Sports Coaching - Applied Sports Coaching

This innovative part-time two-year postgraduate programme will give experienced coaches the opportunity to enhance their practice. We are very mindful that for people who are already working and coaching, adding studying on top needs to be carefully managed. We do this in two ways: firstly, some of your weekly coaching counts towards your hours for the course. Because we will be asking you for examples of your session plans, the activities you used, how you engaged athletes and your reflections, your time coaching each week will be part of the course commitment. Secondly, we have embraced online learning. Most of your sessions will be hosted online so that you can save on travel time. We still value in person meetings to foster connections, so we meet on campus for 3 days most semesters. But the remaining sessions are online to facilitate your joining us.



Key programme benefits to future students

Engage with practitioner leaders in the field of sports coaching, recognised experts from UL with extensive experience supporting coaches, and peers from a diverse range of sports.



For individuals without a primary degree in Coaching, Sport Science or a related discipline, there is also a popular entry route based on providing evidence of extensive coaching experience.



Workshops are held on Mondays. To make it more accessible, the course is predominantly delivered online, supported by several on campus days each semester.



Key Fact: Your coaching will form the basis for the curriculum: your plans (for sessions; for seasons; for club culture; for long term athlete development), your behaviours (during training sessions and during competitions), your reflections, your philosophy of practice, will all be examined in light of case studies from our external speakers, and the latest research in coaching science and sport science.

Year 1

Autumn Modules

• The Coaching Process & Practice



Spring Modules

• Reflective Practice for Sports Coaches

• Performance Analysis in Coaching



Summer Modules

• Athlete and Coach Development



Year 2

Autumn Modules

• Management & Leadership in Coaching

• Research Project Development



Spring Modules

• Research Project 1 Sports Coaching



Summer Modules

• Research Project 2 Sports Coaching

There are two routes that candidates can apply for a place on this programme:



Entry Route 1

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree (NFQ Level 8,) with at least a second-class honour, grade 2 (2:2) in a relevant discipline such as Sports Science, Physical Education, Strength and Conditioning, Coaching Science, Exercise Science, or Physiotherapy.



You must hold at least a National Governing Body Level 1 Coaching Award.



You must show previous experience in sports coaching and be actively coaching for the duration of the programme.



Garda clearance



The university may shortlist and invite you to an interview.  



Entry Route 2



At UL, we value all kinds of learning and support different ways to qualify through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy.



We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet the bachelor’s degree entry requirements; indeed, because of our focus on applied practice, over half of applicants to this course come through RPL. You will need to show that you can meet the remaining requirements in entry route 1 and have the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for the programme.

2 years part-time, blended.

Autumn

Graduate careers

Graduates are engaged in a variety of coaching, coach development, strength & conditioning and athlete development roles within soccer, rugby, basketball, swimming, tennis, karate, tennis, Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, athletics, triathlon, gymnastics, rowing and horse sport.