SD0609 - Applying Principles of Coaching Science

Applying principles of coaching practice builds upon the learning and teaching approaches adopted at Level 4 and Level 5. You will develop your ability to apply theory to practice through a combination of lectures, seminar activities, practical workshops, demonstrations, supervised practice time and self-directed activities. Taught content will be largely student-led, with an emphasis placed on you discussing and engaging in reasoned debate about your own and other’s context-specific planning, delivering and reviewing of coaching practice.

Practical sessions will enable students to become familiar with a wide range of training techniques, and associated seminar sessions will be used to critically analyse those methods and apply them to the coaching process. Students are strongly encouraged to engage in independent study through the provision of reading lists and topics to be covered in preparation for seminar sessions.

You will be supported through directed learning tasks, electronic and interactive content via the Electronic Learning Portal (eLP), lectures, an electronic reading list and 1-1 support from an academic tutor. You will be expected to be proactive in identifying and raising issues for discussion with the module leader and your guidance tutor in particular. These should be prompted by your reading, planning, practice and review related to the module’s content. In addition, you will be able to take advantage of the University Library’s Skills Plus programme as you develop your skills as an undergraduate researcher. Specific tutor support and access to facilities (e.g., Sport Central, performance analysis labs.) will be given to enable you to develop your coaching practice and analytical skills. You will also have access to a Discussion Board (via the eLP) where support from peers and module staff can be accessed in relation to the module’s content and assessments.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Apply and critically analyse the scientific principles that underpin periodisation and annual planning .

2. Critically examine an athletes(s) performance and apply coaching science principles with regard to the application of training theory.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Plan, design, deliver and critically review your own specific training programmes, practices and training methods in relation to the needs of an athlete(s) for performance improvement.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Demonstrate knowledge and critical awareness of moral, ethical, and legal issues in sports coaching when preparing an athletes specific training programme.

1. Summative Assessment:

A. Applied Practical Presentation (100%) – Students will be provided with an athlete profile and specific skill / event / technique. They will be required to present a technique analysis breakdown of the relevant movement and cover the planning, physical preparation and training interventions top optimize performance during an applied practical presentation. (15 minute applied practical presentation) (LO 1, 2, 3,4).

2. Formative Assessment: includes practical coaching, critical analysis of appropriate case studies and/or real life athlete performances and in-class individual and group presentations. You will receive both tutor and peer feedback on the tasks supporting formative assessment.

Successful completion of Level 5

None

The module is designed to allow you to critically apply the principles of coaching science to aid in the performance improvement of athletes in the coaching process. You will have the opportunity to develop analytical, enquiry and reflective practice skills through a hands-on study of skilled performance, coaching practice and their essential relationship in contextual settings.
You will study the adaptations and limitations to physical performance, psychological techniques to regulate behaviour and biomechanical / technical principles of functional movement. On completion of a successful module you will be capable of critically analysing current training techniques and be able to plan a periodised training programme accounting for all facets of performance
You will be assessed via a digital info graphic presentation and an applied practical presentation.