Football Academy (in partnership with Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation) - Sport Edexcel BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma

Aged 16-18?

Want a career in football?

Kick off a great career with our Football Academy Diploma.

If you want to combine your love of football with an industry-recognised sports qualification, then this is the course for you!

You will study for the Level 3 Diploma in Sport, as well as FA Level 1 and Level 2 coaching badges, and will become part of the college's football team representing the organisation and Wolverhampton Wanderers in academy leagues and national tournaments.

You will get the chance to work with UEFA licensed coaches from Wolverhampton Wanderers and will have access to the sport science suite and gym at the club's training ground in Compton.

As a member of the football academy you will be provided with a Wolverhampton Wanderers kit and tracksuit and will have the opportunity for your playing skills to be noticed by scouts within the academy leagues.

Throughout the course you will develop your understanding of coaching, fitness and sports development, learn about the effects of sport, exercise and fitness on the body, and develop team work, communication and problem-solving skills - all of which will prepare you for your future career in the industry.

As part of the course you will also get the chance to improve your English and maths skills - activities include honing your speaking and listening skills by talking to local providers about work experience, reading the latest sports journals, completing written assignments, getting to grips with numbers by profiling scores with an athlete, learning about space, shape and measuring by calculating the space needed for a coaching session, and interpreting data by analysing and interpreting fitness results.

Book your place on the trials - Football Trials

To access this course you are required to have:

Five GCSE passes C / 4 or above including English and ideally maths, PE and science OR
Level 2 Diploma at Merit (equivalent)
Satisfactory police declarations, DBS check and suitable references
An interview with a member of the college's admissions team

During this course you will study the following modules:

Anatomy and physiology
Fitness training and programming for health, sport and wellbeing
Professional development in the sports industry
Sports leadership
Application of fitness testing
Sports psychology
Practical sports performance

By studying this course you will:

You will also have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills to make you more employable, including English and maths

Develop your understanding on key anatomical structure & function
Learn how to develop training programmes for specific groups
Develop your confidence in dealing with work related issues
Understand how to apply your skills to areas of the industry
Improve your knowledge and understanding within key training principles
Gain valuable team working and communication skills by taking part in events such as the college Olympics

A variety of assessment methods are used including individual and group presentations, case studies, role-plays, question and answer, producing display materials, time constrained assessments, work-based assignments and assessment.

This will allow you to develop skills you currently possess and work on new skills that will help you progress, it will also allow you to build a portfolio of evidence and complete other workpacks that are required for you to gain the qualifications in this programme.

The skills you will learn from this course will enable you to:

Progress directly onto the Extended Diploma as a year 2 option and, following successful completion of this qualification, progress to the college's HNC Sport programme.
Go to university to study for a sport-related degree
Start your career as a football coach or referee
Pursue a career as a professional footballer
Train to become a sports scientist, physiotherapist, sports coach, sports development officer, sports psychologist, PE teacher or leisure manager

We have outstanding success rates on this course and excellent feedback from our past students. In fact, some of our past students have gone on to become sports coaches, personal trainers, sports development officers, teachers, physiotherapists and other skilled jobs in sport.

You will proudly represent Wolverhampton Wanderers and have access to the club's facilities, as well as the facilities at the college's Community Sports Centre on the Wellington Road campus.

To enhance your learning, you will also get the chance to hear from guest speakers from the sports world - recent guests have included Matt Murray, Darren Garwood and Dave Heeley - as well as visit St George's Park and attend fitness events and exhibitions across the region.

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