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UNDERGRADUATE

PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

Programme Title: BSc (Hons.) Football Coaching and Performance

(Accelerated Degree)

Awarding Body: Staffordshire University Teaching Institution: Staffordshire University Final Awards: BSc (Hons.) Football Coaching and Performance

(Accelerated Degree)

Intermediate Awards: HE Cert (Football Coaching and Performance)

HE Dip (Football Coaching and Performance)

Mode of Study: Full-Time/Part-Time

UCAS Codes: C610

QAA Subject Benchmarks: Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism

JACS Code: C600 Professional/Statutory Body: n/a

Date of Production: January 2017

Date of Revision: January 2022

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EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME

The main aims of the BSc (Hons.) Football Coaching and Performance course are to:

Provide an accelerated route to a BSc (Hons.) Football Coaching and Performance course via a curriculum with extensive vocational and employment opportunities.

Develop your intellectual capabilities; personal and transferable skills; subject specific knowledge and skills that provide the foundation for future learning, employment and personal development through diverse methods of learning and assessment.

Provide a coherent, flexible, multidisciplinary framework with opportunities for you to apply your knowledge and skills in industry specific contexts.

Develop intellectual capabilities and skills in evaluation, data interpretation, problem solving and reflection informed by contemporary theories and practice in football coaching.

Work in collaboration with university partners to provide you with high quality work experience opportunities to further enhance employability.

Advance your professional development by providing opportunities to conduct relevant professional body courses.

Provide an inclusive, diverse and supportive learning environment for you.

What is Distinctive about this Course? The BSc (Hons.) Football Coaching and Performance degree is an ‘Accelerated’ degree, which is delivered over 2 years, instead of the normal 3 for an undergraduate course. The course aims to provide aspiring football coaches from both the U.K and abroad with the opportunity to acquire the appropriate skills, and develop the specific knowledge required to gain employment in the football industry, both in the U.K and internationally. Advantages of an accelerated degree include a reduced overall cost and a quicker pathway to qualification and employment. Accelerated degree courses typically appeal to more mature students, however, it is hoped that the football specific nature of the degree and its design, structure and content should appeal to a very wide audience, as well as supporting the institute’s strategic plan of providing flexible and diverse modes of study. A distinction between this degree and most other football related degrees delivered by HE competitors is that they tend to focus more on subjects such as business management and finance, and are generally BA degrees, and not football coaching specific degrees, or scientific in nature (BSc), like this course. Furthermore, most other institutions (approx. 13 providers in England) have football coaching foundation degrees, however, there are very few full honours degree courses in this subject area making this course distinctive in the market place. Also, from market research it is evident that the accelerated nature of this sports coaching degree is unique and currently not something that is offered by any of the competitors. The course delivery is supported by our partners, which include the Staffordshire F.A., English Premier League (EPL) football team Stoke City F.C. and the Sir Stanley Mathews Coaching Foundation, amongst others. Therefore, incorporated into the course will be an opportunity to conduct a work placement at one of these partners, in a performance academy or community environment, which will ensure that students gain a valuable insight in to the inner-workings of a professional football club, and also the development of football in the U.K. at a grass-roots level. This course delivery is supported by a highly qualified team of professional coaches, most of whom are UEFA licenced football coaches, and industry experts. These experts comprise of experienced professional club coaching staff, F.A. national managers, and the current academic team at Staffs University. The course has a multidisciplinary approach that combines the disciplines of football coaching, F.A. coach education, performance and match analysis, as well as training and conditioning to enhance football players’ development and maximise team performance. The knowledge and theories developed from these disciplines will be applied to football coaching and put in to practice on the football field.

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Students will have opportunities to further their professional development by completing National Governing Body (NGB) and sports leadership qualifications through our partners, specifically those courses endorsed/delivered by the Football Association (F.A.) and their coach education pathway. Students will gain insight and experience of using state of the art, industry standard, performance analysis software, for example ProZone, Dartfish, Focus, etc. This will enable them to analyse performance and identify strengths and weaknesses of individuals and teams, which will in-turn inform training focus and strategy.

