New Football Degree Set To Shape Next Generation At National Clubs

A new football coaching degree at the University of South Wales aims to shape the next generation of players at clubs across the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The BSc (Hons) Community Coaching and Development course, which students can enrol on after successfully completing the Foundation Degree, is a unique football coaching programme that has been designed in conjunction with the EFL (English Football League) Trust. It provides an opportunity to gain an industry-recognised coaching award while being affiliated to a specific club. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Students are predominantly based at their football club, but will also spend a minimum of five days per year at the University of South Wales Sport Park – a £3.7m state-of-the-art coaching and performance development centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Teaching takes the form of online lectures and seminars, with students expected to complete up to 300 hours of coaching on a work-based learning programme. The course also helps students gain their Level 2 Football Coaching certificate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Adam Ledger (pictured), who coaches at Sheffield Wednesday Community Trust, is about to start his final year of the degree. Having graduated from the Foundation Degree this summer, the 22-year-old hopes the further qualification will add to his CV and enhance his long-term career prospects. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He now works at Sheffield Wednesday FC as its National Citizenship Service (NCS) Co-ordinator, helping school leavers in their transition to adulthood, to improve their self-esteem, team building and employability skills. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Adam said: “I’ve enjoyed every aspect of the course so far, and am looking forward to gaining the full degree. It fits in well with my lifestyle and coming to South Wales for the residential weeks is so valuable for refining my coaching technique. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“After graduating I’d like to go on to a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education) and become a primary school teacher, as I really enjoy working with children and helping them grow as people.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​