Sports Coaching & Performance

The climate for developing sport and coaching in Northern Ireland and the UK has never been more positive. With major international events being hosted here, coach education and development have become a major focus for policy and funding decisions.

This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to operate as a high performing coach. This is a cutting-edge programme that will support those involved in coaching and coach education, linking directly with the needs of the industry.

You will be challenged to develop your coaching practice through a range of modules which focus on individual development and current approaches to coaching. The course content is based on the requirements of the sports coaching profession, employers, associated professional bodies, community, and industrial interests.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one

Performance Analysis and Monitoring
In order to provide optimal outcome for the sports person and the career development of the sports coach, it is essential to understand the key scientific, professional and practical concepts of coaching and athlete/ team performance. This module will advance the students' ability to manage and coordinate the range of support services within coaching, exploring the link between research and science based concepts of athlete monitoring with practical strategies to inform coaching, business and welfare based decisions to achieve maximal benefits against agreed outcomes. This module draws upon the student's previous knowledge and skills to ensure a multifaceted approach to the development of professional practice in Sports Coaching

Personal Skill and Leadership Development
This moudle is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to develop their leadership and mentoring skills as well as identify and support peer and work colleagues to develop their leadership and mentoring skills. This module aims to enable students to further develop their personal and professional skills.

Year two

Advanced Coaching Process
The professionalisation of coaching is a contemporary issue from both an academic and industry perspective. This module utilises an applied industry context to encourage students to critically reflect on existing theory, draw upon existing knowledge and experience to support the development of personal and professional skills.

Research Project Preparation in Sports Coaching
This module will engage the student in critically anlysing research problems from an organisational context. Students will be awarded the opportunity to select and critcially evaluate appropriate methodological approaches for undertaking research acknowledging strengths and limitations explicitily.

Motor Cognition and Performance
Through a series of lectures and tutor-led practical sessions, students will be able to critically reflect on the theoretical and practical importance of motor learning and performance. Students will also develop experience delivering a movement skills programme.

Year three

Research Project in Sports Coaching
This module provides students with the opportunity to conduct an independent research project in an area of their choosing within the cognitive field of sports coaching. They will present their findings and engage in critical assessment of their work by way of a written research project of between 12,000 and 16,000 words in total.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

If English language is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS 6.0, or equivalent. Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details on English language requirements.

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
You can apply directly to Ulster any time of year. We advise that you submit your application two weeks prior to your course start date to ensure sufficient time to review your application and, should you be made an offer, complete all necessary enrolment admin.

To start an application, you must create an Ulster University account. Do not worry. You don't need to complete your application in one go. We understand that this is a big decision. Our admissions team are on hand to help you with both the form and any documentation that you may need as part of your application.

Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Attendance

This programme will be delivered in FT and PT mode. The means of delivering will be in blocks throughout each semester of study. Block teaching requires studnets to attend for approximately 2/3 days per month in semesters one and two.

Year of entry: 2020/21

Postgraduate Information Session 20 February 2020
Register at: ulster.ac.uk/pg-information-events

Graduates have secured employment in a wide range of sport and non-sport related organisations, including sport governing bodies, local authorities, education, or self-employment.