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Football Development & Coaching (Top-up) BA Honours

Learn about the course below
Code
C60A
Start
October 2024
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Fees
£9,250 (UK) *
£16,600 (INT) *
Course leader
Wesley Fox

As Football in the UK continues to grow at a rapid rate, there is an increasing demand for more football specific qualified employees. More and more Football clubs are creating Trusts and Foundations which require skilled individuals who are not only able to coach Football, but to apply for funding bids, work with people from a range of backgrounds, abilities and demographics, and have a wider understanding of how Football development can positively impact other key agendas such as health, education, employment and anti-social behaviour.

This BA Football Development & Coaching (Top Up) programme aims to further develop your underpinning knowledge and concepts learnt within the FdA Football Development & Coaching programme, a joint degree with Watford Football Club, to enable successful students to top up to a degree level qualification. We also welcome applicants from other institutions who have completed similar FdA-based qualifications.

What will you study on the BA Football Development & Coaching (Top Up)?

Throughout this BA you will develop your understanding in the areas introduced within your foundation degree, ensuring that you are on par with the theories and concepts required for Bachelor’s level study.

This course will cover performance analysis, biomechanics and physiology which will allow you to apply and evaluate a range of diagnostic skills relevant to your degree. Alongside this, you will also explore topics on the global football industry, marketing and social media, business knowledge and finance, developing a well-rounded approach to the multi-faceted football industry.

You will have the opportunity to put these skills into practice, by completing a professional practice placement, which can be of your choosing or through the pre-existing relationships with our established list of providers.

What will you gain?

As a Football Development and Coaching Graduate, you will be equipped with the skills to work within the wide-ranging world of the football industry. From coaching at the various levels and types of football, through to the set-up and daily running of clubs and teams, you will have the skills to succeed.

  • Modules

    • Advanced Football Development (15 credits)

      This module will elaborate and expand upon existing knowledge. Students will explore a range of management strategies and theories used in various football related roles. The global football industry will be analysed with particular attention to marketing and social media. Students will also gain entrepreneurial business skills such as setting up a business, marketing, managing finance, professional development and business laws & legislation.

    • Football Coaching Science (30 credits)

      This module develops the student’s ability to apply the in-depth knowledge and skills gained from prior learning in relation to a professional practice environment. Students will be required to reflect and evaluate their working practice and be able to adopt a problem-solving approach to practice and a working environment.

      There is a compulsory placement module where students will be encouraged to seek short-term (minimum of 50 hours) placement of work of work experience in a suitable Sport and Exercise Science, environment determined by your programme; this should be supervised by a suitably qualified practitioner. Suitability of the placement and supervisor is dictated by the programme leader.

    • Work Based Practice (30 credits)
      This module develops the student’s ability to apply the in-depth knowledge and skills gained from prior learning in relation to a professional practice environment. Students will be required to reflect and evaluate their working practice and be able to adopt a problem-solving approach to practice and a working environment.

      There is a compulsory placement module where students will be encouraged to seek short-term (minimum of 50 hours) placement of work experience in a suitable Sport and Exercise Science, environment determined by your programme; this should be supervised by a suitably qualified practitioner. Suitability of the placement and supervisor is dictated by the programme leader.
    • Dissertation (30 credits)

      This module aims to synthesise learning from the students' undergraduate programme providing an opportunity for students to study independently and investigate a topic in depth. It fosters academic curiosity; an inquiry based approach, the employment and application of research skills thus facilitating the development of a higher level of theorising. Students will select a topic of personal interest on which they wish to undertake a substantial in-depth study. They will manage their own learning during this module, with the support of an allocated supervisor for this period of independent study.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Module and programme information is indivative and may be subject to change.

How is the BA Football Development & Coaching (Top Up) taught?

You will attend online or on campus lectures and seminars, laboratory sessions and practical clinical sessions, and take part in group discussions, group work and presentations. You will supplement all this with your own guided and independent reading and will put together a portfolio of work.

Assessment

The course will provide you with opportunities to test your knowledge and understanding informally through ‘formative’ assessment. This will be completed before your formal ‘summative’ assessments which will count towards your final marks. Each module normally contains at least one piece of formative assessment from which you will receive feedback from your tutor. Formative assessments are developmental and any grade you receive from formative assessment does not count towards your final marks.

There is formal ‘summative’ assessment as part of the module, usually towards the end of the module. The grades from the summative assessments count towards your module mark. Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback, to suit content or based on feedback from an external examiner.

Percentage of course assessed by coursework

The balance of assessment will depend on the modules that you complete throughout your course. The approximate percentage of the course which is assessed by coursework is outlined below:

Level 4

59% coursework

 

41% practical exams

Level 5

51% coursework

5% written exams

44% practical exams

Level 6

47.5% coursework

 

52.5% practical exams

Football Coaching Science – Presentation and written report on multi-disciplinary aspects of sport science.

Advanced Football Development – Presentation and written business plan

Work Based Practice – Logbook, including reflection on practice.

Dissertation – Written 4000-word document and oral viva.

  1. Standard Entry Requirements
  2. International
  3. How to apply
  1. UK
  2. International

Employment opportunities include football coaching roles, community coaching positions, as well as football development officers and managers. Successful graduates may also gain employment with local authorities (county and district councils), National Governing Bodies (such as the FA and County FA’s) and Sport Partnerships. Associated careers within the sports industry include sport development and sport coaching, and academic posts such as a lecturer in Further Education.  There are also careers options which may require postgraduate study such as PE Teacher, Performance Analyst, Performance Psychologist (Postgraduate/BASES), Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Previous graduates have gone on to work in a wide range of roles such as:

  • Performance coach
  • Sports or football development officer
  • Multi-skills sports coach
  • School sport coordinator
  • Talent coach
  • Club coach
  • Participation coach
  • PE teacher
  • FE college lecturer
  • Primary school teacher
  • Workforce and coach education coordinators
  • Sports management and administration positions
  • Self-employed business managers

Wesley Fox
Programme Leader BSc Sport & Exercise Science (PE & Coaching)

S&C Coach at Arsenal Women’s Academy

Jon Cree
Senior Lecturer and England S&C Coach (C Team)

Laura Figg
Programme Leader FdA Football Development & Coaching – Watford FC


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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