MSc Sports Coaching and Performance

Core Modules

Research Project
This project aims to enable students to demonstrate the skills necessary to produce a scholarly, in-depth, empirical research study, resource, or report.

Research Methods
This module will develop your ability to design and statistically analyse experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental quantitative studies. It will allow you to appreciate the strengths and limitations of the different quantitative and qualitative research designs used in coaching and sport, health and exercise science; and synthesize knowledge and competencies gained during taught modules to produce a scholarly, in-depth critical review and proposal for a research study.

Effective Coaching
You will develop an advanced understanding of critical self-reflective skills through the use of video analysis, which includes identifying key coaching styles, behaviours and feedback techniques required in advanced coaching situations. In addition, you will develop an in depth understanding of the interdisciplinary approaches that contribute to the coaching process including your ability to recognise and develop current coaching practice and coaching philosophies.

Professional Work Based Development
This modules provides an opportunity for students to observe and participate in work-based professional environments, including identifying a work problem for you to overcome, which will enhance your professional and vocational learning and inform your own everyday practice. As part of your studies you will critically reflect on your learning throughout the work placement. You will, together with the module team, identify an organisation or organisations that are relevant to your field of study and that will be able to provide 140 hours of work experience.

Option Modules (choose three)

Mentoring in Sport
Explore current mentoring philosophies in order to provide a holistic view of mentoring delivery. Enable students to understand and explore the difference between the role of a mentor / coach and develop dynamic and reciprocal relationships within the working sporting environment that is required. Recognise and appreciate the need for mentoring within sport and management contexts, develop the skills necessary for mentoring and apply them in a diverse non-judgemental environment. Ensure that students are provided with and develop the strategies required to meet the outcomes of the mentees and their environment.

Movement Analysis
This module aims to develop your awareness of the analysis of sports performance, with particular emphasis on technique analysis and notation analysis. The use of systematic observation techniques in the analysis of sports performance will also be considered.

Strength and Conditioning
At the end of this module you will have developed your knowledge and critical understanding of concepts and theories regarding strength and conditioning. You will also have developed the ability to implement effective strength and conditioning programmes into a range of performance environments. The above have been closely linked to the professional standards required for accreditation by both the NSCA and the UKSCA.

The Coaching Environment: Evidence Based Practice
The module will analyse a range of different approaches to developing the coaching environment and its relationship with coaching practice. The module will critically assess the value of each approach whilst also highlighting the trade-off associated with each approach, and prepare learners to implement a range of approaches and reflect upon their experience of doing so along with the impact of each approach on the athletes whom they coach.

The High Performance Environment
The module will analyse how multiple stakeholders across the organisation assist and complement each other in producing a high performance environment. To develop a multi-disciplinary perspective of factors that act upon an individual and how these contribute to the development of high performance. The management of the performance environment will be discussed and the many issues that underpin successful implementation will be analysed.

Learning and teaching methods include lectures, interactive workshops, practical sessions, work-based learning, guest lectures (from industry professionals), debates and tutorials. This range of teaching and learning approaches ensures that you gain a wide variety of skills.

It is very much focused on gaining the students' views and experiences to guide the group’s learning. All content will be applied in a sporting context to aid learning, and provide practical ideas and solutions that students can take back to the workplace or apply in the industry.

Some modules will be shared with other Masters courses which will allow for further discussion and debate.

Most lectures will be fairly small groups (10-25) which provides a more interactive and personal approach to your study. Group work and class discussions help you to develop critical thinking skills and we encourage students to voice their opinion and challenge the norm.

The student will be expected to attend lectures (time varies dependent on module) but will normally be about 25 hours of contact time per module. Additional hours of study expected will depend on the student and their level of understanding of the subject material.

Lectures are either block delivery (module covered in a single three-day block, Monday to Wednesday, 9-5pm). A draft timetable can be requested from the course leader Melanie Tuckwell.

You will be assessed via a range of methods to ensure that you develop a number of different skills to be able to utilise in the industry.

Assessment methods include: writing essays, reports and reflective blogs; producing leaflets and posters; examinations (multiple choice and essay style); presentations; practical sports coaching and leadership assessments; work-based learning assessments and assessments.