
BSc (Hons) Football Coaching, Development and Administration
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95% of our BSc (Hons) Football Coaching, Development and Administration students were satisfied with their course National Student Survey 2023
Earn while you study.
Unique learning in the workplace degree with opportunities for coaching placements in the US.
The BSc (Hons) Football Coaching Development and Administration is aimed at students who want to work in roles such as coaching, development and management, and focuses on both the football and business-related knowledge needed to develop professionals for the football industry. Developed in partnership with professional coaching organisations, this unique football coaching course allows you to study and gain work placements across the globe.
You will study a broad array of subjects, from coaching to business management and sports development, leading to excellent employment prospects in a range of professions. You will also study towards a Level 2 Coaching Certificate, and we will support you in working towards your UEFA licenses.
Top in Wales for course satisfaction in Sports Science. (Guardian League Table 2023).
Get a glimpse of what it's like to study at USW before you apply
'Introduction into Football Coaching' - Free Online Taster Course
The Football Coaching course, designed in consultation with National Governing Bodies and US Coaching Organisations to ensure it meets industry needs, offers the opportunity to complete paid work placements in the US in partnership with UK International Soccer. (Other partner placements outside the US will be considered).
Study options:
Route 1: US Partnership (January intake only)
Partly based in the USA with UK International Soccer, you will complete paid work placements, and receive lectures, tutorials and support by visiting members of USW staff and UKIS mentors. Lectures, seminars and tutorials will be delivered on site at the University of South Wales. In addition, you will have access to on-line material.
For more information on UK International and the studying the degree programme in partnership with them, please click on the following link https://degree.uksoccer.com/
Route 2: On-Campus
Complete year 1 on campus before deciding whether to head to the US in Year 2 and 3 of the course with UK International Soccer.
Based at the USW Sport Park, our state-of-the-art coaching and performance development centre, you’ll be taught face to face by leading specialists in the field. You will have the opportunity to plan and deliver sports event with some of our key partners, including the FAW Trust, Cardiff City and local schools and clubs. Before heading to the US in years 2 and 3 of the course.
For more information on UK International and the studying the degree programme in partnership with them, please click on the following link https://degree.uksoccer.com/
*At the end of year 1 if you decide you do not want to complete placements in the US in year 2 and 3- you will need to transfer onto the on-campus BSc (Hons) Football coaching and performance course
Year One
Click here to watch a video overview of year one
Your first year will provide you with the underpinning theory and practice of football coaching, development and administration. You will gain knowledge of how football is organised and managed in the community and will have the opportunity to lead football coaching sessions and events. Understanding fundamental coaching principles of how young children learn sports skills will help to inform your work-based learning experiences.
Modules
September intake
- Football Coaching: Young performers
- Professional Practice
- Sport Science for Football
- Academic Research Skills
- Managing and Developing Football in the community
- An Introduction to Football Performance Analysis
January intake
- Football Coaching: Young performers
- Professional Practice
- Sport Science for Football
- Academic Research Skills
- Football Event Management
- Children and Youth Sport
Year Two
Click here to watch a video overview of year two
You will enhance your breadth of knowledge by studying football in society. and project and operations management and complete a sport placement, which will enable you to put your ideas and knowledge into practice. You will expand your understanding of football development and coaching and the different career options available.
Modules
- Football Coaching: Adolescent Performers
- Modern Football Coaching
- Sport Placement
- Project and Operations Management
- Physical Education and School Sport
- Football in Society
Year Three
Your final year will consolidate your learning and start to specialise your work-based learning experience in line with your career ambitions.
Modules
- Applied Professional Project
- Performance Football Coaching
- Critical Issues in Sports Coaching and Leadership
- The Business of Football
Teaching
You will have access to an online library, blackboard, and other learning materials, and will spend time at the USW Sport Park to complete practical teaching/coaching awards.
You will complete coaching (work-based learning) that is managed through weekly tutorials and a mentoring programme. The work-based learning programme can be completed with UK International Soccer (UKIS) programmes or within your own football work environment. The UK International Soccer opportunities will provide opportunities to gain experience in areas such as, grass root club development, football development, and coaching, you will apply your knowledge working within specific roles and real-life football projects.
Contact time varies over each year of study due to differences in modules; work placements and dissertation/project work in your final year.
Learning and Teaching
Learning and teaching methods include lectures, interactive workshops, practical sessions, work-based learning, tutorials and online delivery methods. This range of teaching and learning approaches ensures that you gain a wide variety of skills.
To learn more about how we teach on this course, take a look at the following video.
