BSc (Hons)

Sport Coaching

Teaching & Learning

Become a well-rounded, independent practitioner of sports coaching with a broad skillset. You will be able to create exciting and engaging physical activity plans to resonate with your participants and to help achieve your long-term coaching objectives.

The tabs below detail what and how you will study in each year of your course. The balance of assessments and overall workload is indicative and may be subject to change.

What you'll learn

Develop your knowledge, understanding and ability to apply personal, professional and academic skills. You'll gain a range of transferrable skills including written communication, essential research methods, critical thinking and self-reflection which will underpin the modules you study throughout your course.
Gain the knowledge to plan sessions appropriate for participants' ages and stages of development. This module will provide a framework for developing participants' generic motor skills through to sport specific skills, informed by participant development theory. You'll engage in reflective practice to extract learning from your experiences of planning and delivering co-created coaching sessions to children.
Explore threshold concepts relating to teaching and learning. You'll apply key pedagogical principles and gain understanding and appreciation of reflective practice. You'll use your knowledge to begin the process of self-evaluation and development. This module will provide a range of opportunities for you to practise practical delivery with primary school aged participants. This will lay the foundation of pedagogical and practice theories, for example coaching practical planning for your second and third years of study. You'll receive guidance and feedback from your tutors to enable the development of your reflective practice.
The International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) defines at least four main domains in which a coach may work: performance; talent development; community; children. You will explore these different contexts, the contemporary issues coaches face, and the specific ways in which, for example, broad issues such as inclusion policies may influence on-the-ground practice.
Study a range of participant development models to explore and understand why children should not be coached as mini-adults. You'll be encouraged to learn and understand the key principles of growth and maturation from a biological, psychological, sociological perspective.
Explore the threshold concepts you studied in your Primary Sport Pedagogy model more deeply and with a focus on working with older participants that are 12- 15 years old. You'll develop your ability to reflect in-action to bring about an effective change within a session. You'll have the opportunity for practical delivery of a coaching session for secondary school aged participants. You'll gain understanding of key pedagogical and practice theories to support session planning. This module will lay the foundation for higher-level planning and reflection during your second and third years of study. You'll learn through structured feedback and reflective conversations with peers and staff.
Develop your knowledge, understanding and ability to apply personal, professional and academic skills. You'll gain a range of transferrable skills including written communication, essential research methods, critical thinking and self-reflection which will underpin the modules you study throughout your course.
Gain the knowledge to plan sessions appropriate for participants' ages and stages of development. This module will provide a framework for developing participants' generic motor skills through to sport specific skills, informed by participant development theory. You'll engage in reflective practice to extract learning from your experiences of planning and delivering co-created coaching sessions to children.
Explore threshold concepts relating to teaching and learning. You'll apply key pedagogical principles and gain understanding and appreciation of reflective practice. You'll use your knowledge to begin the process of self-evaluation and development. This module will provide a range of opportunities for you to practise practical delivery with primary school aged participants. This will lay the foundation of pedagogical and practice theories, for example coaching practical planning for your second and third years of study. You'll receive guidance and feedback from your tutors to enable the development of your reflective practice.
The International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) defines at least four main domains in which a coach may work: performance; talent development; community; children. You will explore these different contexts, the contemporary issues coaches face, and the specific ways in which, for example, broad issues such as inclusion policies may influence on-the-ground practice.
Study a range of participant development models to explore and understand why children should not be coached as mini-adults. You'll be encouraged to learn and understand the key principles of growth and maturation from a biological, psychological, sociological perspective.
Explore the threshold concepts you studied in your Primary Sport Pedagogy model more deeply and with a focus on working with older participants that are 12- 15 years old. You'll develop your ability to reflect in-action to bring about an effective change within a session. You'll have the opportunity for practical delivery of a coaching session for secondary school aged participants. You'll gain understanding of key pedagogical and practice theories to support session planning. This module will lay the foundation for higher-level planning and reflection during your second and third years of study. You'll learn through structured feedback and reflective conversations with peers and staff.

