You will develop a unique combination of skills, knowledge and expertise in sport coaching. The program content represents international best practice with significant input from key industry bodies such as the Australian Sports Commission and National Sports Organisations.

You will complete your training in the world class sport and exercise science facilities at Footscray Park campus.

Choose from the Sport Science Specialisation or the Physical Education Specialisation.

Sport Science Specialisation: Consists of sport coaching and sport science units with four additional elective units to develop an additional minor specialty.

Physical Education Specialisation: Comprises three essential elements:

• sport coaching specific units
• physical education units as required by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
• scope to develop a second teaching method. 

Major studies will include:

• Sport Coaching
• Physical Education
• Exercise Science.

Both specialisations of the Bachelor of Sport Coaching degree comprise 96 credit points per year over three years full-time (24 units).

Students may elect to study the course part-time. Three year graduates from the Physical Education Specialisation would complete an additional one year Diploma of Teaching.

You will receive practical placement and learn in the workplace (LiWC) with a number of local, regional state and national sporting organisations.

• Location:
  Footscray Park
• College:
  College of Sport and Exercise Science
• Duration:
  3 years
• Intake:
  February and July
• Course code:
  ABHS
• CRICOS:
  074358B
• Fees:
  A$9140.00 per semester
• This information is for international students.
  Click here to see information for Australian residents

How to apply

Dr Tara Kavanagh and students talk about the unique apsects of Sport Coaching.
Transcript for Sport Coaching video

• Sport Coaches with State and National Sporting Organisations
• Sport Development & Community Coaching Officers
• Physical Education Teacher with Sport Coaching Speciality (along with an additional teaching method)
• Private Sport Coaching Consultant/Entrepreneur
• Sport Coaches at Private Schools
• Coaching Director
• Professional or Semi Professional Sports Coach
• High Performance Manager
• Coaching within sport governing body programmes
• Coaching for disabled participants
• Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Sport Researcher – Honours and/or PhD

Learn more about your career options on the Australian government's Career Information and Resources website.

Underlying course philosophy:

To equip students with the required sport coaching skills, to positively influence children and adults participating in community sport from recreational to elite level. Students will be educated to value the importance of knowledgeable, ethical, creative, adaptable and personable sport coaching. Students will develop the necessary skills and knowledge to coach in multi-skill, multi-sport and sport specific environments. Broadly, graduates should also understand their potential role in developing healthy and active people.

Specific objectives for graduates:

• Coach independently in children's sport/young people's sport and/or performer development sport in multi-skill and/or single sport environments as appropriate;
• Develop a systematic knowledge and understanding of contemporary sport coaching theories and policies that guide coaching within the broader Australian sporting context;
• To be familiar with 'safe coaching' principles, including the importance of statutory legislation regulations and non-statutory guidelines (eg. occupational health and safety, codes of conduct and ethical, moral and equitable coaching practice);
• To have engaged in a sustained period of observation, planning and delivery of sport coaching in a systematic manner with appropriate feedback and assessment;
• To conduct needs analyses for individual athletes and/or teams and tailor coaching programs, taking into account participant needs and wider programs, curricula and targets;
• To understand the key concepts of the sport science disciplines as they apply to sport coaching and develop the capacity to integrate sport science knowledge when coaching;
• Develop fundamental research skills to enable students to critically reflect on published sport coaching literature;
• Develop reflective skills especially in relation to career development, self-management, action and reflection, life balance and professional development and the coach as a performer;
• Develop coach related communication, leadership and teaching skills;
• To be conversant with the relevant governing bodies and policies (local, state and national) that shape sport and sport coaching in Australia;
• Demonstrate an understanding and critical awareness of the moral, ethical, environmental and legal issues which underpin best practice in coaching;
• Reflect on coaching practice, demonstrating the ability for informed analysis and a willingness to apply the principle of continuous improvement to their coaching;
• Develop vocational competencies and subject-specific skills necessary for effective employment and/or further study including being aware of boundaries of knowledge and competence, career planning and professional development opportunities.

Students complete 24 units in ABHS Bachelor of Sport Coaching (48 credit points per semester).

