BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management

UCFB degrees fall under three subject benchmark statements – Business and Management (2015); Events, Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism (2016); and Psychology (2016). Visit the QAA website to access each of these benchmark statements.

Please click here to download the BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management programme specification documentation.

This module enables students to begin developing the Bucks Graduate Attributes associated with knowledge and its applications and creativity, which are essential for success in higher education and in the world of work. It encourages students to see the significant overlap between study skills and employability skills and provides the opportunity for students to reflect on and develop their existing abilities in both areas. The module will prepare students for successful progression to Level 4 academic study while allowing them to learn about and prepare themselves for employment in the twenty-first century through inquiry based learning, problem solving and critical and creative thinking.

This module complements Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility which develops the Bucks Graduate Attributes associated with leadership and self-development and social and ethical awareness and responsibility. Both Preparing for Success: Knowledge and Creativity and Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility are designed so that students can take them in any order

This module enables students to begin developing the Bucks Graduate Attributes associated with leadership and self-development and social and ethical awareness and responsibility, which are essential for success in higher education and in the world of work. It encourages students to see the significant overlap between study skills and employability skills and provides the opportunity for students to reflect on and develop their existing abilities in both areas. The module will prepare students for successful progression to Level 4 academic study while allowing them to learn about and prepare themselves for employment in the twenty-first century through inquiry based learning, problem solving and critical and creative thinking.

This module complements Preparing for Success: Knowledge and Creativity, which develops the Bucks Graduate Attributes associated with knowledge and its applications and creativity. Both Preparing for Success: Knowledge and Creativity and Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility are designed so that students can take them in any order.

Delivery of this module is based on ‘confirmation inquiry’ – a foundational level of inquiry geared for developing students’ understanding of key concepts and themes as well as basic methodologies and approaches to academic work, relevant to the discipline of the individual student. Students will then have the opportunity to analyse a problem or question that relates to their subject area, making use of information gathered from various sources using different methods and strategies.

This module is one of the two subject modules studied during the Foundation Year. It can be taken in either semester one or semester two and does not assume or require and prior knowledge of the subject area.

A role of a sports coach isn’t just about picking the right team or laying out the cones, they must also be the guardian of the team, young and senior, and be able to apply a number of techniques to their players to ensure they are maximising their ability.

This module will introduce students to the fundamental principles of sports coaching and the role and responsibilities of the coach within a range of contexts, including legal obligations, problem solving, analysing, professional conduct and the ability to develop the skills necessary to plan, deliver and review the successful delivery of a sports coaching session.

The module introduces you to the necessary understanding and skills for effective leadership and management within association football by considering it at different levels of the national game.

You will be able to identify the skills and qualities required by individuals to succeed in management from grass roots by examining management in the elite game. Students will be exposed to case study examples of successful and unsuccessful managers at different levels of the game and will compare and contrast different styles.

Students will explore the key qualities, characteristics and roles of an effective manager in association football across all levels of the game.

This module will enable you to develop awareness and understanding of the key fundamentals and principles of sports coaching, integrating theory with practice and sharing knowledge and understanding through discussion and debate.

The practical element of coaching will allow you to gain experience in and an understanding of the cognitive process of coaching. You will learn what a coach needs to function effectively and safely in a variety of situations, developing reflective skills and identifying which theories are most applicable when working in a specific coaching context.

You will learn how to reflect on and evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses and develop a plan to improve both your technical and behavioural skills relevant to a career in the coaching industry.

This module is designed to provide you with an essential ‘coaching toolkit’ with which to develop the technical performance of young players.

Firstly, you will examine key technical components used in football. Secondly, you will explore the principles of play (both attacking and defending), how you can develop individuals understanding of the game and how to manage mistakes within practice situations. Taking a player-centred approach which allows the player to be actively involved in their own learning and development through decision-making and problem-solving rather than being coach-led, you will design practices which will develop players game craft and game understanding and learn what constrains lead coaching principles.

