MSc Sports Coaching

Program Overview

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The MSc in Sport Coaching is a part-time, distance learning program designed for aspiring and active coaches, PE teachers, and further education tutors. Delivered entirely online, the program focuses on applying theoretical knowledge to real-world coaching situations, enhancing coaching effectiveness, developing advanced research skills, and fostering leadership and group dynamics abilities. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to become effective sports coaches and pursue various career paths in the field.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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Overview:

The MSc in Sport Coaching is a part-time, distance learning program designed for aspiring and active coaches, PE teachers, and further education tutors. The program focuses on applying theoretical knowledge to real-world coaching situations, and is delivered entirely online, allowing students to study at their own pace and convenience. The program is designed to help students:

• Improve their coaching effectiveness
• Develop advanced research skills
• Enhance their leadership and group dynamics skills
• Gain a deeper understanding of the psychology of athletes and teams

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Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Equip students with the knowledge and skills to become effective sports coaches
• Develop students' critical thinking and research skills
• Prepare students for leadership roles in sports coaching
• Provide students with the opportunity to network with other coaches and academics

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Program Description:

The MSc in Sport Coaching is a 2-year, 180-credit program delivered entirely online. The program consists of 10 taught modules and a research project. The taught modules cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Coaching theory and practice
• Research methods
• Psychology of sport
• Leadership and group dynamics
• Biomechanics and physiology
• Talent identification and development
The research project allows students to conduct their own research on a topic of their choice, under the supervision of an academic staff member.

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Other:

• The program is designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing students to study at their own pace and from anywhere in the world.
• Students will have access to a dedicated online learning platform, where they can access course materials, interact with other students, and participate in online discussions.
• The program is taught by experienced academics and practitioners, who are experts in their field.

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Outline:

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Program Content:

The program covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Coaching theory and practice
• Research methods
• Psychology of sport
• Leadership and group dynamics
• Biomechanics and physiology
• Talent identification and development

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Structure:

The program is divided into four semesters, with two semesters per year. Each semester consists of two modules.

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Individual Modules:

The program consists of 10 taught modules and a research project. The taught modules are:

• Advanced Research Methods and Data Analysis
• Effective Coaching 1: Strategy and Practice
• Skilled Performance Under Pressure
• Effective Coaching 2: Reflective Practice
• Group Dynamics and Leadership in Sport and Exercise
• Masters Research Project: Science/Coaching Journal Article Part 2
• Masters Research Project: Science/Coaching Proposal and Ethics (Part 1)
• Contemporary Issues in Sport Coaching
• Talent Identification and Development
• Sport Coaching and the Law

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Module Descriptions:

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Advanced Research Methods and Data Analysis:

This module will enable students to develop and enhance contemporary research methods and data analysis skills in sport and exercise. The content of the module includes: a critical appreciation of both quantitative and qualitative research, evaluating sources of data, appraising research designs, considering researcher's philosophies, statistical data analysis via SPSS covering tests of differences and relationships, interpretation of research findings, and the presentation of research results. Students will learn practical analytical skills by working with provided sport and exercise datasets to conduct quantitative analyses and report the results. A variety of approaches to qualitative research will be critically appraised (e.g., thematic analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis) and applied to sport and exercise datasets. The theoretical rationale for, and execution of, a range of inferential statistical techniques will also be covered (e.g., t-tests, correlations, regression, and mediation).

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Effective Coaching 1: Strategy and Practice:

Sports coaching has evolved rapidly in recent years in its quest to be recognised as a full profession. Yet, rhetorical statements based on pseudoscientific principles, along with poor coaching practices, continue to dominate much of the coaching landscape. You are then supported in appraising your existing knowledge and skills by critically analysing coaching practices with contemporary developments within the scholarly literature.

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Skilled Performance Under Pressure:

This module uses psychophysiological interpretations of how athletes interact with motivated performance situations to explain skilled performance under pressure. Traditional approaches to skill acquisition will be contrasted with an emerging constraint-lead approach with a focus on how such models can promote an informed organisation of the learning and practice environment.

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Effective Coaching 2: Reflective Practice:

Reflective practice has become a central feature within the provision of coach education throughout the world, yet coaches struggle to move beyond superficial aspects of reflection. The objective of this module is to support you in developing greater critical reflexivity skills. The assessment also focuses on enabling you to influence, lead and manage other coaches become ever more critically reflexive.

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Group Dynamics and Leadership in Sport and Exercise:

The module covers the application of social psychological theory to sport and exercise settings, with a focus on audience effects, group dynamics, and leadership, and on how these processes may impact on the performance of athletes, coaches, trainers, and managers. There is a critical focus on the psychology of group dynamics (and associated interventions to optimise team functioning) as well as leadership (and associated interventions to optimise leadership skills), using a theory to evidence to application framework.

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Masters Research Project: Science/Coaching Journal Article Part 2:

This module supports students in conducting a rigorous and ethically-sound MSc-level research project in the students' topic area of choice within their course remit. Students will independently manage and execute their research project, under the supervision of an allocated member of staff. These activities will lead to the production of a written journal article (as chosen by the student), followed by a 30-minute viva voce.

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Contemporary Issues in Sport Coaching:

This module provides students with the opportunity to explore a range of contemporary issues in sport coaching. The module will be delivered through a series of lectures, seminars, and guest speakers. The module will cover a range of topics, including: the duty of care, negligence, defamation, discrimination, and the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

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Assessment:

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Assessment Methods:

The program uses a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Essays
• Case studies
• Presentations
• Group projects

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Teaching:

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Teaching Methods:

The program is delivered through a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Online lectures
• Online seminars
• Online discussions
• Asynchronous learning activities
• Independent study

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Faculty:

The program is taught by experienced academics and practitioners, who are experts in their field.

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Unique Approaches:

The program uses a number of unique approaches to teaching, including:

• The use of technology to create an interactive and engaging learning experience
• The emphasis on practical application of theory
• The opportunity for students to network with other coaches and academics

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Careers:

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Potential Career Paths:

The program can lead to a variety of career paths in sports coaching, including:

• Head coach
• Assistant coach
• Coach educator
• Sport scientist
• Talent identification officer
• Sport development officer

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Opportunities:

The program provides students with the opportunity to:

• Develop their coaching skills and knowledge
• Network with other coaches and academics
• Gain a competitive edge in the job market
• Make a difference in the lives of athletes

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Outcomes:

Graduates of the program have gone on to work in a variety of roles in sports coaching, including:

• Head coach of a professional sports team
• Coach educator for a national governing body
• Talent identification officer for a professional sports club

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Other:

• The program is accredited by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
• The program is delivered in partnership with UK Coaching, the national governing body for coaching in the UK.
• The program has a strong focus on research, and students have the opportunity to conduct their own research project.
• The program is designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing students to study at their own pace and from anywhere in the world.
• The program is delivered entirely online, allowing students to study at their own pace and from anywhere in the world.

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Tuition fees for MSc-Part-time, distance learning Study option UK / Channel Islands Part-time £8,865 per course