MSc Applied Sports Coaching (part-time)

Course description

This innovative part-time two-year postgraduate course will give experienced coaches the opportunity to enhance their practice through engagement with practitioner leaders and pioneering researchers in the field of sport coaching. The course is offered by the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (PESS) in the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, and is being considered for alignment with the higher levels of coaching qualifications, as part of the Coaching Development Programme for Ireland (a partnership between Sport Ireland Coaching and National Governing Bodies of sport).

Coaches on the course will form a community of practice, interacting with both practitioner leaders in the field of sports coaching and recognised experts within the UL community. If you attend this course, your coaching will form the basis for the curriculum: your plans (for sessions; for seasons; for club culture; for long term athlete development), your behaviours (during training sessions and during competitions), your reflections, your philosophy of practice, will all be examined in light of case studies from our external speakers, and the latest research in coaching science and sport science.

Course Aims

The objectives of this course reflect commitment to the development of insightful, competent, critical and reflective sports coaches. Graduates will..

• Possess extensive knowledge of the coaching process and innovative applied practice in sport coaching.
• Display originality and insight in the design, delivery and evaluation of coaching practice.
• Possess enhanced practical skills in applied coaching practice, management, leadership, video analysis, planning, and the capacity to work, develop skills, and promote professional practice.
• Have the skills for conducting bespoke applied research on sports coaching to evidence and enhance their own practice and that of other coaches.
• Be proactive in identifying and critically evaluating current research in domains such as sport and business, and drawing implications for their own context.