5B041E - Applied Coaching 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 5B041E
Module Title: Applied Coaching
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Sport
Faculty Sub Group: Sports Coaching
Module Leader: Dean Parsons
Module Team: Nathan Evans, Jonathan Jones, Melanie Tuckwell
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100095 - sports coaching
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

  • Develop your ability to apply pedagogical theory to design inclusive, participant-centred coaching practices.  

  • Help enhance critical understanding of how to coach specific populations, including youth, female athletes and underrepresented groups. 

  • Help encourage self-awareness and reflective practice that supports your continuous improvement of coaching identity and behaviour. 

Content Summary

In this module, you’ll take your coaching to the next level by applying what you’ve learned so far to real-world coaching environments. Applied Coaching builds on your foundations from Level 4 and helps you grow into a more confident, inclusive, and reflective coach. You’ll explore advanced coaching concepts including pedagogical models, planning and designing sessions, and creating effective environments for learning - especially when working with youth athletes, females and underrepresented groups. You’ll also be encouraged to think deeply about your own coaching philosophy, identity, and leadership style, and how these influence your approach to different players and settings. 

Through a mix of seminar / workshops, tasks, discussions, industry case studies, and practical, reflective challenges, you’ll develop the skills to adapt your coaching to meet the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive needs of your participants. This module prepares you for the real demands of coaching roles in grassroots and communities by equipping you with the insight and confidence to make a meaningful impact. By the end of the module, you’ll be better prepared to lead with purpose, plan with intention, and coach with empathy and professionalism in today’s dynamic sporting landscape. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminar 14
Guided Study 150
Practical Classes and Workshops 40
Formative assessment 20
Summative assessment 60
Problem/Challenge based learning 16
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Apply appropriate pedagogical approaches and planning frameworks to design inclusive coaching sessions for youth athletes and diverse participant groups.
LO2 Evaluate your coaching practice and philosophy in the context of applied settings, demonstrating informed decision-making and adaptability.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Self-reflective Assessment Coaching Journal 0 3000 50 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Practical Coursework (Onsite) Practical 25 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Self-reflective Assessment
Practical Coursework (Onsite)

Reading List

Week 1 Understanding Yourself and Coaching Identity (4 items) 

 

Empathic leadership : lessons from elite sport, by Sear, Peter, 2023 

 

 | Essential 

 

A guide to analysing coaching behaviours (chapter 2) - in Sports coaching: a theoretical and practical guide, by Mark Partington; Jack Walton, edited by Ed Cope; Mark Partington, 2020 

 

 | Essential 

 

The coaching process: a practical guide to becoming an effective sports coach, by Lynn Kidman; Stephanie J. Hanrahan, 2011 

 

 

Equity in your coaching, by Annie Kerr; Michelle-Vernon Way; Warwick Andrews; Aj Sharma; Sports Coach UK., 2009 

 

 

Week 2 Coaching and Pedagogical Methods (11 items) 

 

Tactical decision-making in sport: how coaches can help athletes to make better in-game decisions, by EBSCOhost, 2020 

 

 | Essential 

 

Applied positive pedagogy in sport coaching: international coaching cases, by Richard Light; Stephen Harvey, 2020 

 

 | Essential 

 

Nonlinear pedagogy in skill acquisition: an introduction, by Jia Yi Chow; K. Davids; Chris Button; Ian Renshaw, 2022 

 

 | Essential 

 

Developing decision makers: an empowerment approach to coaching, by Lynn Kidman, 2001 

 

 | Essential 

 

Perspectives on athlete-centred coaching, by Pill, Shane., 2018 

 

 | Essential 

 

Sports coaching: a theoretical and practical guide, edited by Ed Cope; Mark Partington, 2020 

 

 | Essential |  

Read Chapter 1  A guide to understanding coaching philosophy: moving to a philosophy of coaching Read Chapter 6  Reflection and reflective practice: a theoretical and practical guide 

 

Positive pedagogy for sport coaching, by Richard Light, 2019 

 

 | Essential 

 

Game-based pedagogy in physical education and sports: designing rich learning environments: By Jeroen Koekoek, Ivo Dokman & Wytse Walinga, Routledge, New Delhi 2023, p. 340, Paperback, £28.79, ISBN: 9780367740283, by Wang, Jixin, 2025-01-21 

 

 | Essential 

 

The constraints-led approach: principles for sports coaching and practice design, by Ian Renshaw; K. Davids; Daniel Newcombe; Will Roberts, 2019 

 

 | Essential 

 

Teaching sport concepts and skills: a tactical games approach, by Stephen A. Mitchell; Judith L. Oslin; Linda L. Griffin, 2021 

 

 

Athlete-centred coaching: developing decision makers, edited by Lynn Kidman; Bennett J. Lombardo, 2010 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Week 3 Creating the Coaching Environment (1 items) 

 

Sports coaching: the basics, by Laura G. Purdy, 2018 

 

 | Recommended |  

Have a read of Chapter 4 which discusses coaching as a social activity and also read chapter 6 which is entitled Coaches methods and Athlete / Player learning.  This will be supplementary to this weeks lecture. 

 

Week 4 Practice Design, Coaching Programme Planning (2 items) 

 

Practical sports coaching, edited by Christine Nash, 2022 

 

 | Essential 

 

Talent development : a practitioner and parents guide, by Collins, Dave; MacNamara, Aine, 2022 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Week 5 Coach Burnout and Well Being (2 items) 

 

Mental health and well-being interventions in sport : research, theory and practice, by Breslin, Gavin; Leavey, Gerard; EBSCOhost, 2019 

 

 | Essential 

 

Developing and supporting athlete wellbeing : person first, athlete second, by Campbell, Natalie; Brady, Abbe; Tincknell-Smith, Alison, 2022 

 

 | Essential