Students learn leadership and management skills to complement their sport development and athletic career development pathway. The course is designed to challenge the participants in their understanding of sports and athletic development, coaching and business knowledge. It provides a solid base for future employment in the sports business sector and leadership positions.
The program includes a blended mode of self-paced learning, project-based learning and application, and face-to-face training. Learning is grouped into four thematic areas - Managing Athlete Performance, Managing the Business, Coaching the Team, and Becoming a Leader. Delivery of units is staggered over one year of full-time study with individual support sessions scheduled each month. The individual support sessions are approximately three to four hours in length and include a combination of training, support and assessment. In addition to the individual support sessions, students are required to attend three days of classes per week: these classes provide intensive, face-to-face learning designed to provide support for students around the complex nature of Diploma-level studies. Students also participate in high-performance practical sessions over the course of their learning.
Another element of this delivery is a compulsory work placement of 150 hours that must be completed in a sports context over the term of this course. 50 hours of the 150 hours' compulsory work placement must be undertaken in a coaching context. Ideally, students will coach a junior sports team at their local sporting club. Trainers and assessors will visit the students on placement to support their real-life learning and industry experience.
Students will be inducted into the RFC as a staff or volunteer member and undertake supervised activities in developing the RFC's community awareness program.