An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care.

This 90-credit course is aimed at sports coaches wanting to develop their underpinning scientific knowledge, analytical skills and/or career in this work role. You’ll focus on: applying aspects of sports science, including movement analysis and core stability; training/conditioning in work roles, including some optional study choices; and the exploration of how coaches improve and learn. You will need to have gained a Level 2 UK-accredited coaching qualification within the last eight years or to obtain one in parallel with your OU studies.

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What you will study

This course is based on studying elements of sport and exercise science and applying them to coaching practice. Within each study theme described below you will have the opportunity to identify which elements best apply to your coaching and study these in more depth for your assessment.

In the first part of the course there are four main study themes:

The body in sport and exercise; a systems approach – investigates four of the main systems that influence human performance (skeletal, muscular, cardio-respiratory and nervous systems).

Making sense of movement – considers the analysis of movement in sport and exercise and how biomechanical principles can help us to understand movement and inform training practice.

Exploring core stability, strength and conditioning – considers the methods by which effective training programmes are designed to meet complex individual needs with a theory into practice focus.

Working with special population groups – examines selected medical conditions or life stages (e.g. children, older adults), their effect on the anatomy and physiology of the individual and the implications they have for sport and exercise participation. There is some choice of what you study in this theme.

In the second part of the course there are fewer teaching activities with more breathing space for you to plan, find suitable material and write your final assessment. There are two main personalised study themes in this part:

Your personal investigation – you will undertake a personal investigation in a field of interest to you. This will include a search for relevant literature and, with carefully structured tasks and the support of your tutor, you’ll independently prepare a summary of the literature in your chosen field.

Your own learning experiences – this is about your own development and encourages you to critically examine your learning, qualification and training process as a sports coach. These learning experiences are connected to your formal qualification and training as a coach at Level 2 or the development you have made beyond this level. You will work through analytical tasks and readings that draw out and extend your understanding of your learning process. You will need to submit evidence of your qualification at a minimum of Level 2 within the end-of-module assessment.

All the above study themes will be supported by a printed study guide, an online study guide, two text books and a course reader. The course also makes full use of a website where you will be able to access electronic materials and keep in touch with fellow students. 

Vocational relevance

This course is aimed at sports coaches wanting to develop their underpinning knowledge, skills and/or career in the subject area. It is the sports coaching version of the final module in the Foundation Degree in Sport and Fitness with Sports Coaching and Diploma of Higher Education in Sport and Fitness.

By using work-based learning on this course, the general insights into science and theory, the learning and qualification process in the sector and greater self-awareness and communication skills will make you more employable.

The Level 2 coaching qualification is recognised as a key indicator of competence for those wishing to practise as a professional sports coach. If you intend to work in coaching you will probably be required to ensure that your qualification and other associated requirements (such as First Aid, Child Protection and Disclosure and Barring Service checks) are valid and up to date for the country you intend to work in.

If you are interested in exercise instruction rather than sports coaching and/or intend to submit an exercise instruction qualification (see Entry section below) you should study the exercise instruction version of this course – Science and theory into practice: exercise instruction (EXF223) – instead.

Entry

This is a Level 2 course and builds on the Level 1 study in the Foundation Degree in Sport and Fitness and Diploma of Higher Education in Sport and Fitness. If you are studying towards one of these qualifications we recommend that you take Introduction to sport, fitness and management (E112), Working and learning in sport and fitness (E113) and Sport and exercise psychology: a case study approach (E233) before this course.

There are no requirements concerning your level of fitness to take the course and there are no activities that require any sort of exercise.

However, you should note the following important entry requirement for this course.

Level 2 Coaching certificate

To study and complete the assessment for this course you will need to have gained a Level 2 UK-accredited coaching qualification from an established sport with a recognised National Governing Body (NGB) or equivalent within the past eight years. If you do not hold a suitable qualification prior to commencing this course, you will need to obtain one in parallel with your OU studies.

The certificate – from successful completion of this qualification – demonstrates your coaching competence and will need to be electronically scanned and submitted together with the end-of-module assessment (EMA) for this OU course. The original certificate may be requested by the OU for verification purposes.

Please note that you will need to budget and pay for this qualification yourself and will need to undertake any associated courses (e.g. First Aid, Child Protection etc) as well as any CRB or police check at your own expense. Failure to successfully complete your coaching qualification will delay you achieving any credit for this OU course. Further details about these sports coaching qualifications, including which sports are recognised by the OU and what to do if you live abroad, can be obtained here.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Outside the UK

The course is suitable for those working in appropriate settings throughout the UK. Students in Scotland may wish to consider linking the course to the Diploma of Higher Education in Sport and Fitness.

If you live outside the UK and cannot access a UK coaching qualification, please read the further details in Entry above for contact details to find out if your coaching qualification is appropriate.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

Study materials

What's included

A study guide, course reader, two text books, online audio-visual material and website.

You will need

Although it is not essential, we recommend that you have a broadband internet connection for this course in order to get the most out of the website activities and to participate in online tutorials.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course which includes online activities. You can only access these using a web browser with Flash and Java.

You will also need a headset, with a microphone and earphones, to talk to your tutor and other students online during some of the course activities.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer running Windows since 2006 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
• If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
• If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that you can only use it for this course by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your assignments, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor will be particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. Contact with your tutor will be through the following:

• online tutorials, which we strongly encourage you to participate in since most students find these extremely useful
• an online forum within your tutor group
• email or telephone.

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

Assessment is an essential part of the teaching and so you are required to complete it all. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.

The certificate from successful completion of an appropriate Level 2 coaching qualification (see Entry above) will need to be electronically scanned and submitted together with the end-of-module assessment (EMA) for this course.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012 when it will be available for the last time.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Introduction to sport, fitness and management (E112)
• Sport and exercise psychology: a case study approach (E233)
• Working and learning in sport and fitness (E113)
• Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities (B322)
• Exploring science (S104)

How to register

We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this course. Where the course is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information read Distance learning explained.

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