MSc Football Coaching & Analysis

This module will explore personal coaching philosophies, the impact this has on coaching practice and the challenges faced in demonstrating personal values in current coaching contexts. You will examine how your personal coaching philosophies have “developed”, as well as how these are demonstrated in practice. You will also propose areas of personal and professional development, with the aim of conducting coaching practice more consistently aligned to your personal coaching philosophy.

This module aims to advance your tactical knowledge of football across the different formats of the game. Drawing upon different game model approaches you will explore tactical concepts such as: the moments of the game, sub-moments, principles of play, styles of play, systems of play, strategies and tactics. In addition, you will analyse the impact that your coaching domain, the players capabilities and significant others have in designing a game model.

Drawing on your own coaching knowledge and experience and aligning to your domain, you will illustrate how you would apply and implement your chosen strategies and tactics across two different moments and sub-moments of the game.

Furthermore, the module will support you in designing your own ‘game model’ of performance and examine how you would integrate tactical periodisation into the effective planning for team performance, encompassing a holistic approach to practice. Finally, you will be expected to critically explore the challenges faced in implementing a game model approach within your domain.

This module provides an opportunity to undertake an applied professional project that bridges academic learning with real-world practice in the sports industry. It is designed to enhance your professional skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities by engaging with a current issue or challenge within a sporting context.

You will take ownership of a sustained, independent project that draws on the knowledge, competencies, and experiences developed throughout your programme. Working within a live or simulated sports environment, you will apply theoretical understanding to practice, with the aim of generating meaningful insights or solutions that have direct relevance to coaching and performance, or sports business and management, marketing or media.

The module fosters experiential learning by encouraging reflection on your personal development and professional impact. Through this process, you will demonstrate leadership, initiative, and the ability to manage and deliver a project from conception to completion, all of which are highly valued by employers in the sport sector.

Your chosen project will allow you to explore an area of personal or professional interest, showcasing your ability to integrate academic knowledge with industry practice. By presenting your findings and outcomes, you will contribute to the enhancement of professional standards and demonstrate your readiness to influence and improve sporting environments.

This module will enable you to develop awareness and understanding of the key fundamentals and principles of match and performance analysis, integrating theory with practice and sharing knowledge and understanding through discussion and debate. The applied element of match and performance analysis will allow you to gain experience in and an understanding of key performance indicators, situational factors, match analysis, opposition and individual analysis, as well as key analysis software.

You will learn what an analyst requires to function effectively and safely in a variety of situations, developing reflective skills and identifying which theories are most applicable when working in a specific applied performance analysis context. You will learn how to operate contemporary analysis software, integrate theory with practice and deliver performance analysis insights in context.

• Relevant Undergraduate Degree – minimum 2:2 (ideally a 2:1) or international equivalent.
• English Language Requirements: if you’re applying from a country where English is not the majority spoken language, you’ll need to demonstrate your English proficiency. We accept a range of internationally recognised qualifications, with the minimum standard being: IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no individual component below 6.0, or an equivalent. Accepted qualifications include: IELTS Academic, IELTS for UKVI, TOEFL iBT, Oxford ELLT, PTE Academic, Cambridge IGCSE, ESOL, and IESOL.
• Oxford ELLT is an English Language Level Test, approved by Global Institute of Sport that can be used as evidence of a candidate’s English language proficiency for international admissions.
  • We require a minimum ELLT score of 7, with at least 6 in each individual component.
• Offers to applicants currently studying an undergraduate degree will be conditional on them going on to achieve the entry requirements on completion of their degree.

• Undergraduate Degree less than a 2:2 or an Undergraduate Degree in a Non-Relevant subject and….
• Minimum B Licence (Or equivalent)
• Extensive playing experience – Professional football player
• English language qualifications: Applicants from non-majority English speaking countries will be asked for an English qualification which tests Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing and will be asked to achieve an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section) or recognised equivalent.
• Any applicant falling outside of the above requirements has a possible route via the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) Football Coaching and Analysis .

• Application form
• Evidence of highest academic and/or professional qualifications
• Evidence of coaching qualifications, where required.
• Evidence of relevant experience, where required
• 500 word personal statement

Applications made through the flexible entry route may require a course leader review. The course leader will determine whether a professional reference or task is required.