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Foundation Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development - Level 3Apply Now »
Location: Broomfield Hall
Years: 2
Adult Loan Amount: 2882.00****
Interview: N
Course Summary
The Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Sports Coaching focuses on the hollistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to be able to succeed in employment and higher education. The Foundation Diploma is the first year of a two-year Extended Diploma BTEC programme equivalent to three A-Levels (1.5 per year) and is endorsed by CIMSPA.
The programme is made up of six units. Students will need strong time keeping and organisational skills to excel in their studies, while also developing coaching and leadership skills for their practical assessments. The course is aimed at students who may wish to become sports coaches or to go into sports-related employment. It is also valuable for those keen to progress to sports-focussed degrees in higher education settings.
It is advised that applicants should have existing links to external sports clubs or associations in order to fulfil the coaching requirements in their second year of study. This will also help fulfil their work experience requirements.
Entry requirements
You are expected to have achieved English and Maths GCSE with grade 5 or higher. The majority of your other GCSEs should be graded 5 or higher to show that you can effectively manage the demands of ongoing assessment.
It is advised that all students should have existing links to external sports teams, clubs or associations. The course requires you to develop your coaching skills so there is an expectation that you will be motivated to deliver and take part in practical sessions both in and out of the College environment with a range of clients.
Course Content
The Foundation Diploma is made up of six units:
- Careers in the Sports and Active Leisure Industry
- Health, Wellbeing and Sport
- Developing Coaching Skills
- Sports Development
- Self-employment in Sport and Physical Activity
- Anatomy and Physiology in Sport
Your study programme will also include work experience and tutorial, plus selected additional qualifications.
The Extended Diploma (Year 2) consists of six further units:
- Applied Sports Coaching
- Research Project in Sport
- Sport Psychology
- Nutrition for Physical Performance
- Fitness Testing
- Sports Injuries
How will I be assessed?
There will be ongoing assessment throughout the year. Each unit will be split into a number of assignments and assessed against the unit content. These assessments will be graded on a Pass, Merit or Distinction basis.
Assessments will be a mixture of presentations, reports, practicals and essays, and will form your portfolio of evidence.
Your time keeping and organisational skills will need to be strong to meet assessment deadlines throughout the year. It is expected that your attendance will be maintained above 95% throughout the year.
This course is CIMSPA endorsed.
Are there any additional costs or specialist equipment required?
There are no additional costs.
Students are expected to wear black tops (T-shirts, jumpers, hoodies etc) when in class and when representing the sports department during coaching sessions. Students are free to wear what they choose on their lower half, as long as it is suitable for the activity being undertaken.
There are DCG branded options to purchase should you wish but this is not mandatory. We merely expect compliance with our colour code.
If you also join one of our sports academies, you may be required to purchase an academy-specific uniform which is an additional cost set by that academy.
All students will benefit from having a tablet or laptop to aid them with their studies.
What can I do after this course?
This course is fully mapped to the professional standards of "Assistant Coach" and "Safeguarding and Protecting Children" and is endorsed by CIMSPA. Succesful candidates may wish to pursue a career in coaching or go on to study Sport Coaching at DCG or with other higher education providers.
Students may also wish to expand their knowledge and continue their studies for a third year by completing other courses that may be of interest, such as the:
- Level 3 Diploma in Sports Therapy
- Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instruction
- Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training
Did you find the course information on this page useful?
Derby College offer sport, health and leisure facilities for public use. This includes fitness centre, sports hall and outdoor pitch hire plus lots more. Located at Broomfield Hall, Johnson Building and Mackworth.
Rosie Sharp
College powers weight trainer Rosie’s gym career forward
Fitness apprentice Rosie Sharp said Derby College is "100 percent" behind turning her passion for gym training into a new career.
Rosie, 20, decided against going on to further studies after taking philosophy, psychology and law at A-level. Instead she worked in sales at a sports magazine but eventually found the job was not really for her.
But Rosie has been keen on weight training from the age of 17, and when she found an apprentice job advertised online at B Physical in Ashbourne, she decided to go for it.
Despite having no directly relevant qualifications she managed to demonstrate her commitment to the gym environment and landed the role.
Rosie said she wasn't sporty at all at school and her mum just said "really...?", when she told her she was going to work in her a gym.
She said the college and B Physical worked closely together. She was visited once a week as part of her course.
Rosie has now passed Level 2 Personal Training and is considering going on to Level 3. In addition, she said she had also taken a sports massage distance learning course and may take her career in that direction.
Derby College has been 100 per cent important for my career because without the qualification I couldn't do what I'm doing – I had no fitness qualifications before I came here.
The college and gym work well together, and it was all relevant to what I needed to learn. It's been really good.
