If you are interested in a career in sport, fitness or coaching, and want to develop your own football skills and game understanding alongside a study programme related to your career aspirations of working within a coaching, teaching or fitness environment, then this is the course for you.
You will undertake and gain an understanding of the fitness and coaching industry, and a range of coaching techniques and programmes. Our aim is to give you the tools required to succeed in the coaching and leading and enhance your employability skills.
Coaching of different ages and abilities, planning, organisation, and improvement of own football skills are some of the topics we cover here and opportunities to apply your skills in a school and football club are supported.
The course is delivered by a UEFA ‘A’ Licenced football coach, with links to a variety of external clubs and companies to gain valuable coaching and teaching experience.
The Merrist Wood College Football Development Centre offers full-time education programmes for 16-18 year olds, which incorporates both full-time football training with post-16 education across five days.
Students have the opportunity to take a course related to their career interests and gain an understanding of the coaching industry whilst developing their own football skills and performance.
Coaches working on the programme are experienced college tutors, and UEFA qualified coaches. The college team plays in the top national league and the coaches and tutors work hard to create opportunities for the players to play outside of college.
Some benefits of undertaking the below qualifications and joining our Football Development Centre are:
- Experience within the coaching industry and P.E within schools
- Future employment opportunities
- Access to paediatric first aid qualification
- Training 2 times a week with opportunities for competitive games
- Opportunities for Strength & Conditioning sessions in onsite purpose-built S&C Gym
- Pathways to local football clubs.
- Trips and tours, previous trips include Barcelona, Tenerife and Holland.
- Progression routes to university, USA (coaching and playing scholarships), UK playing routes, coaching and other industry roles.
What you'll learn
Course content includes:
- Knowledge of the fitness and coaching industry
- Knowledge of PE and school sport within the school environment
- Coaching techniques and programmes
- Planning and preparing, delivering and self-evaluation
- Coaching of different age groups
All 16-19 year olds on full-time programmes will be required to work towards a grade C in GCSE English and maths, if they have not already attained this. This might mean they will retake GCSE English or maths each year of their course, until they complete their studies.
How you'll learn and be assessed
All learners will complete a coaching portfolio, which will be completed whilst undertaking a work placement two days a week for 20+ weeks.
Progression
On completion of your studies you will have the necessary skills and qualifications to begin a career in sport, these include options to go to University to study a Foundation Degree or coach football both in the UK and abroad with our U.S.A and China links.
Some of our students have gone on to some great careers in coaching, teaching and also even stayed on to work with us.
Entry requirements
You need to have a GCSE at grade 4 or above in either maths or English, or a relevant Level 2 qualification in Sport
Additional information
Also, additional costs will include a branded Nike kit bundle from £200.
