Anglia Ruskin University

Course overview

The coach is responsible for instructing, training and directing the athlete or the team. Their aim is to develop the players' skills or to achieve a specific goal. But how does the coach know what methods to use? In this innovative degree you will explore the scientific approach to coaching. You will find out what areas of knowledge such as human movement, pedagogy, child development, physiology and psychology can contribute to making coaching methods more effective. Then you will go on to explore how these ideas can be best put into practice.

This degree has two main aims:

• to provide you with a sound understanding of the theory and application of the coaching and physical education process.
• to equip you with the practical, organisational, analytical, scientific and communication skills required for coaching and teaching sport.

This unique blend of the theory and the practice will turn you into a modern scientific coach who is able to coach all age groups and all types of learner.

In Year 1, core modules will develop your knowledge and understanding of the main theories and principles underpinning the coaching and physical education process.

In Year 2 the focus is on the coaching and instructional skills. You will learn the practical tools of the trade and find out how sport in general is organised and run.

In Year 3 you will apply your coaching and teaching skills by working with local teams and in schools. You also have to complete a piece of independent research. This will allow you to study an area of interest of your own choosing and conduct an in-depth analysis of the topic.

This course has been designed to allow you to develop the knowledge and teaching skills of the modern scientific coach and sports instructor. To achieve this you will study concepts related to: coaching styles and philosophies, child development, lesson planning, curriculum development, training programme design, talent identification, structures of sport, principles of fitness testing and athlete support, learning and acquiring skills, needs analysis, motivational climates, goal setting, notational game analysis and strength and conditioning. These will be supported by the key academic and coaching skills of communication, interpretation and application of information, time management, and data handling.

The specific aims of this course are:

• to enable you to address relevant QAA subject benchmark statements and United Kingdom Coaching Certificates (UKCC) qualification guidelines;
• for you to meet local, national and international needs;
• to provide a framework of modules for you for the development of the theory, concepts and practical application of Coaching and Physical Education;
• to provide you with the necessary oral, written, practical and technical skills to operate effectively as Coaching practitioners;
• to provide you with the required knowledge to operate ethically and safely as Coaches;
• to allow you the opportunity to work independently in 'real-life' situations;
• to develop you a range of transferable skills and competences relevant to careers in Coaching sports development and other graduate employment situations;
• to allow you the opportunity to plan, execute, analyse and report on a research project of your own design;
• to provide you with the opportunity to study for professional qualifications (National Governing Body Coaching Awards, UKCC);
• to promote access to and further progression within higher education, research and professional development.

Additional course information

This extended four year option is available to meet the needs of people who wish to study for a Sports Coaching and Physical Education degree but do not have the appropriate educational background. During the first year or science foundation year you will have the opportunity to study modules in a range of key areas of biology, chemistry, mathematics and principles underlying scientific investigation as well as specialist areas that relate to your future study programme. Entry qualifications are necessarily very flexible, ranging from a single A Level, relevant experience or previous employment history.

The science foundation year will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to begin studying at degree level, but more than that, it will also introduce you to university life and help you to enjoy the experience of learning within this stimulating and exciting environment. Successful completion of modules earns either 15 or 30 credits towards the total of 120 credits required for progression onto the three year undergraduate degree programme.

Upon completion of this course you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• a comprehensive knowledge base in selected subject areas that inform Sports Coaching and Physical Education as defined by the relevant QAA Subject benchmark Statements (Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism), the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and UKCC qualification guidance documents.
• cross traditional subject boundaries and use a multi-disciplinary approach to analyse, evaluate and reflect critically on selected Coaching and Physical Education scenarios, drawing, as appropriate, from research and professional contexts.
• your research and problem solving abilities with a critical understanding of methods of acquisition, interpretation and analysis of information appropriate to the study of Coaching and Physical Education and in a way which demonstrates capacity for creative and original thought.
• critically appraising and utilising a number of ethical, theoretical and professional rationales which underpin best practice within Coaching and Physical Education as defined by UKCC.

Module guide

Assessment

A wide range of assessments are used to test the skills learnt. This includes: presentations, practical examinations, scientific reports, data-handling exercises, computer assessments, end of module examinations and a research project. Reflective practice and self and peer assessment is also encouraged. You will be given considerable opportunities to apply your coaching and instructing skills in real-world settings.

This will include running physical education classes at primary and secondary level in nearby schools and colleges. You will work with local teams and governing bodies of sport on coach development and club development strategies. You will also work with coaches and athletes from a wide range of team and individual sporting backgrounds to produce structured programmes for their training.

Facilities

The course is supported by our in-house facilities such as the Human Energetics and Performance Centre and also through collaborative links with groups such as Core Cambridge (strength and conditioning laboratories) and local schools and colleges for hands-on coaching and teaching sessions. You will have access to a wide range of assessment tools including equipment for the analysis of team and individual performances (notational analysis), high-speed video cameras, heart-rate monitors, portable breath-by-breath oxygen analysis systems and portable equipment for field-based measurement of training loads, such as blood lactate monitors, mobile tracking devices (GPS) and accelerometers.

As a University we have sports facilities both on and off-campus. This includes a fitness suite, dance studio, playing fields for soccer, rugby and hockey and a rowing club and boat house. The course is also supported by excellent computing and web facilities. The web resources are available through the University library and can be accessed from your own home computer. We have a large collection of sport and exercise science software packages available for you to use at anytime. Each piece of our equipment has its own dedicated software for the analysis of the data it produces. We also have software for performing video analysis of human movement, dietary analysis and the assessment of the metabolic cost of activity. We have an extensive, up-to-date library catalogue and subscribe to over 40 electronic and hard copy sports and exercise science journals and reviews.

Special features

Anglia Ruskin University offers scholarships and bursaries to promising athletes of up to £1,000/year.

Links with industry and professional recognition

You will be encouraged to become a student member of Sports Coach UK. If you wish to follow a career in Performance Analysis, you will be given the opportunity to become accredited by the International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport

Other notable organisations and bodies with whom we have links include: Living Sport, the British Paralympic Association, British Cycling, the European Judo Union, the American College of Sports Medicine, International Association of Judo researchers, and the England and Wales Cricket Board. We also have strong research and collaborative links with local school sports co-ordinators, regional and city-based sports development officers, various rugby, soccer, hockey, netball and basketball teams and several academies in the region.

Associated careers

Coaching is the career choice after this degree especially now that the government intends to make coaching a paid profession in all sport by 2012. Other careers include: physical education teacher, primary school teacher, sports development officer, strength and conditioning coach, performance analyst, military officer or physical training instructor, Schools Sports Co-ordinator (SSCo), Further Education Sports Co-ordinator (FESCo) or lecturer in higher education. It is also possible to continue in education by taking a higher degree and doing research.

UCAS Tariff points:	40
Additional Requirements:	GCSE(s) Required: 3 GCSEs at grade C including English and Maths

Entry requirements listed are for September 2013 entry. Entry requirements for other intakes may differ.

Please note AS levels are acceptable only when combined with other qualifications.