Assessment
You will be assessed via a range of methods including: coursework, reports, examinations, practical sports delivery sessions and presentations.
Placements
Students can undertake placements within clubs or community football settings through UK International soccer in the USA. This may involve hands-on coaching, community development work or supporting clubs with marketing and Administrations.
Students on our football coaching course complete a minimum of 140 hours across the academic year.
Ever wondered what it's like to coach soccer in the US? View the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt3FK5akpxA
We are international soccer. View the video:
As part of their football coaching course, students complete their FAW Level 2 Coaching Certificate and have an opportunity to gain their UEFA B license.
More information on UK International soccer can be found at http://www.ukinternational.v1.proposable.com/4437c2964f0024e91a2a
Facilities
We have a brand-new specially designed sporting performance facility that focuses on rugby and football coaching. It includes a specialist centre for strength and conditioning with 12 lifting platforms, providing a high-performance environment for aspiring athletes. Our full-size indoor 3G pitch is built to the Fifa Pro standard and World Rugby 22 standard. It will guarantee training all year round for our rugby, football and coaching students. We are the only university in England and Wales to offer this facility.
You'll also find a notational analysis suite and over 30 acres of playing fields, including five floodlit pitches. We have a sand-dressed 'astroturf' pitch, as well as 2 full-size FIFA approved 3G pitch In addition to these all-weather pitches, there are six grass football pitches, three grass rugby pitches, and a large changing pavilion. Our facilities are regularly used by international professional teams, such as the Wales national football team and Cardiff City Football Club, as well as the touring New Zealand, South Africa and Australia rugby squads. This confirms the high quality of our pitches and the versatility of our equipment.
Lecturers
Our staff have worked in the industry for many years and have experience of coordinating and managing sport in both local authorities and national governing bodies. Many continue to work as Coach Educators (UEFA) and high-performance coaches.
- Rachel Murray, course leader
- Lyn Jehu, Year 1 on campus course leader
- Grant Kalahar
- Jay Probert
- Jonathan Jones
- Gavin Chesterfield
- Bobby Briers
- Paul Rainer
Find out more about our staff and partners on our football pages.
Find out about the great research happening in sport, health and exercise science.
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
The entry criteria below reflect our standard entry requirements for the course for September 2023. However, all applications received by the University are reviewed holistically and individually. Entry criteria for September 2024 is changing and will be published on ucas.com from 8th May 2023. Entry criteria for September 2024 will be updated on our website from the end of October 2023.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions. USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy.
Other qualifications and experience
We can also consider combinations of qualifications and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable. We can sometimes consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or advanced entry to year two or three of a course where this is possible.
To find out which qualifications have tariff points, please refer to the UCAS tariff calculator.
If you need more help or information or would like to speak to our friendly admissions team, please contact us here
Typical A-Level Offer
BCC - CDD to include one Science, Mathematics, Physical Education or Psychology but to exclude General Studies (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level Grade C and BC at A Level to include one Science, Mathematics, Physical Education or Psychology but to exclude General Studies (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass in a relevant subject (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical Access to HE Offer
Passing an Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject (mathematics, science or psychology) and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points.
Additional Requirements
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course
August 2023 - July 2024 Fees
Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £14400
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
* Obligatory
Item | Cost | |
---|---|---|
Field Trips * | Visa and travel arel self-funded. |
|
Other: Placement * | Students on work placement will need to pay for their own travel and subsistence costs. Costs will vary depending on location. |
|
Other: Travel to Residential (Compulsory) * | Students will have to fund the cost of travel to the residential elements of the course. |
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
As the placement element of the course is a paid position you will need to complete a coaching application and an Interview with UK International Soccer.
UK International Soccer coaching application form, please see the attached link to complete this:
https://www.uksoccer.com/UKCoaches/UKCoach_welcome.php
Once you have completed the application you will be invited to an interview, which will comprise of an informational presentation from UKIS recruitment team, practical coaching assessment and an interview.
The interviews can be organised regionally across the UK.
UK students
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year on of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.
International and EU students
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.
You can enter a range of careers when you graduate, such as a football academy coach or skills coach at a professional club, football development officer, community coach, sports development officer, strength and conditioning coach or performance analyst. Some graduates find employment in the armed forces, emergency services or continue to study to become a teacher.
Ryan Smales explains what amazing experience earning a coaching degree in the USA has been - view the video:
Examples of recent graduate job roles:
Director of Coaching
College Coach
Set up their own coaching business
Professional club coach
UK based academy coach
PE coordinator in a primary school
Our Careers and Employability Service
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty-based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.
Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.