BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development

This module will equip you with an understanding of the structures and organisations that facilitate the delivery of sport and physical activity in the UK. You will examine the pivotal role of the coach within these systems and reflect on how coaches develop the values and philosophies that guide their practice. Additionally, the module will enable you to explore the various contexts of participation and investigate how these environments influence coaching activities and behaviours that help support sustainable communities, improve performance and promote good health. You will be encouraged to reflect on your personal experiences and consider how this knowledge might shape your future coaching practices.

This module explores selected aspects of the human body seen as fundamental to applied and related work in the areas of sport and exercise science, sport coaching science and physical education. As such, the module will introduce you to basic quantitative evaluation, assessment and data analysis techniques that underpin good professional practice in these areas. As the module progresses you will develop an integrated knowledge and understanding of how the human body functions, responds and adapts to selected exercise stimuli with specific reference to established anatomical, physiological and biomechanical concepts.

In this module you will be introduced to analysing sport and physical activity through psychological and sociological perspectives. Key theoretical and conceptual ideas will be explored as ways to help you understand sport and physical activity as social and psychological phenomenon. In doing so, you will gain critical insight into important dynamics that contribute to participation (e.g. personality; identity), performance (e.g. motivation) and inequality (e.g. sexism; racism; disablism) in sport and physical activity contexts.

This module explores the essential practical skills required by sports coaches to create effective learning experiences and environments for their participants. You will review various learning theories and coaching styles, and examine the supporting evidence for different coaching approaches and behaviours that will help you develop and design creative and inclusive sessions that inspire participation and performance. Through practical coaching experiences, you will be introduced to diverse approaches to skill acquisition and performance, enabling you to create meaningful and impactful experiences for your participants.

These are bite size modules designed to help you settle in and obtain core skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and sustainability. You’ll engage with contemporary, thought-provoking topics and issues whilst maximising your chance of success right from the start of your studies. Your Journey to Success at CCCU is compulsory and you then choose two more of these modules (from a choice of 8) in your first year.

In this module, you will learn how to tailor and adapt your coaching skills to meet the needs of various populations, focusing your ability to create innovative and inclusive sessions that respond to industry need. You will explore the unique requirements of different groups, such as children, women and girls, and disabled participants, and discover the best ways to adapt your coaching practice to suit these audiences that aligns with the industry standards. The module will utilise hands-on practical coaching sessions, where you will apply theories and evidence about learning and development to these populations. You will be encouraged to be courageous in the application of your skills in order to provide high quality learning experiences that help challenge the inequalities that exist in sport and physical activity provision.

Sport and exercise have the power to produce transformative experiences for those associated with these environments. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, this module seeks to explore the positives and negatives of physical activity involvement on both micro (e.g. individual) and macro (e.g. societal) scales, so that relevant stakeholders (for example: athletes, exercisers, coaches/teachers/instructors, practitioners, governing bodies/organisations) might be better positioned to maximise the productive - and mitigate against the detrimental - outcomes of participation.

In your second year you will complete a Client Project or an Innovation Challenge. Each of these modules are worth 30 credits and will give you the opportunity to gain real-world experience as you practise client relations through a collaborative project.

These modules recognise the value of integrating knowledge, methods, and perspectives from other disciplines and use this approach to address a range of opportunities and challenges in contexts of varying complexity. You will study two of these modules.

These modules help broaden your educational experience and allow you to work and collaborate with students studying other subjects.

In this module you will explore best practices that help develop a sport coach. You will have the opportunity to apply coaching learning strategies to your own development through your participation in a professional practice context and consider how you can best improve your knowledge, skills and behaviours. You will also play an active role in supporting and developing other coaches, building your communication and reflective skills and exploring how collaboration through partnerships can help you impact the professional development of your peers.

Whether you are supporting an athlete winning an Olympic Gold medal or assisting someone in becoming more physically active, technology is central in contemporary understandings of sport and physical activity. Gaining first-hand experience of using various technological innovations, throughout this module you will have the opportunity to explore the transformative role of technology and develop the skills to be critical of its application. In doing so, you will evaluate how technological advancements shape the way we exercise, coach, play, learn, analyse and experience sports as participants and fans.

In this module you will conduct a major project that explores contemporary issues and themes in sport coaching and development and apply these to your own work based learning in a professional practice environment. You will develop a solid understanding of the empirical research evidence that exists around each topic and use this to reflect on how you can best apply this to a case study of your own professional development and practice. You will be encouraged to actively problem solve in your real world practice environment, respond to the challenges you encounter and be asked to reflect on the impact of this professional collaboration has had on you and your development.

This module is designed to equip you with advanced, applied skills and strategies in strength and conditioning alongside wider discipline areas to enhance athletic performance. Building on prior knowledge in physiology, psychology, skill acquisition, sociology, and biomechanics, you will explore evidence-based approaches to optimising sports performance. A key focus will be on the practical application of performance enhancement interventions, including their effectiveness, ethical considerations, and industry relevance. Through critical analysis, you will evaluate the implications of these interventions in real-world sporting environments. By the end of the module, you will have developed the expertise needed to apply advanced training methodologies and performance strategies, preparing them for careers in sport performance, strength and conditioning, or related fields.

In this module, you will explore the powerful role of physical activity in addressing health challenges across the lifespan. You will investigate how exercise influences physical health at various life stages - from childhood to older adulthood - whilst also examining the psychological and social factors that shape participation in physical activity. The module will cover the latest research on how physical activity impacts overall well-being, delving into physiological mechanisms, psychological benefits, and social influences. You will critically analyse evidence-based interventions and explore strategies to integrate physical activity into daily life to improve health outcomes.

In this module, you will explore practices used to develop sport and physical activity programmes within community settings. You will have the chance to learn about both the principles and practical aspects of designing innovate and creative programmes aimed at encouraging activity among specific groups to help address barriers to participation. Throughout the module, you will gain an understanding of the complexities and challenges involved in designing and implementing these initiatives. You will be encouraged to consider all stages of programme development, including conception, design, funding, workforce, and evaluation, reflecting on the collaborative effort required to facilitate these experiences.

Sports generated data and its availability have expanded exponentially over the past three decades. Consequently, coaches now need to develop skills beyond those gained through badges and experience. This module will provide you with the opportunity to gain industry-relevant skills in the collection, processing, management, and analysis of data to provide actionable insights as a coach. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of high-quality data, advanced analytical tools, and their role in the development of data-driven strategies in sports coaching.

This module explores learning and leadership beyond the classroom, focusing on outdoor education and adventure. You will examine how outdoor experiences shape individual and team performance, influencing resilience, personal growth, and group dynamics. Through experiential learning, you will visit a variety of outdoor settings and engage in reflective activities. These experiences will help develop leadership skills, self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of outdoor learning. The module encourages critical analysis of how outdoor environments enhance education and personal development.

This module is designed for students from various disciplines interested in careers in Physical Education (PE), sport, and physical activity. You will develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to apply theoretical concepts in real-world settings. Emphasizing critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, the module encourages reflective and adaptable practice. Through active learning, you will explore links between PE, sport and exercise science, and sport coaching. These experiences will help you create inclusive and dynamic learning environments, enhancing career opportunities in PE, sport, and physical activity-related fields.