Through undertaking the course, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the factors influencing performance in the specialist area of football coaching, including talent identification, talent development, football specific training principles, and specialist strength and conditioning methods for performance testing, development and monitoring of football performer’s at different age ranges. These specialist areas will be assessed through a variety of innovative assessments relevant to the nature of the topic. For example, part of the Talent Identification and Development in Football module will be assessed via a web-based blog to chart learning and development of knowledge over time on different talent identification models used internationally and specific concepts and theories. Furthermore, the Professional Practice in Football module is assessed via a pod-cast to communicate theoretical and experiential knowledge whilst critically evaluating the role of the football coach and appraising emerging knowledge, skills and understanding on a variety of sector specific issues. The course will enable students to become safe and effective football coaching practitioners, with the knowledge and skills to work in a professional capacity with both elite and amateur sports performer’s, both individually and as part of a team.

Background and Purpose of Course

The purpose of this course is to produce graduates with a critical and in-depth scientific knowledge of current issues relating to football coaching and performance. The course provides the necessary theoretical underpinning and practical competencies for individuals to work professionally in this developing area. The course requires students to study a range of disciplinary subjects within a football coaching and performance context. As a result of studying on this course, and the inclusion of the Staffordshire Graduate Attributes into all course related delivery at Level 4, 5 and 6, students will develop key transferable skills throughout their studies. For example, students will develop discipline expertise, become reflective and critical in their approach, be proficient working within a team, cultivate a life-long learning ethos, and become a richer citizen for their experiences whilst positively contributing to society.

Students are required to undertake a work placement at Level 5 of the course. The students will be expected to undertake 150 hours of experiential learning, preferably with one of our partners, for example Stoke City F.C., or the Sir Stanley Matthew’s Coaching Foundation, in a position relevant to their career aspirations. The student placement pathway is intended to prepare the student for employment in an increasingly flexible and diverse labour market. This is a key module in developing and demonstrating a readiness for the world of employment. Furthermore, volunteering opportunities will be available from a range of the departments’ partners. Students will be required to obtain DBS clearance to conduct their work placement with our partners, please see ‘Additional Information’ for more details.

As coaches of the future, students will develop high-level communication skills through experiential learning. There will be a wealth of opportunities to develop coaching practice and work with a range of participants to further develop their personal communication skills. Furthermore, there are a range of assessments, including practical coaching assessments, which will allow for the students to have feedback on these specific aspects of their practice and further develop these where necessary.

Opportunities are offered within the course to undertake national governing body (NGB) coaching qualifications with our partners. These are increasingly important for a coach to achieve because they certify

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coaching proficiency and ability, therefore, students are instantly more employable by attaining these industry recognised qualifications. Students are strongly encouraged to undertake a range of these qualifications whilst studying on this degree to further increase their employability.

Students who graduate from the Football Coaching and Performance degree can progress in to a wide-

variety of job roles in the sector, these could possibly include:

Football coaches working in a football association accredited club developing football related skills, techniques and tactics of football performers. These posts are available world-wide, not just here in the U.K.

Match analysts at professional sports clubs using state of the art performance analysis software (i.e. ProZone).

Strength and conditioning coach providing advice and training to performer’s who are looking to develop their sport and exercise skills.

Entrepreneurs in sport and leisure, setting up their own companies delivering specific coaching services.

Possible progression to a Physical Education (PE) teacher training by completing a specific post-graduate teaching course.

Progression to MSc in Sports Coaching at Staffordshire University for those considering post-graduate study.

The Football Coaching and Performance course aims to develop students’ abilities to apply research in the

sciences to current practices of football coaches and football performance. Furthermore, it will produce

students able to employ strategic planning and development skills in analysing, understanding and

addressing the requirements of football performers and organisations.

