MSc Coach Development

Join a community of passionate professionals who support coaches and coaching, creating effective and ethical learning and professional development programmes. Supporting your professional development

This master’s will support the professional development of experienced coach developers and those in similar roles, including coach education and workforce development.

As part of this course, you’ll:

Build your knowledge and practical skills to ethically and effectively bolster coaches’ learning and professional development in a range of settings

Work with peers to develop a communal sense of good practice in the various tasks you undertake in your work

Identify opportunities for your professional growth by exploring the impact of your work with others

Co-create a community of coach development professionals who can support one another in their ongoing learning and professional development

Conduct projects in areas of interest to generate new knowledge, strategies and ways of working

Blended learning

The coach development course will be delivered in a blended fashion, with a mixture of campus-based three-day learning events, online sessions, and field-based (in-situ) experiences. In addition to face-to-face and online contact, you’ll engage in significant self-directed study, supported by your tutors and peer networks.

Coaching and coach development expertise

Leeds Beckett University has a long and influential history in supporting the professionalisation of sport coaching and coach development. Since 2009, our staff have been directly involved in designing and delivering individualised, longitudinal learning programmes. These programmes focus on professional development to meet the needs of coaches across several talent pathways, including Olympic, Paralympic and professional sport contexts.

Industry recognition

Building on an extensive body of world-leading research, the course has been designed to inform policy and practice, including the recently published Professional Standard for the Role of a Coach Developer by CIMSPA. This standard outlines the role, scope, skills and knowledge of a coach developer working across pathway and performance programmes in Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree in the cognate subjects of Sports Science, Sport Coaching, Sport Development, Physical Education or Qualified Teacher Status, at least a second class honours degree in a non-cognate subject supported by evidence of an aptitude for the subject applied for, or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment. This will usually be assessed through a portfolio of evidence and an interview.

All applicants are expected to be practicing coach developers and able to evidence being in the role for at least one year. All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional.