4B019E - Leadership Practice in Sport (Online) 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 4B019E
Module Title: Leadership Practice in Sport (Online)
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Sport
Faculty Sub Group: Football Coaching
Module Leader: Robyn Pinder
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake: 2031
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100097 - sports management
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

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

Module Aims

This module will: 

  • Help you understand key leadership theories and practices, and how they apply in sport environments 

  • Support you in reflecting on your values, strengths, and growth areas as an emerging leader 

  • Build your confidence in leading others through effective communication, collaboration, and ethical leadership 

Content Summary

This module gives you the opportunity to explore what it really means to lead in sport - starting with yourself. You’ll dig into key leadership concepts and models, reflect on your personal values, and begin shaping your own leadership style. 

You’ll also learn practical leadership skills like active listening, decision-making under pressure, inclusive communication, and building strong relationships with others. Through interactive tasks and real-world challenges, you’ll grow in confidence and develop the tools to lead ethically and effectively in sport and community settings. 

As the module progresses, you’ll start thinking about your future by mapping out career goals and learning basic research skills that will support your professional journey. By the end, you’ll be more self-aware, more capable of leading others, and ready to take on the leadership demands of the sport industry. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Problem/Challenge Based Learning 56
Guided Study 104
Placement 50
Formative assessment 30
Summative Assessment 60
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate knowledge of key leadership models and apply them to practical sport scenarios
LO2 Reflect on personal leadership skills and behaviours, identifying strengths and development needs

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio Leadership Portfolio, designed to align with the University of South Wales Assessment for Learning Principles and Framework. This assessment enables students to demonstrate a holistic understanding of leadership theory, self-awareness, and applied practice in sport contexts. The portfolio encourages students to engage in authentic, reflective, and developmental learning, consistent with the course’s emphasis on employability and leadership growth. Through evidence-based reflection, students will analyse their personal leadership style, communication skills, and ethical decision-making, linking these to relevant leadership models. 0 4000 100 No 100

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio

Reading List

Coaching Excellence (Level 4) 

(Year 2026/27) 

 

 

38 items 

 

 

Week 1: Coaching Philosophy and Motivations (3 items) 

 

Understanding sports coaching: the pedagogical, social and cultural foundations of coaching practice, by Cassidy, Tania; Potrac, Paul; Rynne, Steven; Cassidy, Tania, 2023 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Sport coaching concepts: a framework for coaching practice, by John Lyle; Chris Cushion, 2017 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Excellence in coaching - in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, by Christine S. Nash; John Sproule; Peter Horton, 2011-06 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Week 2: Coaching Methods (5 items) 

 

An investigation of the effect of athletes' age on the coaching behaviours of professional top-level youth soccer coaches - in Journal of sports sciences, by Partington, Mark; Cushion, Christopher; Harvey, Stephen, 2014-03-16 

 

 | Recommended 

 

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

 

 | Recommended 

 

Introduction to Teaching Physical Education: Principles and Strategies, by Jane M. Shimon, 2025 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Sport Coach Education, Development, and Assessment : International Perspectives., by McCarthy, Liam., 2024 

 

 | Recommended 

 

The spectrum of sport coaching styles, by Shane Pill; Brendan SueSee; Joss Rankin; Mitch Hewitt, 2022 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Week 3: Creating the Coaching Environment (4 items) 

 

Game sense : pedagogy for performance, participation and enjoyment, by Light, Richard, 2013 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Scoreboard soccer: creating the environment to develop young players, by David Baird, 2022 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Creating caring environments: an exploration of football managers and coaching - in Sports Coaching Review, by Deborah Agnew; Shane Pill, 2023-01-02 

 

 | Recommended 

 

The Soccer Coach's Blueprint : Build a Strong Team Culture to Create a Winning Environment., by Carney, Jason., 2018 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Week 4: Planning, Preparing & Delivering a Coaching Session (5 items) 

 

Foundations of sports coaching: applying theory to practice, by Ashley J.G. Gill, 2021 

 

 | Recommended 

 

An analysis of practice activities and instructional behaviours used by youth soccer coaches during practice: Exploring the link between science and application - in Journal of sports sciences, by Ford, Paul R.; Yates, Ian; Williams, A. Mark, 2010-03 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Exploring football coaches’ views on coach education, role, and practice design: An Australian perspective - in PloS one, by Selimi, Erch; Lascu, Alexandra; Serpiello, Fabio; Woods, Carl T., 2023-05-16 

 

 | Recommended 

 