This module will develop your core understanding of sport in community projects. You will particularly explore the role of community-based youth sport initiatives and how these are conducted.

Coaching theory will be applied to age- and ability-related practical sessions and you will learn how to support and engage community groups via sport. You will also develop a clear understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses in relation to working with diverse demographic groups.

This module explores key principles of leadership and management and examines leadership styles in football. You will study and evaluate leadership and management skills and consequent behaviours.

Moreover, you will be able to develop management knowledge and understanding to help to advance your career within the football industry in a management role.

You will analyse which behaviours are considered to be successful in the management of players, teams and backroom staff in Association Football. Change management strategies and consideration of psychological factors, such as stress management, confidence building, motivation and ways of working with different personalities will be examined.

You will critique the literature and evidence behind the different types of talent and the predictors of talent across a range of sports. You will evaluate a variety of different performance pathways that exist across sports and within other countries.

This will allow you to evaluate key predictors of talent within a chosen sporting field and moreover have the appreciation to apply key theories of talent development and critically analyse talent development pathways. Furthermore you will examine the support mechanisms which aid the development of sporting ability and skills that help to fulfil young people`s potential.

The aim of this module is to provide the student with an understanding of research principles, a range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and appropriate analysis for these. This will enable the student to develop the research skills and knowledge necessary to undertake an independent research project. Students will be provided with support in developing their writing style to incorporate citations and make use of referencing.

They will be introduced to Academic Journals and will use these to inform their understanding of the research approaches used in the sector. This will also serve to familiarise the learners with the role of Journals in their wider study. The final aspect of this module will introduce hypothesis testing, with learners making use of a computer package to undertake simple statistical tests commonly used within their subject area.

You will acquire a systematic understanding of the principles of play, appropriate to Association Football and advanced tactical and strategic knowledge relevant to the 11 vs.11 format of the game.

You will explore different formations and the roles and responsibilities of players, looking specifically at movement off the ball and key movement triggers to develop patterns of play.

Coaches will develop their understanding of progression starting with specific aspects of team play, working with individuals (13-21 years), with units and then whole team triggers in functional practices and phases of play in 11 vs. 11 game situations. You will design practices which will develop players’ positional play and understanding through functional practices and phases of play.

Using leadership and management as central themes you will learn how to critically appraise relevant theory and research in order to develop your own actions, behaviours and characteristics pertinent to a career as a sport, business or coaching manager.

The module provides an opportunity to reflect on your own approach to leadership and management skills and behaviour and to critically analyse the impact of this in an applied setting benchmarking such approaches against tested relevant academic frameworks.

You will learn how to evaluate and apply managerial and leadership theory to practice, and will have the opportunity to produce an evidenced-based personal development plan to improve your own management and leadership behaviours.

This module will give you critical insight into how coaches work in the professional game and explore how analysis and reflection inform coaching practice & management within professional football.

The module will follow an interdisciplinary approach in both theory and practice to explore the coaching and management behaviours and methods employed when working with professional football teams and players.

You will use theory and evidence-based practice to evaluate appropriate training programmes and critically analyse existing approaches to elite performance coaching within football and other sports. You will critically analyse (through observation) current practices to develop skills and improve high performance within professional football, furthermore exploring key support mechanisms when working with elite professional players within the coaching environment.

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity for independent learning through the completion of an individual, extended research project. The project requires a high level of individual application and commitment to research and enquiry. It provides students with the opportunity to identify, reflect upon and explore a topic that has implications for their own professional development.

This module aims to provide you with a framework to support the ongoing cycle of the coaching process. Coaches are required to observe, analyse, evaluate and provide feedback to players after performance.

You will explore key performance indicators with particular reference to both technical and tactical analysis. You will establish how to use a range of match analysis methods from notational to applying technological advancements to enhance your efficiency in providing feedback.

You will develop techniques to evaluate teams’ overall performance both technical and tactical in order to provide feedback for intervention planning.

