Sports Business And Coaching Degree- UCFB

The workforce within sports businesses, clubs and organisations is changing and the line drawn between coaching, management and business within the same organisation has agglomerated. No longer can people in a sports club or business, regardless of their role, exist in isolation and ignore other parts of the business operations. This degree therefore imparts the necessary leadership fundamentals required to inspire, organise and improve individuals.

You will develop your understanding of sports as a business and combine the opportunity to improve your coaching skills, long term athlete development and coaching pathways. You will explore different techniques for analysing performance including notational analysis and the use of technology to improve performance.

You will cover high performance coaching, with the opportunity to become a qualified Prozone analyst; Prozone is the global leader in sports analysis software. You will examine elite sports performance, gain an insight into leadership and management skills and develop an understanding of physical education and pedagogical issues.

Degree content

This business and management qualification is ideal for those looking for experience and understanding of the world of business and sport and to develop as a manager. It provides a unique learning experience and the opportunity to live, learn and develop within the live operations of a professional football environment, providing you with access to the club from the first team manager down the coaching and playing pyramid. This allows engagement and understanding across areas such as rehabilitation, physiotherapy, player acquisition and analysis.

The practical application of your knowledge will be fulfilled by completing additional coaching badges via interaction with the first team coaching and training facilities at the leading Burnley Football Club as well as within Wembley Stadium and the UCFB professional partner network which includes professional football clubs, rugby clubs, cricket clubs and ice hockey to name a few.

Your studies will focus on the broad concepts involved in the sports business and surrounding industries. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of coaching, such as health and safety, risk assessments, the ‘coach’s toolkit’, sports development and exploring how sport is structured in the UK in a variety of settings and gain an understanding of the unique consumer behaviour within the sports industry.

As part of the unique Complementary Curriculum you will experience guest lectures and master classes from key industry professionals, such as Mike Phelan, former Manchester United Assistant Coach under Alex Ferguson.

UCFB degrees fall under three subject benchmark statements – General business and management (2007); Hospitality, leisure, sport and tourism (2008); and Psychology (2010). Visit the QAA website to access each of these benchmark statements.

Download the BA (Hons) Sports Business & Coaching Programme Specification.

Theory of Coaching

This module provides the opportunity for students to develop communication skills in a complex manner for a variety of different audiences. It also allows students to critically evaluate theory and reflectively apply to performance in a practical setting. The student will apply coaching theory to a number of physical contexts and maintain a portfolio of coaching plans to support. They will apply theory pertinent to the subject area and apply that to reflective written assignments and other problem solving activities. They will have a clear understanding of own strengths and weaknesses and a plan for how to improve both technical and behavioural skills relevant to a career in the coaching industry.

Understanding Sports Business

The sports industry is a multi-billion pound commercially driven industry and within the last three decades its growth has been spurred by an increase in media exposure and commercial capital. Innovations in technology have also played their part in transforming the leisure enthusiast/spectator into a more closely targeted global consumer who demands to be entertained (sports entertainment). However, this commercial boom also fuels the debate that sport still exists primarily as a participatory provision that plays an essential role in supporting the societal functions of local communities.

This module explores the historical growth of sport as a business and social phenomenon and introduces students to core management functions of the industry such as marketing, media, finance, sponsorship, stadium events, human resources, legal and contemporary issues. Students will analyse the development of sport and the governance of elite and grassroots organisations within the sporting framework.

Managing Money

This module seeks to develop an awareness of and an understanding of the source and purpose of financial accounting information within the organisation and an understanding of the structure of the main financial statements. It is also designed to encourage students to develop skills necessary to be able to use financial information for planning, control and decision making.

Coaching in the Community

This module provides the opportunity for students to develop knowledge required for operating in different and safe environments. It allows students to critically evaluate theory and reflectively apply it to performance. It also allows the application of coaching theory to age and ability-related practical.

It facilitates the application of theory pertinent to the subject to community sports projects.

