Community Coaching (HTQ)

UCAS code: CC32

Here's what Activate Learning says about its Community Coaching (HTQ) course.

The HTQ Higher National Certificate in Community Coaching allows you to develop as a professional, self-reflecting individual able to meet the demands of employers in the Sport sector and adapt to a constantly changing world. The qualification aims to widen your access to higher education and enhance your career prospects.

UCS are now offering you the most up-to-date higher national qualification – Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ). HTQs focus specifically on technical and occupational areas, preparing you for employment in high-demand sectors. UCS’s HTQ in Community Coaching has been designed to meet the following aims:

• Develop you as a professional, self-reflecting individual capable of meeting the demands of employers in the sports environment.

• Equip you with skills and knowledge, making you adaptable to the ever-changing, fast paced sports industry.

• Broaden your access to higher education and enhance career development beyond Level 4.

• Provide Level 3 learners with a progression opportunity in Community Coaching at Activate Learning and VLUK.

• Develop local employer engagement within the sports coaching sector.

• Enhance your understanding and experience of working with local employers to meet professional standards.

• Help you develop professional competence through a range of academic and industry-led briefs.

Nutrition - Equips students with the knowledge, skills and competencies to understand the nutritional composition of food and the effects of nutritional choices on the health of a person. Students will gain knowledge of the importance of eating a balanced diet, the dangers associated with the consumption of a poor diet and prescription for specific populations.

Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Psychology - Illustrates how psychological concepts underpin involvement in sport and exercise and demonstrates their impact on human behaviour. Students will explore the innate characteristics which are seen as the basis for sport and exercise behaviour.

Anatomy and Physiology - Explores the structure and function of the skeleton, osteology and the anatomy of bones and bone growth, types of joint, their structure and their contribution to range of movement. Students will examine the structure of the musculoskeletal system and begin to understand the complexities involved in effective performance. Along with examining the structure and function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and their role in exercise.

Professional Skills - Developing appropriate professional skills is fundamental to becoming a sport scientist and will open up an array of career opportunities within sports science. To be a sports scientist, individuals must develop a range of professional skills that will develop their understanding of research methods in the field of Sport and Exercise Science.

Coaching Practice and Skill Development - Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of coaching practice and the skill development associated with athlete performance. Students will engage in researching the impact of different coaching practices, working in various environments, utilising resources, developing skills and planning effective sessions. They will gain an understanding of the importance of developing sessions dependent on the group’s demographics.

Training, Fitness, Testing - Examines the different fitness requirements of different sports, the different training methods that can develop these areas and the adaptations that occur within a team or individual as a result of these adopted methods. Understanding the principles of training is particularly important for many sports practitioners.

Lifestyle Coaching - Develops the knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles and skills required for successful lifestyle coaching. This unit involves exploring theories of human intelligence and investigating individual behaviours and learning styles. Students will broaden their coaching skills by learning models for change, give an insight into the different approaches to lifestyle coaching and to key systems and strategies used in coaching. Students will also learn about different communication styles, explore the importance of effective communication and learn how to create and build a professional relationship with a client or athlete.

Community Coaching - Challenges students to understand the different cultures and contexts in which sports coaches work and to understand the role of policy and national governing body initiatives in shaping the pedagogic practice of coaches in the community. Students will be able to explore the political landscape of their local coaching environments and understand the challenges and mechanisms for adapting and redesigning sports activities and games to achieve wider outcomes for participants, governing bodies and sporting organisations.

The programme will consist of lectures, seminars, tutorials, peer presentations and practical workshops. These will provide basic concepts, contextual information and the basic practical skills which will enable you to undertake practical assignments during timetabled sessions and in self-directed study periods.

The blended learning delivery of the HNC involves two, twelve week semesters of formal teaching and an additional two weeks at the end of each semester for assessment time. The programme will begin with a face to face week which is compulsory to attend, this will include the enrolment and induction to the programme and delivery of week 1 and 2 content. There will also be another face to face week in semester 1 and another in semester 2. Attendance to the face to face weeks is compulsory and these weeks will include practical sessions, assessments, tutor support and additional activities to complement learning on the programme.

The formal weekly sessions will be held online via Activate Learning On-line (ALO) and are typically a 3 hour timetabled slot for each unit over two full timetabled days. The formal weekly sessions will be complemented with 1-2 hours of tutorial time. Independent study around these weekly sessions will be expected to support your learning and assessment for the programme.

A typical timetabled week will include 12 hours per week of unit delivery, 4 units will be studied per semester with a weekly 3 hour formal session, and 1-2 hours of tutorial time, usually over two full days.