[absolution]

I have been looking into eventually getting back to college and finishing off my degree.(I started a Sports Science degree a few years ago but work commitments forced me to put on hold)
As someone that made a career change in his late 20's, I have spent the last 12 years collecting vocational qualifications via Premier Training, YMCA, SAQ, GB Fitness, Boxercise and lately began working towards UKSCA accreditation. Every time i see a Strength and Conditioning job advertised though they require a degree, preferably MSc.

My local college run a Foundation Degree in Sports Performance and Coaching and from this you can opt to do a further year BSc.

I am seriously considering it. Being a father of 3 I have always put it off as I cant afford to study full time but hopefully this format will be more flexible.

Anyone else found themselves in the same boat?

[Franz29]

Yup, and mine is also on hold because of work (annoyingly I am only 20 credits short). I did find an online BSc course in the UK that is fully accredited. When I get to the other PC I will get you the link.

[Franz29]

Actually, just randomly remembered the uni and looked for it: http://www.cheshire....etail.php?id=76

EDIT: Meant to add - I contacted them about transferring my credits from the previous course and some of them would be acceptable (meaning I can join in the second year). E-mail them with what you have and they may say the same.

[Andy Mac]

I hear you guys!

I am doing my MSc next year and by passing the degree- lets be honest WTF are they going to teach me?? I have worked in professional sport, have my ASCC and oodles of experience! The problem is the entry standards as it now seems you have to have an MSc as minimum now!!!

Too many good coaches out there getting left out of jobs when they are getting filled with Sports Science geeks that know s***!

Andy

[greg]

i guess for me it's different, i work in IT so i need a degree to get a job, but once i have some real world experience then it becomes a lot less important

this is reflected in my internal CV at work, as I am slowly phasing out references to my university degree as I gain more experience.


i guess for sports stuff they like to see you having a lot of shiny qualifications

[Franz29]

Yep, me too. Crazy situation. No-one in the office cares about my degree or even what it's in (Media Communication Technology BTW), just that I have years of experience in software. Try to get a job in fitness and they want to see all manner of pieces of paper; doesn't matter how rubbish the course, just having it makes it seem legitimate. Knowledge and experience count for very little in the mainstream.

I often think it's an attempt to make the whole industry seem more regulated than it is and to give it some authority in the world.

[Franz29]

Not arguing there; I think the point Abs was making was that if you wanted to be an S&C coach for a professional team or an organisation, you now need a degree or MSc to even be considered. Qualifications and fancy pieces of paper do not a good coach make, and I don't think there is anyone here who would argue that - I know we've all seen some shockingly bad stuff from supposed educated experts!

[absolution]

Exactly

I feel like I am a good Strength and Conditioning coach and I did spend a season full time with a Superleague team without a degree. Sometimes you can drop lucky and land a decent position. I had a chat with Neil Parsley yesterday and he gained his position with EIS (he is S&C coach for GB Wrestling and Taekwondo teams) and they helped put him through his degree. That is the ideal situation I suppose.

I have known lots of graduates come to work as FI's at the gyms I have worked at and they don't know a deadlift from a push press. They can tell you the lactate threshold of elite cyclists however. The Foundation degree I am considering is in Sports Performance and Coaching. It is a 2 year degree designed to be done alongside your job. I can the top up to BSc if I like later.