ApprenticeshipSports Coach Apprenticeship
Course overview
Advance your knowledge, skills and behaviours in the design, delivery and evaluation of progressive coaching programmes that engage, motivate and evolve participants’ skills and performance.
This course aims to support the advancement of apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours in the design, delivery and evaluation of progressive coaching programmes that engage, motivate and evolve participants’ skills and performance. Our bespoke delivery model is agile and responsive to apprentices’ and employers’ needs, providing apprentices with the option to specialise in the high performance, community, or school sport coaching environment.
High performance sport coaches develop athletes and players in high-performance settings, including those on talent or development pathways, national or international programmes, professional or podium environments.
Community sport coaches motivate and engage people of all ages and abilities in community sports and physical activity settings, including local authority, charity and national governing body of sport community initiatives or clubs.
School sport coaches collaborate with teachers to develop pupils’ mastery of psychomotor skills by applying a whole child approach in their coaching. They work in all categories of school and registered childcare environments.
Learning and teaching approaches include a combination of on-demand material, on campus or online meetings, self-directed study or guided learning tasks.
Any questions?
Contact the apprenticeships team
Email: apprenticeships@solent.ac.uk
For employers
Apprenticeships can add value at all levels of your business:
- Upskill your staff with industry relevant qualifications.
- Drive an increase in productivity.
- Promote long-term loyalty and reduce staff turnover.
- Reduce the cost of qualifications and training.
- Develop staff with a minimum of interruption to day-to-day operations.
- Offer genuine opportunities for personal development to both full-and part-time staff.
- Offer genuine opportunities for personal development to both full-and part-time staff.
For apprentices
Here's what a higher or degree apprenticeship can offer you:
- A combination of on-the-job and academic study which is relevant and applied.
- A continued wage and contract of employment which includes all the same benefits as any employee.
- A higher or degree qualification which is recognised, transferrable and the same level as if achieved through traditional study routes.
- A debt free future with zero tuition fees. (Please note, as apprenticeships are funded by employers, apprentices are not eligible to apply for Student Loans Company loans)
- An opportunity to develop new skills and progress within your industry.
What does this course lead to?
After completing this apprenticeship, graduates could pursue careers as a club coach, community coach, performance/pathway/podium coach, school coach, or talent development coach.
Who is this course is for?
This apprenticeship is ideal for new or existing employees in the sports coaching sector.
Facilities
Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces.
Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
Come to an open day
Fancy a sneak peek? Take a look around!
Meet the team
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
What you'll study
Core modules
Cultures and Contexts of Coaching Practice
This module focuses on the knowledge, skills and behaviour to develop and implement progressive coaching systems that comply with legal, ethical and contextual requirements. You'll use strategic planning techniques to align your work to sector, sport, organisational and participant needs, considering trends, data and contemporary influences on your professional environment.
Coaching Innovation Project
This module focuses on the knowledge, skills and behaviour required of coaches to measure the impact of coaching strategies. You will deliver coaching pedagogies and processes that consider context, culture, strategies, policies, constraints and stakeholder needs relevant to the high performance, community, or school sport coaching environment. You'll subsequently evaluate your performance and contribution to the wider coaching context.
Professional Development
In this module you'll focus on evidencing professional development in project planning, delivery and review; design, delivery and review of coaching sessions; and professional tools. You'll also explore aspects such as communication through reports and presentations, showcasing practical coaching skills and drawing on evidence in a professional discussion.
Profiling in Sport
In this module, you'll build the knowledge, skills and behaviour to use profiling techniques to create a learning and development curriculum for the achievement of goals relevant to the high performance, community or school sport participant. In doing so, you'll consider trends, data and contemporary influences on the professional coaching environment.
Progressive and Inclusive Coaching Practice
During this module, you'll build the knowledge, skills and behaviour to design and deliver progressive coaching programmes. You'll understand your role in both the holistic wellbeing and skill development of participants. Wellbeing guidelines and agendas are considered alongside the practicalities of coaching, such as session planning, preparation, delivery and evaluation.
Sport Coaching Pedagogies
You'll build the knowledge and skills to provide an inclusive, positive and progressive coaching environment. You'll consider the relevance of learning theories, skill acquisition techniques, behaviour management strategies, learning resources, technologies, and wider industry mechanisms, alongside the practicalities of coaching, such as session planning, preparation, delivery and evaluation.
The Reflective Practitioner
In this module, you'll gain the knowledge to develop a personal coaching philosophy. You'll consider professional practice, continuous development, and self-awareness alongside contextual factors and codes relevant to your coaching environment.
Successful apprentices will graduate with a:CertHE Sports Coaching
How you'll study
You will learn through a combination of directed learning, collaborative learning and guided learning. You will also make use of the University's online learning platform Solent Online Learning (SOL).You may be assessed by a combination of:
- End-point assessment
- Work-based learning
- Practical activities
- Coursework
- Written assessments
- Reports
- Group presentations
- Poster presentations
- Individual presentations
Students are assessed through a combination of academic assignments and occupational standards assessments. Coursework assignments can include presentations, essays, exams, case studies, practical assessments, and reflective accounts.
Apprentices area also expected to go through an end-point assessment within three months of completing the course.
Find out more
Fees and finance
Businesses with an annual payroll above £3million will be classed as a levy paying employer and will be able to use funds accrued in their digital apprenticeship service (DAS) account for payment of the training. Please contact us for guidance on fees if you are a non-levy employer which will cover at least 95% of the costs.
- The maximum funding drawdown for this course is: £9,000
Apprentices pay nothing towards their course fees
The course fees will be covered by your employer.
Optional Costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
Earn while you learn
As an apprentice you'll earn while working and studying towards your degree.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Entry Requirements
To study for an apprenticeship, you must be employed and have a contract that will cover the duration of your apprenticeship.
All apprentice applications need to go through apprenticeships@solent.ac.uk in the first instance. Applicants will be expected to provide the following documents during the onboarding process:
- CV
- Job description
- Maths and English certificates - GCSE/GCE/Functional Skills*
- Completed skills assessment (template provided by Solent's apprenticeships team)
- Passport/visa (showing access to public funds if non UK passport), or birth certificate
- Share code to show immigration status if applicable
Please note: if any certificates are from outside of the UK, you will need to have a Naric Equivalency Statement alongside the certificates.
* Maths and English delivery to achieve Functional Skills Level 2 can be provided for some courses and should be discussed at onboarding stage if you do not have Maths and English certificates at Grade 4/C and above.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship offers a unique blend of work experience and academic study. Candidates on an apprenticeship will work a paid job while simultaneously working towards a relevant qualification in their chosen field.
Apprentices are employees with a contract of employment that must cover the duration of the programme being studied. Apprentices have guaranteed time from their employer to complete their studies, at a minimum of six hours a week, known as off-the-job training hours. The University will provide each apprentice with a tracker to ensure these off the job hours are logged to demonstrate compliance with this funding rule.
Higher apprenticeships
Solent offers a diverse range of higher and degree apprenticeships, some of which will include an additional qualification that will be studied within the Apprenticeship Standard, eg: HNC, BA or BSc.
Our apprenticeships give employees the opportunity to upskill in their chosen field or retrain for a new career while working.
Employers will see an increase in knowledge and skills, improved productivity, and a boost in the expertise of the workforce.
Find out moreTake a look around
Visit us on campus and explore Solent University by registering for one of our apprenticeship events.
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