First Year 

Unit 1 -  Body systems and the effects of physical activity *

In this unit you will gain an understanding of the structures and functions of the key body systems (Skeletal, Muscular, Cardiovascular, respiratory and energy systems) , how these support and impact performance in sport and physical activity and the effects that physical activity, training and lifestyle can have on them.  

Unit 2 - Sport coaching and activity leadership 

This unit will give you an understanding behind the theory of what makes good sport coaches and activity leaders and methods that can be employed to improve the performance of participants. You will explore the roles and responsibilities of coaches and leaders and how these differ from each other.  You will also develop the skills and understanding to effectively plan and deliver a series of sports or activity sessions reflecting on your own practice and using this feedback to improve your ability as a sport coach or leader. 

Unit 3 - Sports organisation and development *

In this unit you will gain an understanding of the organisation involved in sport in the UK, their roles and responsibilities and how they work together. You will also gain an understanding of who sports development is targeted at and why, how sport development is carried out and how the success of sport development initiatives can be measured.

Unit 17 - Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation

This unit will teach you how to recognise and treat common sports injuries both immediately and through long -term rehabilitation programmes, the possible psychological impacts of sports injuries and how to minimise the risk of sports injuries occurring in the first instance. 

Unit 19- Sport and Exercise Psychology

In this unit you will learn different motivations that people have for participating in sport and exercise and how performance can be managed through an understanding of attribution theory, stress and group dynamics. You will also learn the impacts that participation in sport and exercise can have on a person's mental health and wellbeing, whether an elite performer or a member of the general public. 

In your second year you can opt to follow one of two pathways:

Sport coaching

Unit 4 - Working safely in sport, exercise, health and leisure *

Throughout this unit you will gain an understanding of key requirements to be able to ensure your own, and your client’s safety. Topics include: understanding key health and safety legislations, knowing how to administer emergency first aid, understanding roles, responsibilities and reporting duties in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and finally knowledge of key health and safety documents, including how to carry out risk assessments. 

Unit 5 - Performance analysis in sport and exercise 

This unit will give you the skills and knowledge required to carry out performance profiling and analysis and deliver feedback to the performers in a manner that is suitable for them. 

Unit 8 - Organisation of Sports events 

This unit is designed for you to develop skills in planning, promoting and delivering a sports event; with a focus primarily on individual roles as well as working as part of a team and reflecting on your input and future personal development. 

Unit 11 - Physical activity for specific groups 

This unit will allow you to develop a knowledge and understanding of the different groups of individuals who would benefit physiologically, psychologically and sociologically from participating in physical activity and why these particular groups are targeted by initiatives. This knowledge and understanding will then support you in planning  suitable physical activity sessions for the group identified.

Unit 13 - Health and fitness testing for sport and exercise 

A range of fitness tests and their advantages and disadvantages will be covered. You will learn how to complete client consultations in order  to be able to plan and deliver appropriate fitness tests, how to interpret the data and how best to feed this back to the client so that they can go on to make informed decisions about their health and fitness training. 

Unit 18 - Practical skills in sport and physical activities 

This unit gives you the opportunity to participate in a number of different sports and outdoor and adventurous activities experiencing first hand situations that participants you may later be coaching or leading come across. In this unit you will learn how to apply skills, tactics, techniques and knowledge in individual sports, team sports and outdoor and adventurous activities which will allow you to participate effectively and safely whilst being enjoyable. 

Personal training 

Unit 4 - Working safely in sport, exercise, health and leisure *

Throughout this unit you will gain an understanding of key requirements to be able to ensure your own, and your client’s safety. Topics include: understanding key health and safety legislations, knowing how to administer emergency first aid, understanding roles, responsibilities and reporting duties in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and finally knowledge of key health and safety documents, including how to carry out risk assessments. 

Unit 6 - Group exercise to music 

This unit will introduce you to the different types of group exercise. You will go on to plan and deliver group exercise sessions considering participants’ needs, health and safety and how to use music appropriately, as well as motivational and communication techniques. This can  include cardiovascular training (e.g. step, tabata, HIIT), strength training (e.g. kettlebell classes, circuit training) , mind/body (e.g. yoga, Pilates), specialist (e.g. Zumba, belly dancing, pole dancing).

Unit 7 - Improving fitness for sport and physical activity 

This unit will teach you the components of fitness, methods of training and the benefits of each of these methods. You will then learn how to plan, deliver and evaluate fitness training programmes.

Unit 10 - Biomechanics and movement analysis 

In this unit you will learn the fundamental biomechanical principles and how they affect sports performance.. You will also learn how to analyse movement in order to improve the performance of an athlete or performer. 

Unit 11 - Physical activity for specific groups 

This unit will allow you to develop a knowledge and understanding of the different groups of individuals who would benefit physiologically, psychologically and sociologically from participating in physical activity and why these particular groups are targeted by initiatives. This knowledge and understanding will then support you in planning  suitable physical activity sessions for the group identified.

