Master of Science in Strength, Conditioning and Coaching

Human movement is the foundation of all athletic performance tasks and its understanding, analysis and development is the core role for all coaches. This course therefore provides an insight into applied biomechanics of movement, functional anatomy and first principles of physics. Content will look at how the human body functions during athletic tasks and its interconnectedness internally, and with the environment via the brain and other sensory mechanisms. This content will be used to help understand the rationale for our technical models in training and how we adapt movement to direct forces and learn skills. Students will be guided through the course from a foundational level, to a problem solving approach appropriate for various working contexts.

Coaching is at the heart of all effective athletic development practices and forms the link between performer and practitioner. The sub-components of coaching range from skill acquisition science, interpersonal skills, leadership skills and our ability to analyze and appraise human movement to identify areas for improvement. Running in conjunction with the Human Movement Foundations course above, this course will provide students the understanding of skill development frameworks and the associated physiological changes, as well as the skills to make context relevant coaching decisions, build coach-athlete relationships, and work within multi-disciplinary teams.

The body's ability to develop force within the constraints of the task is key to the success of athletic movements. This course will help students understand the role of force in optimizing task outcomes and subsequently its optimal method of development. A coach's knowledge must include an understanding of adaptations, their stimulating mechanisms and how these mechanisms are manipulated to support coaching and programming decisions. A coach’s skills must include both design and competent implementation of effective training strategies for a range of individuals and contexts.

The majority of sports are performed with varying speeds, movement directions and reactions to the external environment. This means that optimal performance is achieved by ensuring the force qualities which have been developed can be transferred into the execution of more dynamic, multi-planar and complex skills such as sprinting and changing direction. This course therefore provides students an understanding of how the human body's systems interact, what types of force transfer to the new movement and the kinematic expectations of these more dynamic athletic expressions. Content during this module includes: speed and COD technical models, biomechanical principles, the influence of external constraints on movement and training approaches to optimize the transfer of capacities.

In order to optimize performance and reduce injury risk, the coach's role is to manage the levels of stress throughout the training period. This is strategically completed by utilizing sound planning and periodisation concepts. Therefore this course ensures that all coaches develop the knowledge and skills needed to optimize the magnitude and timing of performance enhancements from training. Periodisation and planning concepts which must be critically understood range from macro (long term) concepts and strategies, to meso (medium term) and finally micro (short term) concepts and strategies. These principles are key for a coach to be able to manipulate and manage fatigue throughout the year in order to optimize athlete success and reduce injury risk. The module will outline these concepts and support the students in their ability to make decisions and apply them in different circumstances. Module content includes: Periodisation types, planning strategies, session and microcycle planning variables, athlete monitoring and key concepts in the manipulation of stress.

All force that is produced or dissipated throughout dynamic exercises must be fuelled by various energy systems and metabolic pathways. It is imperative that coaches have a sound understanding of how the body utilizes fuels at different exercise intensities/durations and how training can be implemented to enhance this function. For skills applicable to the modern-day challenges of sports performance, this understanding must be developed from a low complexity field-based perspective rather than a reliance on inaccessible laboratory based protocols. Therefore, this course will develop a student’s understanding and confidence in analyzing and prescribing activities which challenge the cardio-respiratory system and how this system links with others in the human body. Content should be understood from the perspective of sound physiological principles to support its transfer into the complexity of intermittent team sports. Module content includes: energy pathways, metabolism, field based testing, training parameters for specific adaptation and task time-motion analysis to determine priorities.

Long term athlete development models are key concepts which underpin the development of athletic potential for both careers in sport and lifelong physical activity. The implementation of these models requires coaches to have a sound understanding of biological maturation, youth athletic development and coaching of pediatric athletes. The course allows coaches to understand and apply key theoretical concepts to a specific population who bring unique challenges and considerations. Course content includes: Youth physical development models, bio banding, youth coaching strategies, maturation considerations and long term planning skills for success.

This course provides an advanced understanding of research methodologies relevant to strength coaching and conditioning. It helps students develop the skills to critique scientific literature, design research studies, and learn to use both quantitative and qualitative methods. Emphasizing evidence-based practice, the course explores data collection, analysis, and interpretation techniques within the context of athletic performance and conditioning. Students will develop the ability to generate and apply knowledge to solve real-world problems, enhancing their practice as coaches and conditioning professionals.

In order for a coach to be ready for the workplace it is important that they have the personal, professional, cognitive and vocational skills needed to excel in the complex area of sport. This includes an ability to generate new knowledge, to synthesize current evidence based practice into specialized problem solving skills and to apply these skills within the context of their career. These skills must all be contextually adapted to ensure suitable application for a range of scenarios. Therefore, in this module, students will produce a thesis that demonstrates their ability to critically evaluate research methodologies, examine physiological systems in response to training, and compare and contrast evidence-based practices. Subsequently this course will engage the student in a range of research skills, personal, and career specific skills which will enhance their employability and competence for pushing the boundaries in an elite sport coaching career.