Solihull College and University Centre began offering a Foundation Degree in Coaching Science last September for the new academic year and has seen great results from students. The college works in partnership with Oxford Brookes University to offer the Foundation Degree at its Blossomfield Campus in Solihull.
The course is aimed at individuals who are already working within the coaching industry yet want to enhance their employability by gaining a formal qualification. By covering a range of topics that can all be linked to the sports coaching industry, the degree is a highly valued qualification that opens up several sporting career opportunities; modules include Effective Coaching Practice, Acquiring Skill in Sport, Exercise Physiology and Anatomy, and Applied Computer Skills. Course Leader Nadine Okyere explains “The course supplements existing knowledge and skills which are developed through sport-specific coaching qualifications and offers a wider appreciation and understanding of the role science plays in the industry.”
The course offered by Solihull College and University Centre has proven to be successful as current student Jon Hill who has just completed his first year on the course and received the ‘outstanding student of the year’ award, comments “the foundation degree has provided me with a range of different coaching styles that I have been able to put into practice with the various external groups that I coach. Applied Computer Skills has been of great interest to me and I have used this frequently to assist with the review of individuals and support their development.”
Due to its success at Solihull College and University Centre the course, in partnership with Oxford Brookes, will be running again in the next academic year starting this September. The course is taught over two and a half days a week over a 2 year period allowing students to actively coach and implement what they have learnt into their coaching sessions across a wide variety of sports. Students can also progress on to a top-up degree after they have completed their qualification to gain their BSc Honours in Sports Coaching. Course Leader Nadine also explains “we welcome applications from mature students over the age of 21 and can be flexible with the entry requirements if applicants show a commitment to succeed and are working with the sports coaching industry.”
For more information on the courses available at Solihull College and University Centre, including Sports Coaching visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.