What you'll learn

Explore your values and beliefs around professionalism in coaching. You'll discuss these in relation to existing theories and concepts, for example, diversity, equality and inclusion. We'll explore how well these align with the values you encounter in your placement. You'll also complete a skills audit and engage with professional development activities to enhance your employability.
Develop your knowled of a range of pedagogical tools. You'll plan activities that allow for maximum participant engagement. You'll extend your knowledge of pedagogy theories and concepts by undertaking an experiential learning placement. You'll engage in planning and reflective cycles to find approaches that work for your placement participants. You'll also reflect on values and professionalism as you begin shaping the learning environment.
Build on the research and study skills you gained in your first year. You'll develop the skills and knowledge you'll need to use research effectively across your second year and in your Final Year Project in your third year. By the end of this module, you'll be able to search for and apply relevant literature and theory. You'll also understand how to choose research designs to address research enquiries, and how to analyse and interpret empirical data and present findings. You'll develop these skills by participating in practical sessions that apply theory into practice.
Gain the knowledge and understanding you'll need to create and deliver a medium-term plan for the Designing Sport Curriculum module. Your plan will be aligned to the specific age and stage of development of your participants. The conceptual model you design will be linked to technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social demands. You'll use contemporary literature alongside self-generated analytics and published age/stage development literature to inform and underpin the conceptual model.
Prepare to design and deliver a medium-term plan for a sport type or a multi skill programme that is aligned to the specific age and stage of development of your participants. You'll effectively plan and deliver coaching sessions that facilitate the technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social development of your participants. You'll collect evidence of the development of your participants using data collection tools and methods.
Explore your values and beliefs around professionalism in coaching. You'll discuss these in relation to existing theories and concepts, for example, diversity, equality and inclusion. We'll explore how well these align with the values you encounter in your placement. You'll also complete a skills audit and engage with professional development activities to enhance your employability.
Develop your knowled of a range of pedagogical tools. You'll plan activities that allow for maximum participant engagement. You'll extend your knowledge of pedagogy theories and concepts by undertaking an experiential learning placement. You'll engage in planning and reflective cycles to find approaches that work for your placement participants. You'll also reflect on values and professionalism as you begin shaping the learning environment.
Build on the research and study skills you gained in your first year. You'll develop the skills and knowledge you'll need to use research effectively across your second year and in your Final Year Project in your third year. By the end of this module, you'll be able to search for and apply relevant literature and theory. You'll also understand how to choose research designs to address research enquiries, and how to analyse and interpret empirical data and present findings. You'll develop these skills by participating in practical sessions that apply theory into practice.
Gain the knowledge and understanding you'll need to create and deliver a medium-term plan for the Designing Sport Curriculum module. Your plan will be aligned to the specific age and stage of development of your participants. The conceptual model you design will be linked to technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social demands. You'll use contemporary literature alongside self-generated analytics and published age/stage development literature to inform and underpin the conceptual model.
Prepare to design and deliver a medium-term plan for a sport type or a multi skill programme that is aligned to the specific age and stage of development of your participants. You'll effectively plan and deliver coaching sessions that facilitate the technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social development of your participants. You'll collect evidence of the development of your participants using data collection tools and methods.

Option modules may include

Study the concept of strength and conditioning and start to build the knowledge you'll need for the Advanced Strength & Conditioning module in year three. You'll focus on training programme design and strength and conditioning exercise delivery. The strength and conditioning programme you design will be underpinned by scientific principles. You'll be encouraged to reflect on your ability to coach and perform strength and conditioning exercises.
Behaviour management is central to the work of coaches, PE teachers and community sport practitioners. This module will prepare you to recognise behaviour issues as well as plan for positively managing behaviour within a practical setting. You'll explore a range of common behaviour management issues and address ‘good’ and ‘poor’ behaviour as you challenge binary understanding of these concepts. We'll unpick why participants may engage in particular (mis)behaviour and we'll introduce strategies for positive behaviour management. Through the use of a range of case study examples, you'll have the opportunity to experience and reflect on a range of positive behaviour management strategies.
Practise analysing video footage to provide clearer insights into tactical and technical performances at both team and individual levels within sport. In particular the module will develop your theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to the development of notational systems and movement analysis. You'll experience performing analyses across a range of real-world practitioner contexts.
Experience and assess a range of practical activities across the inclusion spectrum. You will examine the ways in which simplified, modified and adapted activities chosen from games, gymnastics, athletics and aquatics, can provide opportunities for a range of abilities and achieve a variety of desired outcomes.
Reflect upon how the environment, and perceptions of risk within the environment, impact upon engagement in activities. In particular, this module will explore the positive benefits of risk to the participant experience and development. You'll have the opportunity to consider how sports coaching theories and concepts can support participants in achieving positive engagement experiences.
Study the concept of strength and conditioning and start to build the knowledge you'll need for the Advanced Strength & Conditioning module in year three. You'll focus on training programme design and strength and conditioning exercise delivery. The strength and conditioning programme you design will be underpinned by scientific principles. You'll be encouraged to reflect on your ability to coach and perform strength and conditioning exercises.
Behaviour management is central to the work of coaches, PE teachers and community sport practitioners. This module will prepare you to recognise behaviour issues as well as plan for positively managing behaviour within a practical setting. You'll explore a range of common behaviour management issues and address ‘good’ and ‘poor’ behaviour as you challenge binary understanding of these concepts. We'll unpick why participants may engage in particular (mis)behaviour and we'll introduce strategies for positive behaviour management. Through the use of a range of case study examples, you'll have the opportunity to experience and reflect on a range of positive behaviour management strategies.
Practise analysing video footage to provide clearer insights into tactical and technical performances at both team and individual levels within sport. In particular the module will develop your theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to the development of notational systems and movement analysis. You'll experience performing analyses across a range of real-world practitioner contexts.
Experience and assess a range of practical activities across the inclusion spectrum. You will examine the ways in which simplified, modified and adapted activities chosen from games, gymnastics, athletics and aquatics, can provide opportunities for a range of abilities and achieve a variety of desired outcomes.
Reflect upon how the environment, and perceptions of risk within the environment, impact upon engagement in activities. In particular, this module will explore the positive benefits of risk to the participant experience and development. You'll have the opportunity to consider how sports coaching theories and concepts can support participants in achieving positive engagement experiences.

