Sport Coaching with Foundation Year

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.

Course summary

• Align your learning to your career aspirations in the world of sport coaching

• Apply your practical skills and knowledge to real-life situations

• Learn from expert researchers and coaches across a variety of disciplines

• Strengthen your practice by studying coach education, employment and development

• Unlock your potential to coach in a range of sport and physical activity environments

Explore the principles of sport coaching practice and the scientific foundations that underpin them. You will delve into the complexities of working with diverse individuals and groups – encompassing a wide range of coaching experiences.

The foundation year is suitable either if you don’t meet the entry requirements for the degree, or if you’d like further preparation before you start. You’ll gain the knowledge and confidence you need to progress onto the course.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This course provides ample opportunities for specialisation – from community and children’s coaching to elite performance. You will learn through teaching, working and doing – developing the skills and knowledge you need for a variety of careers while aligning your learning to your career aspirations.

You are taught by experts who are active in coaching, research and consultation with industry. You benefit from their expertise, connections, and networking opportunities with leading sports organisations.

On this course, you will develop the skills to prepare you for a range of potential careers in sport coaching, whether in performance or participation-focused roles. You will learn the behaviours expected and needed for working in schools, sport governing bodies, and professional or commercial sport and physical activity settings

Learn how to coach children, adolescents, adults – or all three. Gain the knowledge you need to coach a range of participants, evaluating their progress and adapting your coaching to achieve their goals.

• Apply your knowledge and understanding of coaching theories and concepts across different contexts and populations

• Demonstrate professional inter and intra-personal skills that enable your independent effective delivery

• Articulate a personal and professional philosophy to be an effective practitioner

• Interact with a range of audiences using appropriate forms of communication

• Engage and collaborate with the industry through alumni and professional networks, challenging and championing best practice

The course offers theoretical, philosophical, and practical foundations for sport coaching, covering topics like innovative coaching practice, coach-athlete relationships, physical literacy, and more.

Course support

The course is designed to help you demonstrate your learning outcomes – with authentic assessment activities relating to real-world scenarios, your specific goals and your skills development. Throughout your studies, various individuals will support your learning and target setting – guiding you towards resources for academic, professional and personal development.

Work placements

There’s a mandatory short placement at the end of your third year. Over a minimum of 120 hours, you will be learning while you work.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements between your third and final years. This gives you further valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.