A BTEC National Diploma in Sport (development, coaching and fitness) is equivalent to three A – levels. The course is full time at Loreto (although some students also chose to study one AS level alongside the qualification).

You will be assessed on the course through completing assignments, there are no exams; these can vary from hand written tasks, practical assessments to producing your own television advertisement. The variety of the assessments should reflect the variety within the sports industry.

A BTEC National Diploma in Sport (development, coaching and fitness) will provide you with an opportunity to progress to university to study a sports related degree, or it will develop your skills to seek employment in the sports industry on completion of the course.

Here is an example of a few of the practical units that learners will study;

Practical Sports (Team and Individuals) – learners will be expected to undertake a wide range of team, racket and individual sports

Sports Coaching – learners will devise sessions and lead the sessions to own group and other children within the school (learners will be given the opportunity to attain NGB coaching awards)

• Fitness Testing for Sports and Exercise  – learners will be taught how to conduct and record results of a variety of fitness tests on     clients. Learners themselves will have to complete each test on a number of occasions.  
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• Outdoor Adventurous Activities— the aim of this unit is to introduce outdoor and adventurous activities to the learner, give them a taste of the range of activities    available, and develop their own ability in these activities. Within this unit learners will be taught skills and techniques that are relevant and appropriate to the chosen outdoor and adventurous activities.
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• Here is an example of a few of the practical units that learners will study on the BTEC National Diploma in Sport;
• Principles of Anatomy and Physiology – In this unit learners will explore the structure and function of the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and how each responds to exercise. Learners will begin to appreciate how the body copes with the stress of exercise, why we cannot continue to exercise indefinitely and how we can train these systems.

  Psychology for Sports Performance – this unit will introduce learners to the importance of psychological preparation and control in both individual and team sports. Through completing the unit learners will develop a sound theoretical base by examining important psychological factors such as personality, motivation, stress, arousal, anxiety and group dynamics. Learners will be able to plan psychological skills training programmes and individual sessions.

  Sports Injuries – This unit will provide the learner with a greater understanding of the problems associated with injury prevention, and build upon existing knowledge of how to recognise the onset of injury. This in turn will allow learners to help treat injury and promote recovery through the appropriate methods of immediate first aid and structured rehabilitation programmes.

  Sports Nutrition - The aim of this unit is to provide learners with a broad understanding of the key nutritional issues, where diet can be adjusted to meet individual sports performer’s needs, and the energy requirements for a range of activities.