What you'll learn

Develop the skills and knowledge you'll need for lead teaching and coaching roles. This module will focus on developing and refining a theoretically-informed, contextualised, set of pedagogical strategies. Throughout the module you'll engage in a year-long placement where you'll apply and reflect on inclusive and effective pedagogical strategies. The strategies you choose should be centred on coaching behaviours and activity design and should nbe explicitly aligned with long-term curriculum objectives.
Be challenged to undertake an extended and largely independent piece of work that demonstrates research skills, critical thinking, and an awareness of ethical methodological approaches to study. You are provided with a choice of project types that reflect the key knowledge, skills and attributes of graduate careers associated with your course (e.g. talent coach, performance analyst, primary PE specialist etc.)
Build the skills and knowledge you'll need to undertake lead coaching and teaching roles, with a focus on planning long-term coaching programmes. You'll create a simplified model of your activity, usually a sport, sport form or concept of physical literacy (if working in primary PE), and use your model as a basis for a curriculum. You'll also tailor your curriculum to a specific participant group by collecting information on group needs and comparing this with models, theories and evidence on child and adolescent development.
Get the preparation to graduate into employment into your chosen coaching contexts. You will engage in activities to support the development of your professional practice through reflection of your development as a person, student and coach. You will gain an advanced understanding of a range of coaching contexts through engagement with industry via guest speakers and site visits where possible.
Develop the skills and knowledge you'll need for lead teaching and coaching roles. This module will focus on developing and refining a theoretically-informed, contextualised, set of pedagogical strategies. Throughout the module you'll engage in a year-long placement where you'll apply and reflect on inclusive and effective pedagogical strategies. The strategies you choose should be centred on coaching behaviours and activity design and should nbe explicitly aligned with long-term curriculum objectives.
Be challenged to undertake an extended and largely independent piece of work that demonstrates research skills, critical thinking, and an awareness of ethical methodological approaches to study. You are provided with a choice of project types that reflect the key knowledge, skills and attributes of graduate careers associated with your course (e.g. talent coach, performance analyst, primary PE specialist etc.)
Build the skills and knowledge you'll need to undertake lead coaching and teaching roles, with a focus on planning long-term coaching programmes. You'll create a simplified model of your activity, usually a sport, sport form or concept of physical literacy (if working in primary PE), and use your model as a basis for a curriculum. You'll also tailor your curriculum to a specific participant group by collecting information on group needs and comparing this with models, theories and evidence on child and adolescent development.
Get the preparation to graduate into employment into your chosen coaching contexts. You will engage in activities to support the development of your professional practice through reflection of your development as a person, student and coach. You will gain an advanced understanding of a range of coaching contexts through engagement with industry via guest speakers and site visits where possible.

