Sport (National Diploma)

Sport (National Diploma)
NATIONAL DIPLOMA If you have a passion for sport and want a career in an exciting, dynamic and growing industry, then there has never been a better time. The impact of the 2012 London Olympics on health and school sport initiatives will be enormous, and if you are committed to a career in sport, the National Diploma may be just what you need.It is best suited to students who wish to play an active role in their learning and who have strong time management and organisational skills. The course offers a broad range of units that will increase your knowledge, understanding and skills in several sports-related fields such as coaching, anatomy and physiology, sports psychology and performance analysis. You can choose to take the Diploma as a 12-unit course, equivalent to two A levels or an 18-unit Extended Diploma, equivalent to three.

Students choosing the 12 unit Diploma usually combine it with an AS/A2 subject.
Course Content
As this is a vocational course, the emphasis is on the application of theory to practice. In each of the units you will:

• gain specialist knowledge, understanding and skills through a wide variety of activities including practical performance and coaching, where applicable;
• produce a portfolio of evidence that shows you have met the assessment of objectives. At the beginning of each unit your teacher will give you a clear plan of what is expected, the assignments and other assessed tasks and the submission deadlines.

You will be given support throughout the course to enable you to produce work ranging from presentations to role plays. The course is demanding, and you will need to meet continual coursework deadlines, but it is also rewarding in terms of the knowledge and skills you will develop.

The range of units covered in Year 12 and 13 may include the following:

• Principles of Sports Coaching
• Sport in the UK
• Health and Safety in Sport
• Anatomy and Physiology for Sport and Exercise
• Training and Fitness
• Sport and Exercise Psychology
• The Sports Industry
• Career Planning for the Sports Industry
• Work Experience in the Sports Industry
• Sport and Society
• Learning and Developing Sport Skills
• Advanced Sports Leadership
• Injury in Sport
• Sports Facility Management
• Exercise Prescription
• Nutrition for Sport and Exercise
• Sport Marketing
• Sports Development
• Optimising Performance in Sport
• Analysing and Improving Performance

Assessment
There are no examinations. In each unit there is a variety of assignments which are assessed internally.

Work Experience
All students will be given the opportunity to complete a placement of their choice in the sports industry

Is the Sport National Diploma for me?
You will enjoy and benefit from the Sport Diploma if you:

• are interested in sports and would like to make a career in this area;
• would like to obtain a qualification that is relevant to the workplace and continue studying the subject at higher education;
• are able to write confidently and prefer coursework to exams.

Sport National Diploma and your future
The Sport National Diploma can lead directly into employment. It can also lead to a range of courses at university. Possible future careers include community coaching, teaching, sports administration or working as a sports development officer or fitness instructors.