The Staffordshire Graduate… The Staffordshire Graduate represents a set of qualities that the university passionately believes are necessary for success in the 21st century. The Staffordshire Graduate is a reflective and critical learner with a global perspective, prepared to contribute in the world of work. Each module of study will incorporate the Staffordshire Graduate Attributes (SGA) and these characteristics are embedded throughout the whole of the Football coaching and Performance degree. The mapping document in Appendix C demonstrates the specific SGA’s attributed to specific modules that comprise to form the course. The SGA’s that students are taught and assessed upon are:

Professional Global Citizen Teamwork Life-long Learner Reflective and Critical Discipline Expert

In addition to the inclusion of SGA’s in each module, this course has a strand of modules that focus on the development of research and employability skills. The development of these attributes is a continual process throughout the delivery of this course. Activities are embedded into the teaching and directed activities across all modules that form the course.

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PROGRAMME OUTCOMES What will this course teach me to do? At the end of your studies you should be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of well-established theories of coaching and football performance, whilst developing a critical perspective of these in applied football coaching.

Learning Demonstrate an understanding of the contemporary issues and theories associated within football coaching and performance, as well as developing an understanding of any areas of uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations within the field.

Enquiry Deploy accurately the established techniques of analysis and enquiry. Initiate and carry out projects within football coaching and performance. Evaluate use of information literacy, including ethical use of information and data in the field of study.

Analysis Critically analyse how discipline-based research contributes to the study, development and practice of football coaching and performance.

Problem Solving Develop a range of appropriate answers/questions to achieve a solution. Identify a range of solutions to a range of problems and use decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts relevant to a range of areas in which football coaching and football performance is applied.

Communication Communicate effectively pertinent issues, problems and solutions using an informed, evidence-based, perspective to performers/clients, as well as specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Application Apply safely and competently appropriate methods, skills and techniques utilised in football coaching and football performance. Devise and sustain arguments, using ideas, methods and techniques, which are at the forefront of the field of study.

Reflection Demonstrate an ability to reflect upon own practices as well as others, and develop transferable skills necessary for employment in football coaching (or performance support) and lifelong learning.

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PROGRAMME STRUCTURE, MODULES AND CREDITS This course is structured as a two year accelerated degree undergraduate course aimed those that want to develop their football coaching skills, scientific knowledge and ability as a coaching practitioner. The course is multidisciplinary and combines aspects of football coaching, analysis, conditioning, whilst furthering professional development through a work-placement module. The information below contains the course structure for the football coaching and performance degree. The majority of the modules on the course are 30 credit modules, however, there are 15 credit modules where appropriate, and each of the three levels of study incorporate 120 credits each.

Course Title: BSc (Hons.) Football Coaching and Performance Year 1 of Accelerated Degree…

Level Semester Modules

4 1 SPOR40906 Developing Research Skills in Sport and Exercise (15 Credits)

SPOR40914 Academic and Employability Skills in Sport and Exercise (15 Credits)

SPOR40915 Fundamentals of Exercise Physiology & Biomechanics (30 Credits)

SPOR40914 Coaching & Teaching in Sport (15 Credits)

SPOR40909 Performance Testing and Monitoring in Football (30 Credits) 2 SPOR40911

Coaching & Teaching in Sport (Invasion Games: Football) (15 Credits)

Level 4 Course and Exam Board

Level Semester Modules

5 3 SPOR50908 Research & Graduate Employability in Sport & Exercise (30 Credit)

SPOR50909 Training Principles for Football (30 Credits)

Resit Course and Exam Board & Progress Update on L5 Modules

Note: Student must pass Research and Graduate Employability in Sport and Exercise to progress on

to Level 6.

Year 2 of Accelerated Degree follows overleaf…

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Level Semester Modules

5 & 6 4 SPOR50913 Coaching, Analysis and Skill Acquisition, (Applied Football) (30 Credits)

SPOR50912 Placement: Football Coaching and Performance (30 Credits)

SPOR60922 Paediatric Strength and Conditioning (Football) (15 Credits)

SPOR60520 Personal & Professional Development in Sport & Exercise (30 Credit) 5 SPOR60534

Contemporary Issues in Sports Coaching (15 Credits)

L5 Course and Exam Board & Progress Update on L6 Modules

Level Semester Modules

6 6 SPOR60924 Talent Identification and Development in Football (30 Credits)

SPOR60923 Professional Practice in Football (30 Credits)

L6 Course and Exam Board

Part-time Study:

A course structure for a part-time route has not been specifically designed. However, it is possible to study

the course on a part time basis by accessing modules as and when they are available. If a part-time mode

of study is required then this would need to be negotiated with the course leader.

