The BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching and Performance is a four-year honours degree programme that provides students with an advanced sport science education embedded with an applied coach education. The programme combines coach education with sport and performance science, applying theory to practice within multiple coaching environments.
The course has four distinct elements:
Coach Education Modules address key characteristics of applied and practical coaching within talent environments
Sports Science Students will learn to evaluate, research, assess and advise on coaching, training, competition and recovery practices in all areas and levels of sport. A sports scientist works with coaches, teams and individual athletes to provide scientific support in preparation for competition. This course merges both the role of the sport scientist and the coach.
Strength and Conditioning (S&C) focuses on the physical development of athletes of all ages, focusing on age specific strength and conditioning together with injury rehabilitation and prevention in order to improve elite sporting performance.
Sport in society examines the role and position of sport in society, providing students with the opportunity to learn about sporting environments and the challenges that can exist for coaches and athletes within those environments.
Unique features
The sports-specific education is delivered and academic credit is given to students for completion of National Governing Body awards and progress though the coach development pathway. Students must pay the costs associated with these NGB awards.
The programme is designed specifically to develop coaching skills, abilities and perspectives to enable the coach to pursue career pathways in coaching.
Additional points can be awarded to individuals with outstanding sporting achievement. Typically 20 - 50 additional points may be added. Bonus Points Scheme
A year-long internship is undertaken in the third year of the programme. This distinctive feature offers students the opportunity to develop real-world high-level experience prior to graduating within the areas of coaching, sport science, performance analysis and strength and conditioning. The internship is beneficial in helping students to develop a professional aptitude, strengthen personal character, provide a greater door to opportunity and enhance their employability. By investing in the internship the student gives themselves a broad spectrum of opportunity and bring in class learning to the performance environment and gain the experience of working in the real-time world of sport.
Sports science foundation modules are a key component of the programme, students study the science of elite performance in specific sports, for example, the science of soccer.
The programme is designed to ensure that students from individual to team sports will be educated in their area of interest. Athletic Monitoring is another key module in the final year, which provides the student with the tools to examine an athlete holistically, incorporating all the skills from coaching, sport science and psychology to enhance theirs and their athletes’ lifestyle management skills.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science
Coach Education
Introduction to Coaching
Talent Identification and LTAD
Research and Learning
Motor Behaviour
Introduction to Sports Coaching and Society
Data and Measurement
Strength and Conditioning 1
Exercise Physiology 1
Lifestyle Management
Biomechanics and Kinesiology
Year 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Movement and Performance Analysis
Coach Education 2
Micro Coaching
Tests and measurements for sport
Coaching Leadership
Coaching Process
Sport Psychology
Advanced Performance Analysis
Sports Physiology
Strength and Conditioning 2
Sociology of Sport and Coaching
Performance Planning
Year 3
Semester 5
Semester 6
Paralympic Sport
Research Methods and Statistics
Coaching Internship 1
Coaching Internship 2
Year 4
Semester 7
Semester 8
Major Project 1
Major Project 2
Science of Sports Performance
Sport and Exercise Medicine
Performance Psychology
International Perspectives on Talent Development and Coaching
Strength and Conditioning 3
Athletic Monitoring
Sports Development
Sport and Exercise Nutrition
Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance
2 subjects: H5 4 subjects: O6/H7 English or Irish: O6/H7 Mathematics: O6/H7
Advanced and Equivalent Entry for BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance:
Scholarships for BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance Sports scholarships are made available to selected suitable candidates. The SETU in Waterford Sports Scholarship scheme offers a range of support services to successful students including financial, academic and sports science support.
Additional Points Applicants who apply to the CAO by 1 February and who have achieved excellence in their chosen sport or coaching at the highest available levels may qualify for consideration for additional bonus points, typically 20 - 50 additional points may be added.
BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance career opportunities
Graduates from this course may find employment in fields such as:
Coaching and Sports Development
Strength and Conditioning
Performance Analysis
Applied Sport Scientist
BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance internship opportunities
To date, successful internships have included: Manchester City FC, London Irish RFC, World Cycling Centre (Switzerland), Hoops Life (Florida), Qatar Sports Academy, Triathlon Ireland, Senior County GAA Squads & National League Soccer Squads, Munster Rugby, British Gymnastics, Cycling Ireland, Athletics Ireland to name a few.
During the internship, students are mentored by experienced practitioners in coaching, S&C, performance analysis, sport science support & administration. This unique opportunity provides students with real world experience in a competitive environment. Real world benefits of an internship are they provide students with connections in the industry they want to be employed in. There is a diverse amount of experience to be gained in a sporting environment, enhancing the knowledge and experience in their sport. An internship will expose the students to the often-closed networks of high performance and elite sport, whilst building their credibility. This exposure and experience have proven invaluable in building confidence, to push the student to apply for higher-level coaching, sport science and performance analysis jobs when they arise. It is also what clubs/employers are looking for (equal to or more than qualifications). So experiential learning is key and providing opportunities to accrue experience is vital for coaches to progress.
Follow on Study for BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance graduates
It is envisaged that students will progress to further study in Sports Coaching, Sports Psychology, Sports Science, Sports Performance and Strength and Conditioning.
Students will also have the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake advanced coaching awards to international standards in their specialist sports in the years following graduation.
Follow on Study for BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance graduates
It is envisaged that students will progress to further study in Sports Coaching, Sports Psychology, Sports Science, Sports Performance and Strength and Conditioning.
Students will also have the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake advanced coaching awards to international standards in their specialist sports in the years following graduation.
BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance career opportunities
Graduates from this course may find employment in fields such as:
Coaching and Sports Development
Strength and Conditioning
Performance Analysis
Applied Sport Scientist
To date, successful internships have included: Manchester City FC, London Irish RFC, World Cycling Centre (Switzerland), Hoops Life (Florida), Quatar Sports Academy, Triathlon Ireland, Senior County GAA Squads & National League Soccer Squads. During the internship, students will be mentored by experienced practitioners in coaching, S&C, performance analysis, sport science support & administration.
It is envisaged that students will progress to further study in Sports Coaching, Sports Psychology, Sports Science, Sports Performance and Strength and Conditioning.
Students will also have the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake advanced coaching awards to international standards in their specialist sports in the years following graduation.
