Sports Development and Coaching

Sports development and coaching addresses the full arc of sport, from the grassroots communities where participation is fostered and widened to the high-performance environments where athletes are developed and competitive success is pursued. Sports development asks how sport is organised, funded, and promoted at community, regional, and national levels, and how policy and practice can increase participation and reduce inequality in sport. Coaching asks how athletes are guided towards their potential through evidence-based training, skilled communication, and thoughtful leadership.

At Abertay University, this four-year, full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study sports development and coaching in a different national and cultural context, broadening your understanding of how sport is organised and how coaching practice varies internationally. Abertay has a strong applied tradition, and the programme combines academic rigour with practical development. You will study sports physiology and biomechanics, developing an understanding of how physical training produces adaptation.

Coaching science examines how different coaching models, communication strategies, and learning environments affect athlete development at every stage of the pathway. Sports development modules introduce the policy frameworks, funding structures, and community engagement approaches through which participation in sport is increased and sustained. Research skills are developed throughout, equipping you to evaluate evidence and reflect critically on practice.

A typical entry tariff of 152 UCAS points indicates the entry expectations.

The programme develops both analytical depth and practical coaching competence, preparing you to work effectively in a wide range of sporting contexts.

Graduates work as coaches, sports development officers, performance analysts, community sport coordinators, and sports managers across clubs, national governing bodies, local authorities, and sport development organisations. Postgraduate study in coaching science, sport management, or physical education is a natural progression for those who want to specialise.