start-up of a small business.
Exploring Ethical Challenges in Coaching
The increasing access to and globalisation of sport brings with it a wider range of ethical dilemmas for all those involved, including the coach. the module aims to increase the awareness of how these issues impact on the work of the coach and examine how choices are made using both historic and contemporary examples.
Nutrition for Sports Performance, Physical Development and Health
Sports performance and the development of athletic ability relies on the individual being in peak health and having the correct nutrition support to fuel training adaptation and exercise performance. This module aims to examine the ways in which dietary intake influences energy metabolism, recovery of skeletal muscle after exercise, exercise performance, training adaptation, injury risk, and immunity.
Occupational Health and Performance
The module aims to provide you with an understanding of how evidenced-based practice can be used to improve health and performance in occupational settings such as the military, emergency services, and industry.
Planning and Monitoring of Training and Performance
A focus on planning and monitoring training of athletes and how a programme of physiological support can be used to enhance performance. You will engage in current literature identifying the physiological demands of the athletes chosen sport, key measures of physical fitness, and how we can enhance them. An athlete’s ability to focus on training to gain maximal physiological adaptations, and relax in competition can represent the difference in making the podium or winning major tournaments.
Strategic Planning for Sport
The module is divided into key overarching themes: the philosophy of strategy; the process of strategy; the drivers of strategy and whether the crucial determinants of a strategy are the organisation of the environment. the module concludes with a discussion on the interrelationship between strategies and effective planning, theory and practice, and what this means for those that manage sport organisations.
Working With Teams
This module focuses on the requirements of effective coaching delivery within groups and teams. It will critically analyse and address the knowledge and skills necessary to work with groups of athletes across key coaching contexts. You will understand how to assess the needs of a group, and the individuals within, and address this in your planning and delivery.
Experience
Discover a wide range of excellent sporting facilities that support your learning
Tudor Hale Centre for Sport
Our world-class Tudor Hale Centre for Sport acts as the focus for sports science, therapy and physiology.
Placement partners
We have developed strong connections with our partners to provide you with work placement opportunities.
Sports hall
Our specialist sports hall can be used for a wide range of indoor sports, including basketball, netball, badminton, and volleyball.
Specialist outdoor sports pitches
Alongside our grass football and rugby pitches, we also have our International Hockey Federation compliant floodlit astro turf.
Close community
Our commitment to a friendly and close-knit student community contributes to a high degree of success for our graduates.
Expert staff
Learn from experienced sports coaching specialists here to support you throughout your degree.
Fitness suite
We offer a variety of cardio, resistance and weight equipment, with a dedicated strength and conditioning room.
Sports Dome
The Sports Dome is a large indoor facility which can be used for sports such as cricket, football, hockey, and many more.
Sports injury clinic
Sports Therapy students use our specialist injury clinics these spaces for practical sessions and run a practice.
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms, and the Student Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
Subject specific librarians
If you have difficulty finding material for an essay, seminar or project, subject librarians will be happy to provide assistance.
Teaching and Assessment
Innovative teaching methods that focus on practice
Teaching
Our team of principal lecturers ensure innovation, enthusiasm and expertise combine to deliver the excellent standards that give our institution its high reputation.
When you come to Chichester, you will join a community of students and lecturers working in partnership to ensure that your learning experience reflects best practice and embraces the opportunities presented by new, interactive technologies.
Each module is delivered differently depending on its content and focus of study.
In most modules you can expect lead lectures to introduce core content, but the majority of your time will be spent working in small groups with tutor support in seminars, workshops or laboratory sessions.
Many sessions will require you to have completed some preparatory work and you will also be given structured follow-up work after a session to further progress your learning, often reading or an individual/group task. As you progress through your degree you will be expected to take more and more ownership over your learning and development, directing your study into areas of most interest to you.
Assessment
You will be assessed by a variety of methods, including essays, examinations, portfolios, practical assessments, lab reports, and oral presentations.
Our course includes a mix of assessments, so that you may develop a wide range of transferable skills. Modules are assessed at every stage of the course, offering cumulative assessment of your progress.
You can monitor your own progress, allowing you the opportunity to discuss and plan your development with your lecturers throughout the course. Where appropriate special arrangements can be made for students with an identified need.
Placement Opportunities
Utilise our extensive professional networks to support your learning
In the second year, the ‘Coaching Practice and Delivery’ module reinforces and extends professional practice.
It gives you the opportunity to actively broaden your range of coaching experience through various sporting domains and contexts.
Examples of these include operating within the fields of disability sport, primary, secondary, and further education, university sport, and the community programmes that the University runs.
Our Sport courses have a dedicated placement coordinator who is available to assist students and has a network of contacts in local clubs and schools.
Our students are from all over the UK, with the majority from the South and South East of England, with a few students from overseas. Many students find work placements in their home towns, as well as local opportunities in Sussex.
You will need to ensure you have all the necessary documentation in place before you start your placement. Some courses will insist that you complete a DBS check on entry to the course and others will require you to complete a check once you have started. Please check that you have completed all necessary documentation before commencing your placement.
Study Abroad
Explore the opportunity to study part of your course abroad
As a student at the University of Chichester, you can explore opportunities to study abroad during your studies as you enrich and broaden your educational experiences.
Students who have undertaken this in the past have found it to be an amazing experience to broaden their horizons, a great opportunity to meet new people, undertake further travelling and to immerse themselves within a new culture.
You will be fully supported throughout the process to help find the right destination institution for you and your course. We can take you through everything that you will need to consider, from visas to financial support, to help ensure that you can get the best out of your time studying abroad.
Careers
Acquire the skills and knowledge required to gain employment as a sports coach
Our BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching serves as an excellent platform for a number of jobs or further opportunities within the worlds of sport coaching and performance.
Typical careers include:
- Coaching in professional clubs (academies, centres of excellence, community coaching)
- Coaching in amateur clubs
- Sports science support with sports governing bodies
- Teaching
- Sport development
- Sports management
- Coaching within the private school sector
Further study
You can also progress to other postgraduate level study to continue the development of your knowledge and skills and increase your employability.
University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.
Postgraduate pathways
Student View
"I still use many of skills learned during the degree on a daily basis"
Marc
James
Course Costs
Course fees 2023/24
UK fee
International fee
For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fees page.
For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.
To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.
Course specific costs
You will be required to have a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check costing £40 which needs to be paid for before the start of the course.
Entry Requirements
UCAS
A Levels
BTEC
GCSEs
IELTS
Disclosure Barring Service (DBS)
You will be required to have a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
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