Sport and Fitness

If you're into sport and fitness and are thinking about a future career in sports coaching, sports development, exercise or the leisure industry this course can help you on your way. It covers all aspects of sports coaching and development, giving you the knowledge and skills, you'll need to confidently develop participant talent within a range of sports.

You’ll spend significant time in the coaching environment. However, there’s also a fair bit of theory and written elements, so be prepared to spend time in the classroom as well as self-study. You’ll have the chance to:

• gain hands on, industry led experience, through a weekly placement with a community partner (e.g. Active Schools, Leisure Trusts)
• you’ll hone your coaching skills in a real-life sporting environment, developing young athletes
• learn top tips for success from people who work in the industry, such as sports development and active schools staff along with workshops from partners including, Colours of our Scarves
• you’ll also be encouraged to extend your industry work and volunteering outwith school/college, to maximise your chances of networking and employment.

Here’s just some of what you’ll be doing:

• Sports Development: investigating how to build sustainable sport projects within our communities
• Human Anatomy, Physiology and Biomechanics in Sport: to give you an essential understanding how the body functions and performs along with how it can be trained.
• Developing Professional Practice: As a coach we must consider how we approach our role to ensure the best experience for our participants.
• Sports Coaching Practitioner - Knowing Yourself, Others and Coaching: allowing you to develop a wide understanding of being a sports coach.

For entry to this course, you'll need:

• a real interest in sport and fitness - 2 Graded Higher passes A - C

Mainly written assessments of a closed book and assignment-based nature. We will also assess your leading and coaching from the point of view of planning, doing, and evaluating your sessions. Assessment is ongoing throughout the year so no "big exams" to worry about.

80% of the course is theory based due to the SCQF level of the course.  At SCQF level 7 you are operating at the equivalent of Year 1 University degrees which requires significant understanding.  Practical application of coaching knowledge is still important and so coaching/placement activities will make up approximately 20% of the learning.

Successful completion of this course may provide you with opportunities to progress to a full-time HND year 2 course in Sports Coaching and Development at college. You would be required to undertake 3 articulation credits to make this possible however we would offer you full support in this.

Some learners have completed their HNC Sports Coaching and moved directly to 2nd year university courses. The HNC can also be used to make your Year 1 university application stand out from the crowd.