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HOW WILL I BE TAUGHT AND ASSESSED?

Teaching and Learning

A range of learning and teaching strategies will be employed to suit the varying types of learner, and to

meet the needs of the specific learning outcomes of the modules. Typically the BSc (Hons.) Football

Coaching and Performance course modules employ lectures that are supported by smaller-group

seminars, workshops and coaching practical sessions, which are all delivered by experienced and

qualified staff. Students will also be provided with independent learning activities to complete in their own

time and review in lesson. In general, student learning is supported by materials, tasks and activities,

which are provided via the virtual learning environment (i.e. Blackboard). The balance of lecture to

tutorial/seminar/practical time is a deliberate attempt to allow theoretical and generic knowledge taught in

lectures to be given context and meaning in the football coaching and performance domain. The use of

case studies, research data, experiential learning and discovery learning, amongst others enable your

lecturers to achieve their aims. Within this specific course, students will engage in a range of practical

sessions, to ensure that they learn essential techniques and tactics used within football coaching. An

emphasis in delivery will be very much on an applied and experiential approach, where students will be

able to gain ‘hands on’ experience in a coaching environment delivering practical coaching sessions,

using performance analysis software and undertaking specific football practice and conditioning regimens.

There are 3 levels of study over 2 years for this accelerated BSc (Hons.) Football Performance and

Coaching course: Level 4, 5 and 6. Both Level 4 and 5 consist of a series of 30 credit modules that equate

to 120 credit points per level, whereas Level 6 has a mixture of 30 credit and 15 credit modules equating

to 120 credit points (please see the Course Structure, Module and Credits section). There will be a

transition over these three levels to promote independent learning and higher order thinking. In level 4,

students will receive a high level of direction in the identification and solving of problems given during

tutorial and practical time. In level 5, students will still receive a high level of direction in problem

identification but will notice a greater emphasis on student-lead problems and solutions. In level 6,

students will receive less direction in identifying the key aspects of presented problems and will be

encouraged to develop their own solutions to these problems. The course is designed so that skills and

knowledge gained in core modules can be transferred, applied and developed within other modules, both

within and between levels. The modules which focus on developing students’ research skills, and

enhancing their personal and professional skills, will ensure that students are constantly reflecting upon,

adapting and enhancing their learning and coaching practice. Tasks which link to employability will be

strongly featured in all modules and their learning activities, requiring reflection upon key skills which

prepare students for, and enhance their contribution to, the world of work. Students will be strongly

encouraged to seek additional work-experience through volunteering opportunities and reflect upon the

skills being developed through this practice.

The widening of access to courses by students of an increasingly varied educational background, which

includes mature students, has further influenced innovative practice in the school in regards to the

methods of learning and teaching incorporated on the course. The course team has considerable

experience of teaching students with differing learning needs and requirements, and meet frequently in

order to monitor and plan for a co-ordinated curricular experience. Applicants that require additional

learning needs will be identified and counselled as to the reasonable adjustments that can be made to

teaching, learning and assessments to provide an inclusive approach to the student experience and

ensure all students can achieve the course outcomes.

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Assessment

A range of assessment methods will be used throughout the differing levels of the course to assess the

learning outcomes of the modules. Students at each level will be required to complete a variety of football

coaching and performance specific assessments. Throughout the varying modules of the course, students

will be assessed through practical field assessments, oral presentations, written essays and reports,

laboratory based practical sessions, case studies, and some of these may be time constrained

assessments (e.g. test conditions).

A matrix of assessment methods has been mapped to the modules on the course (see Appendix D). The

mapping exercise has been completed to ensure that a range of appropriate assessment procedures will

be utilised throughout the course, and to ensure that there is balance to these assessments, with one not

favoured heavily over another. The learning outcomes for each specific module, and the teaching and

assessment methods for these modules, will enable students to demonstrate and achieve the BSc (Hons.)

