With a number of interesting careers that are getting more and more popular, there are no shortage of people working in sport. Professional sports stars and amateur teams alike are delving further into sports science, creating jobs and opportunities for people to work in an industry that they're full of passion for.
One of the major innovations of recent years has been the growing introduction and influence of sports psychology. High profile individuals have thrived because of it, teams have turned to it ahead of major tournaments, and in the reported case of several high profile managers, struggling clubs have used it to repair the fragile confidence of under performing players. Five Time World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, often heralded as the most talented player to ever lift a snooker cue, even says he owes psychologist Steve Peter's for making him the player he is today.
Anotehr major career opportunity in Sport is Sports massage therapy. Orlagh Colton studied Sports Massage Therapy at South West College, part-time for three years, an educational journey that has helped her open her own business. She said: I’ve been in business here for three years now. I had worked from home for two years previous to that, which was a great way to build up a client base, but I got to the point where I wanted to be able to get out, leave the house every day and go to work. I wanted to take a chance, to go for it and see how it would play out, and fortunately I’ve never looked back, things have kept busy and I’ve been able to build my working life around my family life. I’m in a great location, and I’m enjoying my work in a fantastic industry.
Now, The South West College Foundation Degree in Sport and Exercise course, validated by the Open University, will focus on developing knowledge of the sporting industry and giving students the opportunity to apply their learning in practical contexts. The learning approaches will take into account the diverse backgrounds of learners nurturing them through levels four & five whilst developing them into independent learners and critical divergent thinkers ready for employment or undergraduate study.
Entry requirements include: a minimum or five GCSE's grades A-C, including English and maths and successful completion of an advanced diploma in a related subject. Students will learn nutrition for sport, anatomy and physiology training, exercise health and lifestyle, sport psychology and more, setting them up for several careers in sport.
Tiernan McNamee has studied Sport from Level 2 onwards at South West College, and is continuing his education through enrolling on this new Open University accredited BSc (Hons.) Sport and Exercise course.
Tiernan said; “I still work, play football and have my normal home routine that I’ve had for a couple of years. I’m comfortable with that and comfortable at South West College, where I have the support of the tutors I know, in an environment I’m familiar with. The fact that I can continue my education here, but now come away with a higher qualification at honours degree level, is fantastic.”