Sport Performance and Coaching

Sport performance and coaching is concerned with the science and practice of helping athletes and sports participants develop, perform, and reach their potential. It brings together the applied disciplines of sport science, including physiology, biomechanics, psychology, and nutrition, with the professional craft of coaching, which encompasses planning, communication, session delivery, performance analysis, and athlete welfare. The field is increasingly professionalised, with coaches at all levels expected to apply evidence-based methods and to operate within ethical frameworks that put the wellbeing of athletes at the centre of practice.

At Coventry University, this three-year full-time degree prepares you for the employment opportunities available in sports coaching and athlete development. You will develop your understanding of the scientific principles that underlie sport performance alongside the practical coaching skills needed to work effectively with athletes across a range of sports and levels. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad option, and a work placement, giving you substantial opportunities to gain professional coaching experience in real settings before you graduate.

Coventry has strong connections with sport organisations and clubs, and its location in the West Midlands provides access to a diverse and active sporting community.

Graduates from Sport Performance and Coaching programmes go on to work across the full range of sporting contexts. Roles in elite sport, grassroots coaching, sport development, performance analysis, strength and conditioning, and sport management are all common destinations. Many work for national governing bodies, professional clubs, local authority sport services, schools, and universities.

Others move into health, wellbeing, and fitness industries, where coaching skills and sport science knowledge are directly applicable. For those who want to continue their education, the degree provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in coaching science, sport psychology, sport science, or physical education. The typical entry tariff is 104 points.