Sports Coaching and Development - Level 3 Extended Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 1st September 2025
End date: 4th June 2027

Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)

Additional fees:

£125 Irish FA Registration Fee and Kit (costs are approximates)

Course Content

You will study 7 mandatory and 5 optional units:

Mandatory Units

• Careers in the Sport & Active Leisure Industry
• Health, Wellbeing & Sport
• Developing Coaching Skills
• Applied Coaching Skills
• Research in Project in Sport
• Sport Development
• Self-employment in Sport and Physical Activity

Optional Units

• Sports Injuries
• Fitness Testing
• Rules, Regulations & Officiating in Sport
• Practical Sports Application
• Organising Events in Sport and Physical Activities

Optional Irish FA qualifications

• Futsal Introductory Award
• Grassroots Introductory Award
• Football Fundamentals
• Level 1 Coaching Award
• Futsal Referee Award
• Futsal Level 1
• Full Referee Award
• Football for All Workshop
• OCN Level 2 in Football Business
• IFA Roles Volunteers and Staff
• Show Racism the Red Card
• Coaching Disabled Footballers
• There is a cost of

  £125 Irish FA Registration Fee and Kit (cost to be confirmed) 

Optional Ballymena Utd Football Academy

Northern Regional College has partnered with Ballymena United FC to offer a new unique football academy in Ballymena for those who wish to pursue a career in football.  This two year programme is equivalent to three A-Levels and combines specialist football training and first-class education. The academy benefits from one of the best sports facilities in Northern Ireland, including the use of 3G and grass training pitches and indoor facilities. You will be trained by coaching professionals with each session designed to improve and develop your game whilst gaining a recognised qualification - Level 3 in Sports Coaching & Development.  In addition you have an opportunity to enhance your CV with optional Irish FA Foundation coaching qualifications.

Ballymena FC Academy

Course Aims

This course has been developed in consultation with employers and professional bodies ensuring the content is appropriate and consistent with current industry practice enabling you to enter directly to employment in sports coaching and development roles or progress to higher education.

You must be at least 16 years of age on or before 1 July in the year of proposed entry to the course and have at least 4 GCSEs at Grade C or above including Maths and/or English (GCSE equivalencies are acceptable). If you are accepted on to this course without a Grade C or above in Maths and/or English you will be required to complete the relevant Essential Skills qualification. This will be a compulsory part of your timetable.

• Demonstrate a playing record in youth football.
• Trial matches/training sessions may also form part of the selection process.
• Players may be recommended by the Head of Academy at their NIFL club.

Ballymena Utd FC First team footballer

• Develop to become a Ballymena Utd First team player.

University

You may progress to higher education on full degree single or combined courses, for example:

• BSc (Hons) Sport Studies.
• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science.
• BSc (Hons) Health, Physical Activity & Sport.
• BA (Hons) in Sports Development and Management.
• BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching.
• BSc (Hons) Sport and Leisure Management.
• BSc (Hons) in Exercise, Health and Fitness.
• BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Psychology.
• FdSc Sports Science, Coaching & Fitness.
• Other non-sport related pathways e.g. such as BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, BSc (Hons) Psychology, BEd (Hons) Primary Education.

Scholarship

• Football scholarship in America.

Employment

• Fire Service, PSNI, Prison Service, Armed Forces, trade/apprenticeship etc.