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Free BTEC Level 3 Sports Coaching Course in Portsmouth

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryClassroom based
Start6 Sep 2027
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyPearson Edexcel awarding body
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About this course

Free BTEC Level 3 Sports Coaching Course in Portsmouth. Classes run at COPC Sixth Form Campus, full-time during the day.

You'll study six units covering sports coaching and development, and the course runs over one year. Entry requires five GCSEs graded 4 or above, including English. Your footballing ability is also assessed as part of the application. The course includes trips to local sports centres and external venues, plus coaching placements.

You'll finish with a Pearson Edexcel BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development.

Who this course is for

This programme is designed for footballers who are looking to progress as a player onto a Pro-club, a Scholarship in the USA or onto a University degree course in the UK. We also support students who are looking for a career within football. The whole programme is two-years long and combines lessons with training and fixtures so that the work that you are studying will be a part of your development as a player.

Trips & visits: We regularly organise trips to local sports centres and external sports providers. We annually also visit America to help promote scholarship opportunities for players. Each year we visit Boston or Philadelphia for a ‘College Showcase Tour’. Players stay with host families, visit university and play football in state of the art facilities against american teams in front of college recruiters.

Entry requirements

Our Level 3 courses require five subjects graded 4 or above at GCSE level (we accept Merits or higher from BTEC subjects). Level 3 courses require English to be one of the five grade 4s. Spaces on this programme are limited so you will have your footballing ability assessed as part of your application, but with a number of teams we will be able to find an appropriate team to match your ability.

What you will learn

  • You'll develop knowledge of sports coaching principles and methods.
  • You'll study player development and how to support athlete progression.
  • You'll learn about sports science and its role in performance.
  • You'll take part in training sessions and competitive fixtures as part of your studies.
  • You'll gain experience through coaching placements in real settings.
  • You'll explore pathways into professional football, university, and USA scholarships.

How you will learn

The course is classroom-based and full-time. All six units are internally assessed, so there are no external exams. You'll be assessed through assignments, projects, and practical work. Training sessions and fixtures form part of your programme alongside your academic study.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. COPC Sixth Form Campus will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Sports coach, works with players at club or community level.
  • Football development officer, supports player pathways at a club.
  • Community sports coach, delivers sessions for local groups and schools.
  • Sports coaching assistant, supports lead coaches in training environments.
  • Performance analyst, tracks and reviews player data and match footage.

What you could study next

  • Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development, the natural second year of this programme, equivalent to three A Levels.
  • A degree in Sports Coaching, Sports Science, or Physical Education at university.
  • FA coaching licences, which develop your practical coaching credentials alongside or after your studies.
Apply on city-of-portsmouth-college.ac.uk →
Apply now →

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