Football Coaching and Performance learning outcomes. A matrix of Staffordshire Graduate

characteristics by module demonstrates where opportunities will be presented to enable these to be

achieved (see Appendix A).

While the curriculum has been designed to allow a degree of flexibility, assessments at Level 6 are

generally focused more on the application of theories and techniques in football coaching and

performance disciplines that were developed in Level 4 and 5 to professional practice contexts. The

research and employability strand at Level 4 and 5 will allow for the teaching, development, assessment,

reflection and overall development of transferable skills. At Level 6 each student will be required to

conduct an independent piece of assessment suitable to the context of football coaching and performance

(i.e. dissertation). The accelerated nature of this course will demand strong organisation and time

management skills from students, as the periods of reflection usually allocated during summer terms will

be reduced with further modules and assessments occurring during this period. This will allow students

to build momentum and remain in a focus of work and assessment to set deadlines. This additional

demand will help students develop transferable skills that can be directly implemented into the work place

and reflect those challenges accustomed with working with full-time professional athletes. In order to

spread student’s workloads and assessments, some modules will include assessments set early within a

module, for example Coaching and Teaching Sport module (15 credit) has a practical assessment which

is delivered between October and December in Semester 1. This scheduling is designed to allow students

to spread their workload more evenly. In doing so this will allow greater opportunity to provide feedback

on the standard of students practice, and achievement levels, early in modules. This approach will also

provide staff an opportunity to identify areas where students may require additional support/practice in

preparation for upcoming assessments, ensuring students are able to make the necessary progress from

one level of study to the next.

The course falls under the assessment regulations for the University Modular Framework:

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/legal/policies/awardregs/index.jsp

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Entry Requirements (including IELTS score)

What qualifications would I need to join this course?

The entry requirements for the BSc (Hons.) Football Coaching and Performance accelerated degree are:

120 UCAS Points (A-Level - B,B,B; BTEC – DMM), or equivalent to ensure a high quality of student

and not impact on other coaching provision at Staffordshire University.

A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required for international students to ensure that students’

English language ability is at a level where they can comfortably conduct a work placement with

our partners and communicate with a wide-range of participants.

GCSE Maths and GCSE English at grade C or above are highly desirable at entry point. If these qualifications have not been achieved at course commencement, there is an expectation that they will be studied for and passed by degree completion to help enhance future employability prospects.

Vocationally recognised Level 3 qualifications, or equivalent, will be considered for entry on to the

course.

Students will be required to obtain DBS clearance to conduct their work placement with our partners. This

will be completed prior to entry onto the second year of the course. It is required to be able to undertake

the ‘Placement: Football Coaching and Performance’ module. Students must reveal the results of the

DBS clearance to the placement host. It is then the decision of the host organisation to decide if they are

comfortable/prepared to continue with the placement. If this is not the case, students should advise course

staff immediately in order that alternative arrangement with a different placement host can be explored. It

may NOT be possible to find a suitable placement under circumstances of an adverse DBS report.

Disability Statement…

Staffordshire University operates a policy of inclusive teaching and learning to ensure that all students

have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Details regarding having your needs

assessed and the process to apply can be found at:

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/disabled_students/index.jsp

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COURSE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Clarification/Reiteration of Credit Points and Progression on Accelerated Degree

Course…

All modules must be passed, equating to 360 credit points over 3 levels of study.

All modules are core-modules, with no optional modules available.

To progress to Level 5, all modules at Level 4 must be passed. In the event of failure of a level 4

module university regulations will be applied.

To progress to Level 6 modules, all Level 4 modules must be passed, and the Research and

Graduate Employability in Sport and Exercise module at Level 5.

To progress to the final 60 credits of Level 6, 90 credits at Level 5 (including the Research and

Graduate Employability in Sport and Exercise module) and a minimum of 30 credits at Level 6 must

be passed.

Further information about the course can be found in the relevant ‘Student Handbook’ and on the

university website. This includes information about modules, learning outcomes at the different levels,

student support, and academic regulations.

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