Sports Coaching and Development - FdSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
The course content is designed to ensure graduates develop the pedagogical practice required to coach participants across a range of ages and abilities, as well as the delivery across all Aston Villa Foundation delivery areas in both School and Community settings....
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Award FdSc
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject Sport and Life Sciences
- Location Aston Villa Foundation
This course is:
Overview
The course content is designed to ensure graduates develop the pedagogical practice required to coach participants across a range of ages and abilities, as well as the delivery across all Aston Villa Foundation delivery areas in both School and Community settings. Following graduation, you will be in a position to gain employment within a sports coaching and other community-based development opportunities. You will also be able to continue your undergraduate studies, including complementary BSc (Hons) sports courses through Birmingham City University.
What's covered in this course?
We will help you develop a keen understanding of your own coaching philosophy and provide you with industry and socio-cultural factors that influence the wider context of sport and the work of the Aston Villa Foundation. You will gain practical application of the theoretical underpinnings of coaching and have access to hands-on experiences across various community settings. Furthermore, you will learn about sport development principles and how they align to community work by addressing both societal and contemporary issues.
The course will give you the opportunity to understand the work of Football Foundations across primary school and alternative education settings, focusing on the work that community sport plays in complimenting the national curriculum. You will learn about the contemporary information that educators within this sector require. In addition, the course will explore health and wellbeing environments, which will help you to embed both mental and physical attributes in your coaching practice. This is also an opportunity for you to gain the knowledge and skills needed to negotiate different challenges in your future profession. To help build these skills, you will go on placements, working face-to-face and gaining first-hand experience in a coaching, community or school environment, which will enhance your future employability and personal network.
The course will allow you to study at Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa Football Club, as well as the recently extended Birmingham City University campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham. These facilities will expose you to state-of-the-art sport and development environments, as well as access to cutting-edge resources and designated sport areas.
Delivered with:
Why Choose Us?
- This course is delivered with the Aston Villa Foundation, with opportunities for hands-on experience in a range of community settings.
- On completion of the degree, you will have the opportunity to progress on to one of BCU’s BSc degrees in Sport.
- You will study at both Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa Football Club, and our City South Campus in Edgbaston, which contains a range of cutting-edge sporting facilities, including a state-of-the-art sport and exercise laboratory and sports therapy rooms.
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Open Day: 19 October 2024
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
Essential requirements
64 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: FdSc
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £8,910 in 2025/26
- Apply via UCAS
International students
Sorry, this course is not available to International students.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
Career plans
If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
Work experience
Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
School or college experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
Course in Depth
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Orientation to Higher Education & Research in Sport 20 credits
This module will provide you with a core foundation of knowledge in Physical Education (PE) and School Sport. It is intended that you will be aware of how PE differs to School Sport, but also how they can be interlinked.
The aim of this module is to introduce the theories and methods of coaching. This will include topics such as athlete development, coaching models, coach education, interpersonal relationships, and contextual influences on coaching. The module will focus on delivering a blend of lectures, seminars, and practicals.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Sport 20 credits
Coaching in the Community 20 credits
Sports Development & Interventions 20 credits
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Sports Coaching & Development: Professional Practice 40 credits
Elite Coaching Practice 20 credits
Within this module students will learn about the reasons for physical activity promotion and the barriers to physical activity participation. Students will identify the recommended daily guidelines for physical activity, whilst exploring health and social strategies to improve lifestyle through facilitating physical activity behaviours.
Contemporary Issues in Sports Coaching & Development 20 credits
This module is a key part of the BSc Sport and Exercise Science, Sports Therapy, Sport and Exercise Nutrition, and PE and School Sport Programmes in that it is studied in preparation for your Level 6 Final Year Project. Information and activities on more complex inferential statistics will be presented building on from your level 4 research module.
Download course specification
Download nowThis new course, delivered with the Aston Villa Foundation, will develop your skills in coaching participants across a range of ages and abilities. You will have opportunities to work with the Aston Villa Foundation across all areas in both school and community settings. Following graduation, you will be in a position to gain employment within sports coaching and other community-based sports development activities. You will also have the opportunity to continue your studies and progress onto BSc sports courses with Birmingham City University.
The course will give you the opportunity to understand the work of Football Foundations across primary school and alternative education settings, focusing on the work that community sport plays in complimenting the national curriculum. You will also explore health and wellbeing environments, which will help you to support both mental and physical needs in your coaching practice.
Placement experiences will help you to build your skills, gaining first-hand experience in a coaching and/or school environment, which will enhance your future employability and personal network.
Employability
Facilities & Staff
Aston Villa Foundation
This course will mainly be taught at the Aston Villa Foundation:
Trinity Road
Birmingham
B6 6HE