Budding coaches seize online opportunity

The BSc (Hons) in Coaching for Performance in Football is a unique online degree offered by Anglia Ruskin University, designed specifically to improve the performance and success of football teams.

And since the World Cup kicked off on 12 June, the course’s website has seen an almost five-fold increase in traffic.

Jan Skene, head of Anglia Ruskin’s distance learning department Degrees at Work, said: “Even though the domestic football season has ended, the start of the World Cup has coincided with a huge surge of interest to study this course. 

“As well as more people visiting the website to read about the course, there has also been a rise in enquiries and applications.  It would be lovely to think that some of these applicants might one day find themselves coaching a team at a World Cup!”

The course prepares current footballers for a career in coaching, and builds on existing badges and coaching experience for current coaches. 

Topics covered include the technical principles of coaching, collecting and evaluating sports science data, injury prevention and rehabilitation, football finance and sports psychology.

The course is backed by a number of high-profile figures in the game.  Reading manager Nigel Adkins said: “The introduction of the BSc (Hons) Coaching for Performance in Football is excellent news for professional players and coaches. Lifelong learning in professional football is fundamental to an individual’s progression, both on and off the pitch.”

And it is not just British players and coaches who see the benefit in the course.  In the US, where Jürgen Klinsmann’s national side are currently delighting fans, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) have thrown their support behind the degree.

“I would encourage anyone who wants to have a long-term professional soccer coaching career to strongly consider this degree with Anglia Ruskin University as part of the process,” said Ian Barker, Director of Education at the NSCAA.

“Education is essential for coaches to perform to their maximum abilities, and pass on their knowledge and skills to the next generation of soccer players.  An online degree is the ideal way for someone to do this and coach full time.”

Further information about the course is available at www.anglia.ac.uk/football

 

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For more press information please contact:

Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk

Jamie Forsyth on t: 0845 196 4716, e: Jamie.forsyth@anglia.ac.uk

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