The students will have a clear understanding of own strengths and weaknesses and a plan for how to improve both technical and behavioural skills relevant to a career in the community coaching industry and how to support community sports projects.

Events Planning

This module aims to provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of planning, participating, organising and operating an event. Special events in the modern sports, hospitality and entertainment industries take place in a wide variety of arenas and contexts (i.e. different sports/activities such as football, rugby, ultimate fighting championship, event launches, after dinner speaking and awards ceremonies). There are considerable logistical elements and potential problems which must be considered in the planning process. This module provides students with a theoretical knowledge of event planning and management theory which is then applied to the practical task of managing, funding/resourcing an industry related event.

Football and Entrepreneurship

This module aims to develop students’ entrepreneurial experience.

Football Business & Finance

This module aims to develop a broad understanding of corporate finance within the context of football business. Students will explore the use and significance of financial information to business decisions and apply this to the context of football business. Relevant theories and concepts will be introduced and explored, enabling students to develop a comprehensive understanding of finance and its significance to successful business operations.

Contemporary Issues in Football Business

This module will introduce students to a variety of issues, controversies and debates from across the football business. It will provide the opportunity for the contextualisation of social theory and concepts within in-depth explorations of contemporary issues in the football business. In this way, students will engage with the ‘reality’ of the industry for individual athletes and social groups and the concepts that underpin this reality by applying sociological principles to knowledge that exists in the public domain. Students will also be introduced to research in sport and leisure sociology and will apply research principles for the social sciences in a basic research project on a contemporary issue of their choice, related to the football business.

Talent Identification

The aim of this module is to provide the student with an understanding of performance pathways developed by organisations to develop players to their full potential. The module will also examine the support mechanisms which aid in this development of players.

High Performance Coaching

This module will introduce a selected range of sports that will give the learner the opportunity to develop and appreciate the skills, techniques and strategies in a range sporting activities at a high performance level.

The module will seek to analyse techniques used by high performance coaches by developing an awareness of the demands and considerations of coaching in different high-performance environments.

The student will critically analyse (through observation or delivery) practices to develop skills and improve high performance in an athlete. Practical experiences/observations will support the acquisition of theoretical principles throughout.

An academic examination of selected contemporary issues, relating to those strategies used for preparation and performance in the selected sports will be undertaken.

Strategic Management

This module develops an understanding of strategic management as applied to the football context and strategic information systems planning in different organisational and environmental contexts. It provides theoretical concepts and relevant tools for undertaking strategic analyses, considering strategic choices and making strategic recommendations.A variety of football contexts will be explored including professional and grassroots arenas.

Research Project

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.

Performance Analysis

This module aims to provide a framework where sports coaches can apply technological advancements to enhance the analysis of sports performers. They will develop techniques to evaluate sports performance, particularly technical and tactical analysis. This will include a review of pertinent scientific elements of training/performance.

* Modules listed above may vary depending on changes to the syllabus.

Applications are welcomed from students with a genuine passion and ambition to work in the football and sports industries.

The minimum academic requirement for this degree course is a 240-280 UCAS Tariff point score.

Other minimum requirements

Applicants will normally have achieved one of the following:

A minimum of 2 A Levels or equivalent
International Baccalaureate (minimum of 24 points)
A National Diploma or Certificate in an appropriate subject at Distinction level
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

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

Other qualifications, including overseas, may be considered. Applicants for whom English is a second language should have achieved IELTS 6 or equivalent for entry into Level 4.

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

All applicants will be expected to demonstrate a specific interest in their preferred area of study and should have a commitment to engaging with the subject through the academic programme and our complementary curriculum involving high profile guest speakers, master classes and short course opportunities.

Entry with advanced standing

Students are normally expected to start at Level 4, but can be admitted to any level of the course which is considered suitable, after portfolio review and interview, using the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS). Under this arrangement, a student may apply to have previous academic credits or other learning or experience taken into consideration. Such applications are considered by the Faculty CATS committee and must be supported by the Academic Department.