MSc Player Care in Football

Mental health issues can present a number of significant challenges in relation to player care, with the area arguably lacking in support and understanding within the professional environment. This module will define mental health and related common mental disorders in the context of a footballing environment in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the topic and facilitate a more holistic approach in player care roles. The module builds on existing literature as well as drawing on the experiences of current and retired professional footballers to provide a critical structure of mental health issues, experiences, professional support services and other key topics, such as coping strategies, injuries, social support, and identity. This will provide the knowledge and understanding in order to help build strategies and interventions to highlight key areas of development and to provide a more engaging approach to a player’s psychological well-being within the player care system.

The transition between academy football to professional football can bring about many psychological challenges. These challenges may be better deemed as ‘critical moments’ as they can appear more frequently. This module will critically analyse a number of these challenges and provide deeper insight and understanding into some of the issues that a professional player (or wider staff) may approach you with. Adding to the currency and value of performance psychology and traditional mental skills training the module will examine critical moments from an existential perspective and assess some of the ‘givens’ a player will have to face as they journey through the game. These existential topics will include isolation (loneliness), freedom (and responsibility to choose), meaning (identity) and death (i.e. leaving football). They will be explored in the cultural situ of professional football and will be considered from a holistic player care perspective.

Elite youth football can present a number of challenges in the context of player care. This module critically examines a number of these challenges and gives you the opportunity to build knowledge in order to address them. Structured through the various phases of the player journey (pre-academy, foundation phase, youth development phase, professional development phase), you will critically analyse the various demands and expectations that elite youth players can be exposed to. These elements will be explored in the context of players’ major influences, including family, education, peers, and environment. The module will also introduce you to a range of issues related to safeguarding – something that is critical in the context of youth player care.

This module will give you critical insight into how coaching and sports science combine to create a culture of high performance for elite athletes. The module will follow a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to high performance coaching across a range of sports, allowing for the application of theory to practice. You will synthesise theory and evidence-based practice to evaluate appropriate training programmes and critically analyse existing approaches to high performance coaching. You will critically analyse (through observation and/or delivery) current practices in order to develop the skills and knowledge to aid the development of high performance athletes. Furthermore, you will explore the key issues that surround the high performance sports coaching environment and the development of a culture of excellence.

This module will explore the process of reflection, its role in the development of knowledge and practical expertise and its subsequent impact on practice. You will examine and critically evaluate the key factors associated with a sound reflective process and what it is to be an effective reflective practitioner. In addition, you will review reflective processes and will develop a model of reflection, informed by a critical evaluation of existing models and current literature in this and other relevant fields.

This module will advance your research methods and critical thinking skills, and support you in applying these to the sports industry and its associated environments. This module will prepare you for research, reflective, and evidence-based development in future employment, as well as for higher study if applicable.

As part of this module, you will have an opportunity for sustained applied research and practice in the form of an applied project. Therefore, this module creates a space for you to apply competencies developed in your modules to date to a real-life football setting, leading to experiential and reflective learning.

You will direct your efforts towards addressing a topical issue in your area of interest. Your applied research project will allow you to showcase your intellectual articulation and knowledge, by undertaking an applied project, emphasising your knowledge of theory and current practice in your area of interest. By completing this project, and presenting your results, you will establish expertise in an area of academic, personal and professional interest, aiming to influence coaching practice.

Together with other modules in the programme portfolio, this module will give you real-world exposure to coaching issues that require investigation from you in the role of an applied researcher. You will gain a thorough practice-based understanding of project design, conduct and action. As result, you will be able to evidence management and leadership of an applied project, and show potential to change and influence coaching operations – something current and future employers will look for in your knowledge, experience and skills portfolio.

Leadership is a fundamental element of both sport and business operating in a dynamic global arena. On this module you will review and conceptualise different approaches to leadership from both an applied and theoretical perspective to allow you to analyse critical incidents in order to judge organisational leadership performance. You will be able to apply leadership theory to examples from industry professionals who have experience of leading teams in a sporting setting. Cross-cultural leadership underpins many of the behaviours and skills discussed within the leadership framework, alongside diversity and inclusion, strategic leadership, communication and reflection. The module allows you to take responsibility for your own leadership development and effectiveness through the development of an e-portfolio and skills audit, alongside exposure to sports leaders from the global network of partners contributing to the live case studies.

These discounts are open to any UCFB, Buckinghamshire New University and University of East London graduate who has received and accepted an offer to study at postgraduate level with UCFB’s Global Institute of Sport.

• 15% fee tuition discount on all Master's programmes, excluding MSc Sports Directorship
• 15% fee tuition discount on MSc Sports Directorship and CEO of a Sports Organisation

If you’d like to extend your time with us, we’re pleased to offer all GIS graduates:

• 15% fee tuition discount on all Master's programmes, excluding MSc Sports Directorship
• 15% fee tuition discount on MSc Sports Directorship and CEO of a Sports Organisation

We're pleased to offer all UCFB and GIS business partners 15% fee tuition discount on all Undergraduate, Master's programmes.

For part-time courses the tuition fee will be split accordingly per year i.e 50% in year 1 and 50% in year 2 (for a two year programme) as per below table.

In some instances, optional activities provided may carry an additional cost for participants (e.g. qualifications with external certification such as FA Coaching Badges). Any additional costs will be provided to students in advance of any such sessions running.