The Football Association of Wales and Wrexham Glyndwr University have united to launch a ground-breaking new sports coaching degree.
Fresh from the national team’s success at this summer’s Euro 2016 championships, the FAW Trust and the north east Wales institution will roll-out the innovative BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and the Performance Specialist qualification this September.
Students will be based at the University’s Colliers Park training facility in Wrexham and the degree will integrate professional soccer coaching awards into an academic course.
This will enable them to obtain professional coaching qualifications whilst studying at the same time.
Wrexham Glyndwr is also recruiting to a BSc in Sports Coaching for Participation and Performance Development under the stewardship of programme leader Pamela Richards, Associate Head of the School of Social and Life Sciences.
She said: “The Football Coaching degree is designed in partnership with the FAW to prepare students who want to work as a coach or performance specialist.
“Students on the programme will work towards the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Level 2 (UEFA C) and Level 3 (UEFA B) coaching Licenses.
“Those completing the programme will develop the skills to work with youth and senior football teams at grassroots and a high performance level, as well as having a better understanding of the social context of the sport.”
Pam added: “We are honoured to be working alongside the FAWT, especially at such a positive and successful time for the Wales team.
“The footballers in the Welsh national side are inspiring future generations of footballers and coaches.
“Together with the FAWT we want to play a major part in developing a vision where everyone can engage in sport whether it’s as a player, coach, sport scientist, manager or official. The new degree will facilitate the development of that.”
Lectures will support and challenge students to engage with all aspects of the coaching process including hands-on practical training ground methods, physiology, psychology, performance analysis and coaching pedagogy.
The team at Wrexham Glyndwr includes specialists who have extensive applied knowledge and experience of working across the performance range from grassroots to world class international level, combining FAWT staff and academic experts.
“Students will have the opportunity to gain applied experience working with in a variety of football settings,” said Pam.
“They will engage on a journey which takes them from personal development in the early part of their degree to professional development as they progress through the course.”
Wrexham Glyndwr University already has a former student making his name for himself as part of the Wales set up.
Graduate Dr Adam Owen is a coach with the national side and top Swiss club, Servette Geneva. He was formerly a coach with Rangers and Celtic and assistant manager at Sheffield United.
For more information and to apply, visit www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Undergraduatecourses/FootballCoachingandthePerformanceSpecialist
