Sports Coaching Science BSc (Hons)

Year three

• Advanced Skill Acquisition 

Advanced Skill Acquisition

This module is designed to enhance understanding of key theoretical principles underpinning methods employed to promote skill acquisition. It is designed to, initially, provide insight into how the effective design of practice environments is dependent on situational factors such as skill level of participants and the nature of the sport/skill being practised. Moreover, it is designed to enhance students’ understanding of how studying expert performance can inform the development of training interventions, with a particular focus on the development of perceptual-cognitive expertise. 

• Annual Planning 

Annual Planning

This module will take the student through a process of understanding athlete needs, setting appropriate goals and developing an annual plan and testing protocols to meet the athlete and sport demands. The students will also be asked to be critical of the effectiveness of planning as a concept in real world coaching environments.

• Applied Physiology 

Applied Physiology

This module brings together the theoretical concepts underpinning exercise physiology and requires students to select and apply a large range of techniques that represent current best practice in the field of physiological assessment. Students should be able to demonstrate a critical awareness and limitation of appropriate test selection. Students should also be able to use a range of problem solving skills and enquiry to feedback analysis and results in a professional and coherent body of work. This will help prepare students wishing to pursue a physiology-based research project and/or career.

• Applied Sport Psychology 

Applied Sport Psychology

This module is developed to consolidate key theoretical concepts and to provide insight into the applied nature of sport psychology. Lectures are designed to take students through a journey of understanding the process of working with a client and covers the concept of needs analysis, diagnosis, and suitable intervention techniques. Students will be challenged to consider how to apply theoretical concepts and research towards a critical understanding a client’s presenting diagnosis. Seminars will be used to discuss and role play assessment techniques, alongside engaging in reflective and critical understanding of psychological skills and techniques.

• Coaching in the Workplace 

Coaching in the Workplace

This module will provide students the opportunity to coach in the workplace and reflect on both their coaching practice and the wider coaching environment of the workplace. The hours spent in the workplace will increase their exposure to coaching environments and help prepare them for employment. This module will provide the students with an opportunity to be assessed practically in a ‘real’ coaching setting and allow them to apply their knowledge to the workplace. The reflective components will provide a vehicle for personal and professional development.

• Contemporary Issues in Sports Coaching 

Contemporary Issues in Sports Coaching

This module provides a critical analysis of the social factors that influence sport. Students will use social theory to recognise sports effects in society and evaluate the implication of taken-for-granted coaching practice of elite athletes.

• Experimental Biomechanics 

Experimental Biomechanics

Students will be introduced to the advanced principles and theory behind force, video, and EMG, building on the knowledge accrued from SES5041, and will become proficient and professional in their set-up, operation and the analysis of data. In addition, students will explore the use of multiple tools, used synchronously, to develop a deeper understanding of human motion and forces in sport and exercise. Students will also be introduced to the basic aspects of advanced biomechanical measurement tools (e.g. automatic motion analysis involving 3D modelling of joints and segments, pedobarography, and isokinetic dynamometry). Students will demonstrate a critical understanding of how all these tools can be applied to validly and reliably investigate biomechanical research questions related to improving performance or reducing injury risk.

• Performance Analysis 

Performance Analysis

The module builds on the knowledge gained in SCS5043 and involves the student planning an analysis of performance (be it an individual, team or coach’s) which will address a real life coaching problem. This will involve the students collecting, handling and interpreting data in a practical setting.

• Research Project 

Research Project

This module is developed to consolidate key theoretical concepts and to provide insight into the applied nature of sport psychology. Lectures are designed to take students through a journey of understanding the process of working with a client and covers the concept of needs analysis, diagnosis, and suitable intervention techniques. Students will be challenged to consider how to apply theoretical concepts and research towards a critical understanding a client’s presenting diagnosis. Seminars will be used to discuss and role play assessment techniques, alongside engaging in reflective and critical understanding of psychological skills and techniques.