Sports Coaching and Development: HND

A student holding a mesh bag filled with netballs, smiling at the camera in a sports hall.

Qualification

HND

Study Mode

Full Time

Duration

2 Academic Years - 2.5 Days p/w

Start date

Aug 2025

Campus

Springburn

Apply now

Course overview

Sports coaching and development, is a key aspect in the expanding sports industry across the UK, from grass routes level to high performance sports.

This qualification will help you to pursue a career in coaching across a range of sports.

Sports coaching and development, is a key aspect in the expanding sports industry across the UK, from grass routes level to high performance sports.

This qualification will help you to pursue a career in coaching across a range of sports.

The course is a blend of theory, science and practical learning, which will take place in our Springburn Campus Games Hall, one of our high-performance gyms, occasionally in a classroom but often out in the sports industry itself.

Your assessments on this programme take place throughout the year but at a time when you are ready to be assessed.

You will experience a range of sports throughout your time with us, such as Netball, Volleyball, Basketball and Badminton.

You will also be able to undertake a range of short coaching qualifications, which are either free of charge to you or subsidised by the college. These qualifications can add real value to your job applications in the industry and give you the competitive edge to start your career in sports coaching.

What you will learn

Year 1:

Sports Development 1
Anatomy, Physiology and Biomechanics in Sport
Sports Coaching: Developing Professional Practice
Sports Coaching: Knowing Yourself
Sports Coaching: Knowing Others
Sports Coaching: Knowing Coaching
Psychology of Sport & Exercise
Inclusive Sport
Personal Development Planning
Work Placement – this can be with your own sports club

Year 2

Sports Development 2
Sports Coaching: Knowing Yourself 2
Sports Coaching: Knowing Others 2
Sports Coaching: Knowing Coaching 2
Applied Psychology
Physical Prep for Sports
Current Trends
Strength & Conditioning: An intro

Entry requirements

At least one of the following:

2 Highers, one should be English Based
A relevant National Certificate (NC) or National Qualification (NQ)

You should also have a passion for sport and a good level of fitness is essential

Mature learners with experience but no formal qualifications, will be considered on merit.

For this course, if English is not your first language

you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)

If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.

All candidates will participate in a recruitment process

Career Opportunities

Sports Coach
Sports Development Officer
Educational Physical Activity Co-ordinator

Future prospects

Students can progress into Sports Coaching and Sports Development roles in the industry, both in the UK and overseas

Successful HND students can progress to 3rd year of the BSc Sports Studies course at The University of West of Scotland.

Employment within the outdoor education sector.

Real Industry Connections

The Sports teaching team have worked across the sports industry ……(staff experience here)

Many of the teaching staff are also former Sports Coaching students of Glasgow Kelvin College and have chosen to develop their career in Sports education.

Sport at Kelvin works closely with Sport Scotland, Glasgow Life and Pure Gym.