Sport Development Degree Guide

It's ideal for people who enjoy working with others, are passionate about sport, and want a hands-on, applied learning experience.

What You Study

This degree combines sport, education, management and social science. You’ll typically cover:

• Coaching practice and theory – how to plan, deliver and evaluate coaching sessions

• Sport development – using sport to support inclusion, community health and engagement

• Leadership and communication – working with different groups and managing teams

• Event and project management – planning and running sport programmes or events

• Inclusion and equality in sport – understanding barriers and how to overcome them

• Work placements – many courses offer placements with schools, clubs or community organisations

You’ll learn through:

• Practical coaching sessions

• Group work and presentations

• Community sport projects

• Reflective practice and mentoring

• Guest speakers from the sport industry

Useful A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications)

This degree is usually more practical and inclusive than pure science degrees. Useful subjects include:

• PE

• Sociology

• Psychology

• Business Studies

• BTECs in Sport, Sport and Exercise Science, or Uniformed Services are widely accepted

Academic requirements are often lower than for Sport and Exercise Science courses, but enthusiasm and experience matter a lot.

What Makes a Strong Application

To make your application stand out:

• Show genuine enthusiasm for sport and coaching

• Include hands-on experience, such as:

  • Volunteering with youth sports clubs or school teams

  • Coaching badges (e.g. FA Level 1 or 2, UK Coaching qualifications)

  • Refereeing or officiating experience

  • Sports leadership roles (e.g. in school, Duke of Edinburgh, NCS)

• Talk about what you've learned from helping or leading others in a sport setting

• Explain your interest in inclusion, development or education through sport

Career Prospects

Graduates can go into a wide range of sport-related roles, especially those that involve working with people. Examples include:

• Community sport officer

• Youth sport coordinator

• Sport coach (school, club, regional or national level)

• Disability sport coordinator

• Sport development officer (often working for councils, charities or governing bodies)

• PE teacher (with a PGCE or similar teaching qualification)

• Health and activity coordinator

• Event or programme manager

Transferable skills include:

• Team leadership

• Communication and motivation

• Project management

• Planning and delivering activities for diverse groups

Studying in the UK vs Other Countries

UK

• 3-year degrees with practical placements and optional coaching qualifications

• Strong focus on community, inclusion and applied coaching

• Well connected with local sports clubs, schools and national governing bodies

USA

• Often part of Sports Management or Physical Education degrees

• May include options to minor in coaching or leadership

• Strong links with college sports systems and youth sport

• Emphasis on varsity sport and athlete development

Canada

• Mix of Kinesiology, Recreation and Coaching programmes

• Focus on inclusive sport and physical literacy

• Community engagement and health often a key theme

Australia and New Zealand

• Strong community sport culture and government support for active living

• Coaching and sport development integrated into degrees like Sport and Recreation or Physical Activity & Health

• Opportunities to work with schools, health campaigns or local sport clubs

Europe

• Increasing number of English-taught Sport Coaching or Sport Management degrees (especially in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany)

• Often more theory-heavy, but some offer hands-on coaching and internship options

• Lower tuition costs in some countries

Final Thoughts

Sport Development and Coaching is ideal if you want to work directly with people and use sport as a tool for positive change. It suits people who:

• Enjoy leading and teaching others

• Want to make sport more inclusive and accessible

• Prefer applied, hands-on learning to lab work or theory

• Thrive in team settings and real-world projects