Sports Coaching and Development Level 3 Extended Diploma

The Sports Coaching and Development Level 3 Extended Diploma supports you to develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed to progress into employment within sports coaching and development roles, including self‑employment. It is also suitable if you are aiming to progress to higher education and want a qualification that provides practical experience alongside academic study. This full‑time course is equivalent to three A Levels and has been developed with input from employers and professional bodies to ensure learning reflects current industry practice. The course focuses on coaching, development and performance, helping you build skills that are directly transferable to roles within the sports industry. In the first year, you will explore careers in the sport and active leisure industry, develop coaching skills, and gain an understanding of sports development and technical and tactical performance. You will also study health, wellbeing and sport, alongside self‑employment in sport and physical activity, helping you understand different pathways within the industry. In the second year, learning builds on this foundation with a greater emphasis on applied coaching and performance. You will explore topics such as sports injuries, fitness testing and fitness training, alongside completing a research project. The course also covers regulations and officiating in sport, supporting your understanding of safe, ethical and professional practice. Practical learning is central to the programme, helping you apply theory through coaching sessions, performance analysis and development activities. By the end of the course, you will have developed strong coaching competence, industry awareness and transferable skills that support progression into employment, self‑employment or higher education within sports coaching and development pathways.