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)

The Foundation Year is an integrated year where you will study core modules with a broad range of students from across the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, giving you access to different perspectives and networking opportunities.   

The modules will equip you with key skills needed for Higher Education and beyond. They will give you the chance to explore your subject area and available careers, allowing you to adapt your reading and assessments to be relevant to your degree pathway.  

Alongside teaching from the broader faculty staff, you will be able to meet with staff and other students from your main degree pathway and get involved with events and opportunities that they are running.  

• Study Skills for Success (core) will give you a solid foundation in academic conventions and time management skills to help you to progress through your degree.  
• Resilience in Higher Education and Beyond (Core) Personal development and resilience are as important as academic skills in the accomplishment on your journey towards graduation, and this exciting new module will equip you with the attributes needed for this. 
• A Day in the Life (core) This module allows you to explore the potential career options open to you on completion of you chosen degree. You will be exploring the professions linked to your degree and start preparing your graduate portfolio for employers.  
• Life and Work in the Welsh Context (core) will give you the opportunity to explore your subject area and/or desired career in relation to living and working in today’s Wales. 

The suite of optional modules are designed to enhance your skills base in relation to your career development. Your personal tutor from your degree will meet with you to help you decide which one of the available optional modules would be most suitable for you.  The optional modules are:   

• Welsh for First Time Learners provides an introduction to the Welsh language for those taking their first steps Numeracy where your degree requires a competent level of numeracy, you may be advised to choose this option. 
• Professional Communication in the Workplace in this module, you will begin to develop the skills and aptitude necessary to communicate effectively in a professional context. 
• Maths and Experimental Design if your degree pathway requires an understanding of numeracy and sciences, then this module is designed to provide the opportunity to achieve that. 

There are a variety of assessments across the foundation year – presentations, portfolios, electronic scrapbooking, and learning logs are just some. 

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 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

Students will work towards a FAW (Level 2) C Certificate and (Level 3) FAW/UEFA B coaching licences as part of your degree, giving you additional qualifications that enhance employability within the football coaching sector. 

Students will have the opportunity to gain applied experience working within a variety of football settings. Extensive links with partners will provide you with the opportunity to develop vocational and industry-relevant skills. 

Students will have access to the FAW National Football Development Centre, Colliers Park, which is complete with our performance analysis suite and full-sized FIFA quality 3G football pitch. 

A degree in Football Coaching and Performance Specialist provides a variety of future opportunities for graduates. Areas of work include: 

• Working in the English football league, the FAW or MLS 
• Coaching 
• Sport Science 

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. 

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

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. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our undergraduate fees.

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.