Option modules may include

Further develop the knowledge of strength and conditioning that you gained in your second year of study. You'll build your capacity to plan single sessions into a medium-term programme of training. This module will expand your knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and training theory. You'll use your enhanced knowledge to justify the design of your programme over multiple weeks. You'll demonstrate your ability to solve problems by completing a needs analysis and programme design for an applied case study. To do so, you'll undertake independent research to find new information and solutions.
Gain the skillset to appropriately film, analyse and present data to coaches, practitioners and athletes. You'll understand why it is important to present feedback to coaches and practitioners, and we'll explore a range of feedback methods. You'll also practise choosing the most effective medium and time to deliver the information. This module will enable you to gain practical understanding of how to use and problem solve on a range of software, as desired by employers.
This module will challenge you to consider the impact of the environment on the performer, within talent development settings. You'll identify ways to promote enhancements in high-quality talent development environments.
Practise applying coacihng practice analysis, curriculum design and planning concepts in a primary school PE context. You'll review current practices in primary schools and then propose alternatives. Your suggestions will aim to enhance the acquisition and development of physical literacy, games understanding and appreciation of aesthetic activities. You'll aim to simultaneously promote healthy and activity lifestyles to a range of primary school children from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Gain a socio-cultural understanding of the nature of contemporary policy and practice in physical education and youth sport. You will engage with the critical evaluation and analysis of physical education and youth sport within schools and the broader community.
Explore the positive youth development model. We'll apply the model specifically to underserved populations and we'll look to use a strengths-based and capacity building approach to individuals and community groups. You'll aim to work with a community partner to create a programme relevant to the needs of the group and subsequently deliver the program. You'll be challenged to think carefully about the who/what/how model of coaching. We'll focus on populations who could be deemed as being underserved by current access, availability and expertise in sport and/physical activity.
You'll underpin the knowledge you develop on this module with a sociological understanding of sports coaching. We'll encourage you to recognise and interpret how the socio-cultural context can shape the coaching process. You'll develop the practical strategies for promoting organisational change that you'll need in professional roles after graduation. We'll explore key concepts such as sociological imagination, agency and structure, social norms, power relations, and identity. On completion, you'll know how to reflect on the relationship between your own values and those of your context. You'll also be able to identify strategies for addressing inequalities in sports coaching.
Further develop the knowledge of strength and conditioning that you gained in your second year of study. You'll build your capacity to plan single sessions into a medium-term programme of training. This module will expand your knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and training theory. You'll use your enhanced knowledge to justify the design of your programme over multiple weeks. You'll demonstrate your ability to solve problems by completing a needs analysis and programme design for an applied case study. To do so, you'll undertake independent research to find new information and solutions.
Gain the skillset to appropriately film, analyse and present data to coaches, practitioners and athletes. You'll understand why it is important to present feedback to coaches and practitioners, and we'll explore a range of feedback methods. You'll also practise choosing the most effective medium and time to deliver the information. This module will enable you to gain practical understanding of how to use and problem solve on a range of software, as desired by employers.
This module will challenge you to consider the impact of the environment on the performer, within talent development settings. You'll identify ways to promote enhancements in high-quality talent development environments.
Practise applying coacihng practice analysis, curriculum design and planning concepts in a primary school PE context. You'll review current practices in primary schools and then propose alternatives. Your suggestions will aim to enhance the acquisition and development of physical literacy, games understanding and appreciation of aesthetic activities. You'll aim to simultaneously promote healthy and activity lifestyles to a range of primary school children from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Gain a socio-cultural understanding of the nature of contemporary policy and practice in physical education and youth sport. You will engage with the critical evaluation and analysis of physical education and youth sport within schools and the broader community.
Explore the positive youth development model. We'll apply the model specifically to underserved populations and we'll look to use a strengths-based and capacity building approach to individuals and community groups. You'll aim to work with a community partner to create a programme relevant to the needs of the group and subsequently deliver the program. You'll be challenged to think carefully about the who/what/how model of coaching. We'll focus on populations who could be deemed as being underserved by current access, availability and expertise in sport and/physical activity.
You'll underpin the knowledge you develop on this module with a sociological understanding of sports coaching. We'll encourage you to recognise and interpret how the socio-cultural context can shape the coaching process. You'll develop the practical strategies for promoting organisational change that you'll need in professional roles after graduation. We'll explore key concepts such as sociological imagination, agency and structure, social norms, power relations, and identity. On completion, you'll know how to reflect on the relationship between your own values and those of your context. You'll also be able to identify strategies for addressing inequalities in sports coaching.

This course offers the opportunity to take a ‘sandwich’ year – a year of paid employment in industry which will build your skills and experience. This is usually taken between the second and third year of your degree, typically making your course four years in total.

Students who choose the sandwich route find it helps with both their studies and getting a job after graduation. It can build your confidence, contacts, and of course your CV. Leeds Beckett advertise lots of placement opportunities and provide support in helping you find the right placement for you.