Students enrolled in ABHS with a Sport Science specialisation complete:

• 13 Core Sport Coaching Units;
• 7 Sport Science Specialisation Units; and
• 4 Electives.

Students enrolled in ABHS with Physical Education specialisation complete:

• 13 Core Sport Coaching Units;
• 6 Physical Education Specialisation Units (provides a Physical Education teaching method); and
• 5 Teaching Method Electives (provides an additional teaching method).

• Resistance Training

  Unit code

  AHE0029

  Credits

  12

• Structural Kinesiology

  Unit code

  AHE1101

  Credits

  12

• Coaching Active Communities

  Unit code

  AHE1251

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching Principles

  Unit code

  AHE2250

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching: Skill Acquisition, Expertise and Learning

  Unit code

  AHE2257

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching: Applied Conditioning

  Unit code

  AHE1250

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching Environment, Planning and Delivery

  Unit code

  AHE2251

  Credits

  12

• Human Physiology

  Unit code

  RBM1174

  Credits

  12

• Psychology of Sport Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE2254

  Credits

  12

• Applied Physiology: Sport Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE2255

  Credits

  12

• Team Sports

  Unit code

  AHE3280

  Credits

  12

• Biomechanics for Physical Education

  Unit code

  AHE2016

  Credits

  12

• Athletics

  Unit code

  AHE3121

  Credits

  12

• Nutrition and Diet for Exercise and Physical Education

  Unit code

  AHE2005

  Credits

  12

• Gymnastics and Dance

  Unit code

  AHE2013

  Credits

  12

• Socio-Historical Sport Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE3250

  Credits

  12

• Aquatics

  Unit code

  AHE1127

  Credits

  12

• Adapted Physical Education

  Unit code

  AHE3219

  Credits

  12

• Ethical Behaviour in Sport Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE3252

  Credits

  12

• Resistance Training

  Unit code

  AHE0029

  Credits

  12

• Structural Kinesiology

  Unit code

  AHE1101

  Credits

  12

• Coaching Active Communities

  Unit code

  AHE1251

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching Principles

  Unit code

  AHE2250

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching: Skill Acquisition, Expertise and Learning

  Unit code

  AHE2257

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching: Applied Conditioning

  Unit code

  AHE1250

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching Environment, Planning and Delivery

  Unit code

  AHE2251

  Credits

  12

• Coach Development and Applied Practice

  Unit code

  AHE2252

  Credits

  12

• Advanced Sport Coaching: Research, Knowledge and Expertise

  Unit code

  AHE2253

  Credits

  12

• Psychology of Sport Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE2254

  Credits

  12

• Applied Physiology: Sport Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE2255

  Credits

  12

• Advanced Resistance Training

  Unit code

  AHE0065

  Credits

  12

• Sport Coaching: Talent Identification and Development

  Unit code

  AHE2256

  Credits

  12

• Biomechanics for Physical Education

  Unit code

  AHE2016

  Credits

  12

• Career and Professional Development 1

  Unit code

  AHE1102

  Credits

  12

• Nutrition and Diet for Exercise and Physical Education

  Unit code

  AHE2005

  Credits

  12

• Adapted Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE2015

  Credits

  12

• Socio-Historical Sport Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE3250

  Credits

  12

• Prevention, Management and Recovery From Injury

  Unit code

  AHE3251

  Credits

  12

• Ethical Behaviour in Sport Coaching

  Unit code

  AHE3252

  Credits

  12

• TAFE: VET applicants will be considered and pathways are available from a range of VET courses.
• Year 12: VCE with minimum study score of 20 in English units 3 and 4 (any) or equivalent.
• International: Completion of a secondary school qualification equivalent to Australia’s year 12 or VCE qualification. IELTS minimum 6.0 (no band less than 6) or equivalent.
• Mature: Applicants with relevant work, education and/or community experience may be considered on the basis of equivalence.
• Other: Applicants with relevant employment or work experience may complete and submit the VTAC PI form. Interviews for some applicants only on the basis of academic record and submitted PI form.

English language requirements

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.