The soccer goalkeeping handbook : the essential guide for players and coaches, by Welsh, Alex, 2014 

 

 | Recommended 

 

An introduction to sports coaching: connecting theory to practice, by Robyn L. Jones; Kieran Kingston, 2013 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Week 5: Engaging & Motivating Participants (4 items) 

 

Effects of a Motivational Climate Intervention for Coaches on Young Athletes’ Sport Performance Anxiety - in Journal of sport & exercise psychology, by Smith, Ronald E.; Smoll, Frank L.; Cumming, Sean P., 2007-02-01 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Effects of an Interpersonal Style Intervention for Coaches on Young Soccer Players’ Motivational Processes - in Journal of human kinetics, by Pulido, Juan J.; Sánchez-Oliva, David; Leo, Francisco M.; Matos, Sergio; García-Calvo, Tomás, 2017-10-20 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Applied positive pedagogy in sport coaching : international cases, by Light, Richard; Light, Richard; Harvey, Stephen; Curry, Christina; Gibson, Kass; Hill, Nick; Jarrett, Kendall; Kuklick, Clayton; Paterson, Juliet; Pill, Shane; Pimenta, Ricardo; Price, Letitia; Razak, Mohammad Shah; Sup, Michael, 2021 - 2021, 2021 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Sport and exercise psychology research: from theory to practice, by Markus Raab; Paul Wylleman; Roland Seiler; Anne-Marie Elbe; Antonis Hatzigeorgiadis, 2016 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Week 6: Tactical & Technical Foundations (8 items) 

 

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

 

 | Recommended 

 

Coach behaviours and practice structures in youth soccer: Implications for talent development: Identifying and Developing Elite Soccer Players - in Journal of sports sciences, by CUSHION, Chris; FORD, Paul R; WILLIAMS, A. Mark, 2012 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Practice activities and behaviours employed by youth soccer coaches within a professional female soccer academy in England: A case study - in International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, by Sam E Alder; Allistair P McRobert; Francesca M Champ; Joe Causer; Matthew Andrew, 2025-12 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Case Studies From Elite Youth Soccer: Reflections on Talent Development Practices - in International sport coaching journal, by Wixey, Daniel; Ryom, Knud; Kingston, Kieran, 2021-01-01 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Elite soccer drills, by Matkovich, Michael J.; Davis, Jason, 2009 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Talent selection in youth football: Technical skills rather than general motor performance predict future player status of football talents - in Current Issues in Sport Science, by Sieghartsleitner, Roland; Zuber, Claudia; Zibung, Marc; Charbonnet, Bryan; Conzelmann, Achim, 2019-11-12 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Science and soccer: developing elite performers, by A. M. Williams, 2023 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Challenging traditions: Systematic review of practice, instruction, and motor skill acquisition in soccer - in International journal of sports science & coaching, by Pacheco, Matheus M; de Oliveira, Luiz M M; dos Santos, Carlos C A; Godoi Filho, José R M; Drews, Ricardo, 2023-10 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Week 7: Evaluation & Reflective Practice (5 items) 

 

Focus on reflective competence: A triangulation to examine youth soccer coaches' reflective competence - in Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS), by Max Danner; Mareike Ahns; Günter Amesberger, 2024-09-23 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Reflection and reflective practice discourses in coaching: a critical analysis - in Sport, Education and Society, by Christopher J. Cushion, 2018-01-02 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Understanding sports coaching: the pedagogical, social and cultural foundations of coaching practice, by Tania Cassidy; Paul Potrac; Steven Rynne; Tania Cassidy, 2023 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Sports Coaching Education and Alternative Pedagogies : Approaches in Higher Education., by Purdy, Laura.; Barker-Ruchti, Natalie., 2025 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Developing the reflective sports coach: a study exploring the processes of reflective practice within a higher education coaching programme - in Reflective practice, by Knowles, Zoe; Gilbourne, David; Borrie, Andy; Nevill, Alan, 2001-06-01 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Assessment Support (4 items) 

 

The study skills book: your essential guide to university success, by Kathleen McMillan, 2021 

 

 | Recommended 

 

The complete guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism, by Neville, Colin, 2016 

 

 | Recommended 

 

Developing a coaching portfolio: enhancing reflective practice - in Strategies, by Harry Hubball; Scott Robertson, 2004-11 

 

 | Recommended 

 

The flipped university: exploring student progression in football coaching and development - in Education + Training, by Robert Griffiths; Jay Probert; Brendan Cropley, 2018-05-23 

 

 | Recommended