• UCFB Wembley course code: FCMF
• Institution: U10
• Campus: W

• UCFB Etihad Campus course code: FCMF
• Institution: U10
• Campus: E

The minimum academic requirement for this degree course is 64 UCAS points.

Applicants will normally have achieved one of the following:

• A Levels with DDE or higher
• A BTEC Extended diploma grade MPP
• A BTEC Diploma grade MM
• A combination of BTEC and A-Level qualifications

Applicants are also expected to hold a GCSE grade C in Maths or English.

To be considered eligible for the programme, applicants must have completed at least two years of post-secondary education or work experience.

Applicants applying without the minimum required UCAS points can still be considered on a case by case basis and may be requested to attend an interview and assessment prior to receiving an offer.

International applicants will be asked to achieve IELTS for UKVI at grade 6.0 overall or above.

Enquiries are encouraged from anybody who does not meet the above criteria but would like to be considered for the programme. Please email admissions@ucfb.com for further advice.

International students

UCFB cannot currently sponsor non-EU students’ visas.

You will not need a visa to study in the UK if:

• You are a British citizen
• You are a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state or Switzerland
• You have a visa to stay in the UK for another purpose that allows you to study

If you are still unsure whether you would need a visa to study in the UK, or for more information, please contact admissions@ucfb.com.

• UCFB Wembley course code: FCM1
• Institution: U10
• Campus: W

• UCFB Etihad Campus course code: FCM1
• Institution: U10
• Campus: E

The minimum academic requirement for this degree course is 112 UCAS points and an FA Level 1 Coaching Award.

Applicants will normally have achieved one of the following:

• A minimum of 2 A Levels including two C grades
• A BTEC Extended diploma grade DMM
• A BTEC Diploma grade D*D*
• A combination of BTEC and A-Level qualifications with at least two C graded A levels or Merit graded BTEC equivalents.
• International Baccalaureate (minimum of 30 points)
  An Advanced GNVQ in an appropriate subject at Distinction level
• An Access Course: minimum of 60 credits, including at least 45 at Level 3
• An equivalent level 3 qualification
• Must hold FA Level 1 (for more information or to complete your FA Level 1 coaching, please contact your local County FA)

Applicants should have a strong GCSE profile, including English at Grade 4 or Grade C, or equivalent and Maths at Grade 4 or Grade C (specifically for Football Business & Finance, Sports Business & Sports Law and Sports Psychology).

Other equivalent qualifications, including those from your own country, will be considered for entry.

Applicants for whom English is a second language will need a valid Academic IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in each component for entry on to a degree programme (Level 4).

All qualifications are subject to approval by the UCFB Admissions team, based on UKVI requirements.

We also welcome applications from mature students who may not possess the above qualifications but may have relevant experience.

Applications need to have a strong background of football coaching experience, holding the FA Level 1 as a requirement. Students will require a good understanding of principles of football and will need to synthesise and translate theory and knowledge in a practical setting. Being able to demonstrate is an important attribute to succeed on the course and experience of playing at a professional football academy or semi-professional football club will be an advantage.

International students

UCFB cannot currently sponsor non-EU students’ visas.

You will not need a visa to study in the UK if:

• You are a British citizen
• You are a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state or Switzerland
• You have a visa to stay in the UK for another purpose that allows you to study

If you are still unsure whether you would need a visa to study in the UK, or for more information, please contact admissions@ucfb.com.

The provision of a facility or service including accommodation may be subject to an additional charge (i.e. separate from tuition fees). Where this is the case, we will make this clear in advance and payment for such service shall be made in accordance with any additional contract made between you and UCFB.

In some instances, optional Employability & Enrichment activities provided by UCFB may carry an additional cost for participants (e.g. qualifications with external certification such as FA Coaching Badges). Any additional costs will be provided to students in advance of any such sessions running.

UCFB students may also be asked for an additional contribution fee of £10-20 for trips.

UCFB has a range of scholarship and bursary options to help with the cost of studying and to encourage students to embrace their time at UCFB and graduate with more than just their university degree. Click here to learn more.