In partnership with the University of South Wales, Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation are offering a unique and exciting way into building a successful career within the sports industry.

The Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development provides the opportunity to gain an industry-recognised qualification, whilst studying at Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation and completing a comprehensive portfolio of work-based learning.

Career Paths

  • Teaching
  • Community Sports Coaching
  • Professional/Elite Coaching
  • Sports Management Roles
  • Sports Development Roles

Skills taught

  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Leadership
  • Teamworking
  • Analytical Skills

Additional Qualifications:

  • Multi Skills Level 2
  • Introduction to Coaching Football
  • FA Safeguarding
  • FA First Aid
  • UEFA C
  • UEFA B
  • First Aid at Work 

Mentoring - A member of staff from your club will be assigned to you as a mentor, supporting you with learning materials and organising your placements.

This module is designed to introduce student to the academic, research and study skills required in the first year of studies. The skills will underpin all further study activity.

The module will introduce students to a number of sub-disciplines of Coaching Science, to include the process of coaching, various learning methods, growth and development issues when coaching young children, physical conditioning, and psychological preparation.  

The aim of this module is to gain basic knowledge and understanding about sports science and to identify how its application may aid the coach in developing athletes to achieve improved sporting performance. This module aims to ensure that coaches of children fully understand the different scientific needs of this population.

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the principles, roles, and scope of sports development work within the UK.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to planning and delivering community football initiatives including sustainable clubs, taster events and annual events.

The module will focus on the theoretical aspects of reflective practice, specifically the use of Gibbs’ reflective cycle, to engage the students in developing reflective skills.

This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the approaches and techniques associated with managing projects and the operational functions needed to implement them.

This module will provide an opportunity for students to develop reflective practice that can be used to enhance the effectiveness of their work-related experience.

After successfully completing this module participants will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles of community sports development with a key emphasis on determining the barriers to participation for various target groups.

On completion of the module students will demonstrate an in-depth awareness of Physical Education and School Sport.

The module will focus on long term player development model and teach aspects of technical and tactical specifics of the training to train and training to compete phases of the LTPD model.

How you’ll learn

As a student with Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation at the USW, you will have access to a wide range of learning resources. You will spend at least five days each year at the University where you will complete practical assessments and undertake live lectures and seminars. During your residential visits you will receive full accommodation. Between visits, you will continue your studies at Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation, with your Club Mentor guiding you through online learning materials created by USW staff. You will also have access to an online library, Blackboard, and other educational resources.

Teaching staff

Each student will receive support not only from academic module leaders but also through one-on-one sessions with Personal Academic Coaches throughout the year. These sessions are designed to enhance your learning experience and provide tailored guidance. You will meet twice a year with your assigned PAC, who will offer personalised support to help you achieve your academic goals and meet your expectations. Lecturers have extensive experience in the football coaching, sport coaching, sport development, and sport management industry, with some having played and coached at a professional or elite level. Lecturers have experience of coordinating and managing sport in both local authorities, sports clubs, and national governing bodies of sport, and are able to bring this real-life knowledge and experience into the classroom to bring topics to life. Many of our staff are still active in the industry either coaching or representing sports organisations on boards and strategic groups.

Placements

In year two, you will complete 140 hours of placement activity (work-based learning). The work-based learning programme will be completed within a sports organisation and will provide you with opportunities to gain experience in areas such as social inclusion, school and grassroots club development, sport development, and coaching.

UCAS Points: 48 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: DD to include at least one A Level in Science, Mathematics, Physical Education or Psychology but to exclude General Studies.
  • BTEC: BTEC Diploma Merit Pass or BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Pass Pass in a relevant subject.
  • Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma in Science or Maths with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points
  • T Level – P

Additional Requirements:

Entry criteria detail typical offers but USW considers all applications on an individual basis which means that we could make offers based on qualifications, personal profile and experience. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed may also be acceptable.

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

Contextual Offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation team at [email protected] or by giving us a call on 01642 757674.