BSc (Hons) Football Coaching & the Performance Specialist (with Foundation Year)

What you will study

Students starting the football coaching degree at the foundation level will develop an understanding of the coaching process, practical coaching skills and sports science disciplines involved in football. You will develop personal, professional and academic skills which will enable you to transfer your newly gained knowledge of coaching and coaching science into the applied world of football.

Throughout the degree, you will enhance your coaching profile by completing football-specific industry-recognised qualifications such as the FAW Level 1 Football Leaders Award, FAW C Certificate and the FAW/UEFA B Licence.

YEAR 1 (FOUNDATION YEAR)

MODULES

• Football: Starting to Coach (20 Credits): This module will introduce you to planning and preparation skills required within the football industry. You will develop and refine your coaching skills in order to plan and deliver football practices.
• Parents and the Performer (20 Credits): Within this module, you will explore the various relationships within the football context and this can influence a player's behaviour and performance.
• Introduction to Sport, Exercise Science and Human Performance (20 credits): This module introduces students to the exciting area of sports science through two of its foundation elements, Physiology and Psychology.
• The Performance Environment (20 credits): This module is designed to introduce students to a range of performance environments, sports, and physical activities to develop an appreciation of how the theory can be applied to specific sports.
• The Skills You Need (20 credits): This module aims to ensure that students develop key academic, personal, and professional skills required for successful study at a higher education level.
• Contextual Studies (20 credits): The module aims to introduce the students to a broad variety of contemporary issues to stimulate discussion, debate, and engagement.

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 4) 

MODULES

• Football Coaching for Player Development (20 Credits): Within this module, we will look to develop and enhance your coaching skills and introduce you to the theory that underpins contemporary practice within the football player development industry.
• Introduction to Performance Analysis in Football (20 Credits): The role of performance analysis in football is more important than ever and this module will provide you with an introduction of how it is applied and used within football.
• Football Coaching and Community Development (20 Credits): Within this module, you will explore how we can use football as a driver to enhance and develop our communities and specific population groups.
• Introduction to Sport Science in Football (20 Credits): The aim of this module is for you to gain an understanding of the role of sports science within the applied football environment.
• Human Behaviour in Sport (20 Credits): This module aims to introduce you to the essential models and theories appropriate for understanding human behaviour in a sports setting.
• Academic Discovery within the Sports Sciences (20 credits): This module investigates qualitative and quantitative approaches to researching sports science disciplines.

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 5) 

MODULES

• Football Coaching to Enhance Performance (20 Credits): We will look to build on the coaching theory you have acquired within your first year to develop a strategic understanding of performance development.
• Applied Performance Analysis in Football (20 Credits): This module will explore how football practitioners can utilise performance analysis to inform practice and evaluate performance.
• Football Science: The Physical Performance of Players (20 Credits): Within this module, students will explore the scientific and objective approaches practitioners can adopt in order to adequately and sufficiently physically prepare players for performance. In addition, students will also examine and analyse physiological responses to football-specific intermittent exercise patterns.
• Football Applied Practice: Sports Placement (20 Credits)*: This module will provide you with an opportunity to enhance your subject-specific skills within the applied football environment through a football placement and the use of reflective practice.
• The Football Industry (20 credits)**: We will explore the specific skills required to operate within the football industry and look to use the reflective practice to enhance your employability within the football environment.
• Applying Principles of Sport Psychology (20 Credits): This module aims to build on the knowledge foundation developed in the first year, where appropriate interventions are considered to improve human performance.
• Applied Research Methods (20 Credits): This module aims to educate you on carrying out research from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective. You will gain insight into different research methods and analyses whilst also starting to create an idea for your final year dissertation.

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6)

MODULES

• Advanced Football Coaching and Performance (Core Module 40 Credits): This module has an exclusive focus on coaching within the elite football environment. Students will critically explore a holistic approach to player development from both youth and senior perspectives.
• The Football Industry: Work-Based Learning (Optional Module 20 Credits)*: This module aims to enable the student to undertake a structured piece of work-based learning that will enhance the ability to maximise learning from a work experience within a football-specific environment.
• The Football Industry: Enhancing Your Employability (Optional Module 20 Credits)**: This module aims to enable the student to undertake a structured piece of work-based learning that will enhance their ability to reflect on their own current skill set and areas of development in relation to the world of football.
• Independent Discovery (Core Module 40 Credits): This module allows you to conduct a research study of your own. After selecting an environment of your choosing, you will collect, analyse and interpret data from within it, turning all of this hard work into a structured written format for submission.
• Applied Sport and Performance Psychology (Optional Module 20 Credits): This module aims to develop specific knowledge on the role of a Sport and Performance Psychologist within the Sport Setting.
• Analysing Performance for Improvement (Optional Module 20 Credits): This module looks to apply the performance analysis principles you have learned through previous years and apply them to a real-world scenario of your choosing. Ultimately, seeing how effective the analysis system you have developed copes in the applied environment.

*module for non-International students

**module for International students

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

The academic requirements for our foundation year are 48-72 UCAS points, although we also take into account any work experience you have that is relevant to this course.

Coaching experience or experience of working in coaching will be an advantage.

Before you are offered a place on this course you will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance (previously known as CRB), and pay the appropriate fee, so that a check can be made on your suitability for working with children and vulnerable adults.

Teaching & Assessment

A wide range of assessment methods will be used to test your knowledge and understanding. These include practical assessments, examinations, essays, portfolios, reports, presentations, online discussions and case study evaluations.   

You will be assessed on your ability to analyse coaching activities, use specialist video software, undertake field-based work and conduct independent research.

You will be expected to complete a dissertation as part of your final assessment.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Wrexham Glyndŵr University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

Career prospects

Our Careers & Employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need. Throughout the course, students will have developed the personal and professional skills which are essential for employment within the world of football, as well as worked towards two industry licences and gained practical experience out on placement - all contributing to excellent career prospects upon completion.

Career prospects include:

• Football Coaching
• Performance Analyst
• Football Development Officer
• Football Academies - within the UK and overseas

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s tuition fees for 2023/24 for a full-time undergraduate degree course are £9000 per year.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. 

Programme specification

View the full programme specification here

Accommodation

If you’re looking for a place to stay while you study then take a look at our accommodation pages to get more information on your options, including our on-campus halls of residence Wrexham Village.

International

If you are applying as an European / International Student, and live outside of the UK, you should make your application through our online application system, Centurus.

For information about the university’s entry requirements for EU/international students, please visit our international section.