Unit 13 - Health and fitness testing for sport and exercise 

A range of fitness tests and their advantages and disadvantages will be covered. You will learn how to complete client consultations in order  to be able to plan and deliver appropriate fitness tests, how to interpret the data and how best to feed this back to the client so that they can go on to make informed decisions about their health and fitness training. 

*The unit is externally assessed.

It should be noted that this course looks at all the theory that underpins the sporting world and will give insight into the different strands in the sport and leisure industry.  As a vocational course assignments will be based on realistic workplace situations and scenarios. Lessons will involve a combination of practical and theory.

Practical lessons are carried out to put theory into practice to aid understanding, whilst students of all ability should apply, practicals are mandatory and part of the experience of the course and students should expect to take on the role of client, subject, coach, organiser and leader. 

For more classroom based activities students can expect to do research, group work, debate, independent study, investigations, data analysis as well as preparation for exam assessments.

You will cover 11 units across the two years of study.  33% of the course will be assessed through external exams.  This will consist of three exams across the two years of study in Unit 1, 3 and 4.  The remaining 67% of the course will be assessed through internal assessments in the form of assignments which are then externally moderated. 

• The Study Directory holds a range of resources, articles and information;
• 'Careers in Sport' Exhibition is held in house and involves a variety of speakers from different sporting industries;
• Trips and visits to universities and industry events;
• Exam question booklets are produced for each unit for students to practise in their own time;
• Consolidation examples and support is given;
• Higher sports leaders, for students who wish to pursue a career in sport coaching / teaching;
• Strong links with local coaching companies who provide work experience for many of our students. 

The qualification is designed to be taken as part of a study programme alongside other vocational qualifications or A levels, such as Cambridge Technicals in business or medical science or A levels in business, psychology or sociology.

This course focuses on your progression into industry with career specific placements available in a variety of areas including: coaching, sports science, fitness instruction and sports management. 

The Diploma is equivalent to two A levels and carries equivalent UCAS points from achieving a Distinction*Distinction* (D*D*) and can be used alongside other qualifications to achieve acceptance to University level study.  Higher education qualifications would be beneficial if students wish to follow a career in sports therapy or teaching. 

Please see below for careers and labour market information for sport - use the refresh buttons to find out about different courses and careers, and use the left and right arrows to view more detailed information.

You can find the prep work for this course at prepwork.farnborough.ac.uk.

Q: What is the difference between vocational sport and A level physical education?
A: In A level physical education, 70% of your grade will be determined by your performance in the three exams at the end of the course.  In the diploma, you will have three exams - two in the first year and one in the second (33% of final grade).  The rest of your grade will be made up from your performance in internal coursework-based tasks.  This course will appeal to someone with a keen interest in sport who does not necessarily excel in one particular sport.  The course is perfect for someone interested in a sports management, business or coaching degree or a possible apprenticeship within the sport and leisure industry.

Q: How much practical sport do I do on this course? 
A: The first year of the diploma is assessed through your theoretical knowledge of the different units covered throughout the year.  Therefore the majority of lesson time is spent in the classroom.  You do however cover several practical units, such as sport coaching and activity leadership (Unit 2).  The second year offers students the opportunity to specialise down a chosen pathway (sport coaching or personal training), which offers several more practical based units such as health and fitness testing for sport and exercise (Unit 13) and practical skills in sport and physical activities (Unit 18). 

Q: What progression route can this course lead to? 
A: This course focuses on your progression into industry with career specific placements available in a variety of areas including coaching, sports science, fitness instruction and sports management.  The diploma is equivalent to two A levels and carries equivalent UCAS points - achieving a Distinction* Distinction* on this course is equivalent to achieving two A*s at A level.  This qualification can be used alongside other qualifications to achieve acceptance to university level study.  Higher education qualifications would be beneficial if students wish to follow a career in sports therapy or teaching. 

Q: What is the difference between the extended certificate and diploma? 
A: The diploma course is the equivalent to two A levels, which means you will have six lessons a week of sport split between two different teachers.  In the first year of study, you will cover all the units that the extended certificate will do in two years.  The diploma then gives the option of taking a personal training or coaching pathway in the second year.  The diploma course is perfect for students who wish to pursue a career in sport after college.  The extended certificate is the equivalent of one A level and would make up a third of your overall college study programme.  The course covers a broad range of sports topics over the two years and is less specialised than the diploma.  It is perfect for someone who is thinking of progressing to higher education, would like to keep a broader study programme or is looking for a complimentary subject to complete your study programme

Q: Will I have exams? 
A: Yes - the course has three externally assessed exams over the two years of study.  Two in the first year, body systems and the effects of physical activity (Unit 1) and one in sport organisation and development (Unit 3).  Working safely in sport, exercise, health and leisure (Unit 4) will be assessed in the second year of the course.  These equate to 33% of your final grade.