in sport and active leisure

Bringing learning to life

“this new diploma

turns the current

way we deliver

sports education

on its head, as it

will now be much

more driven by

employer needs.”

sue Beeley, project coordinator,

south yorkshire professional

sport and education

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The sport and active leisure industry is relatively new, but is very quickly gaining a high profile because of recent importance placed on good health. Its workforce has a significant role to play in encouraging the population to lead active and healthy lives.

The industry is one of the fastest growing in the economy. Current projections are that 100,000 jobs will be needed by 2014, with an additional 86,000 volunteers needed to stage the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The industry spans over 200 job roles covering fitness instructors, equipment supply, stadium or activity centre management, ground keepers and play workers.

You don’t need to be an athlete to work in this profession, but you should have an empathy with the importance of leading an active and healthy lifestyle. The industry is hugely attractive to young people and is often seen as a gateway to other careers, like journalism, teaching or business management.

Build essential skills and experience

This Diploma will give you a broad base of understanding and skills that are transferable across the wide range of sport and leisure roles and settings. Learning takes place in a range of contexts so that you develop your knowledge of the industry, its scope and opportunities. At the same time, you’ll be learning the importance of leading an active life through working with diverse groups, especially young people.

Communication, teamwork, customer service and ‘people skills’ are crucial here. By working individually and in teams, you will increase your confidence in engaging with customers.

Lifestyle choices have a major impact on health and wellbeing. Taking this Diploma, you will learn that being active can not only affect health but also improve self-confidence.

A healthy option

in more ways than one

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The Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure focuses on three main themes:

Sport and active leisure and the individual: Looks at the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle, the science of sport and exercise and how the body works.

Sport and active leisure and the economy: Introduces the sport and active leisure industry, its relation to other sectors and its contribution to the economy as a whole.

Sport and active leisure and the community: Focuses on working with customers and the different requirements of specific populations or groups of people.

How is tHe diploma made up?

Principal learning (subject learning you have to do)

At the heart of the Diploma are your sport and active leisure subjects. These will teach you the essential things you need to know about the sector. You’ll learn about the issues that are driving the industry today, how it works and what skills you need to have to work within it.

What will I learn?

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Foundation diploma HigHer diploma advanced diploma

sports and active leisure and the individual You’ll learn all about your body and the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle, including positive risk-taking. You’ll be introduced to the science of sport and exercise. You’ll also look at the effects of over-eating, smoking, drinking and substance misuse.

sports and active leisure and the economy You’ll study the industry’s profile in terms of size, scope and location. You’ll learn about the role and scope of regional and national bodies and stakeholders such as governing bodies, sports clubs, commercial sponsors and funding agencies such as Sport England and the National Lottery.

sports and active leisure and the community You’ll explore why the industry is described as ‘people-centred’ and what constitutes first-class customer service. With other students you could, for example, make a study of a local sport and active leisure industry, identifying good and poor customer service.

sports and active leisure and the individual You’ll learn more about the behaviours and choices that influence diet, level of exercise, sleep patterns and substance misuse. You’ll also learn the basic principles of anatomy and physiology and their applications within the industry.

sports and active leisure and the economy You’ll look at the range of jobs in the industry and how the industry structure differs from place to place. You’ll find out about government policy and the responses of different businesses. You’ll also look at the role of the media in sport, as well as the role of sport in influencing the social agenda.

sports and active leisure and the community You’ll learn how to develop interpersonal skills and how to encourage repeat business. You’ll also understand the vital role of leadership skills and the principles of conflict resolution. As a project, you might develop a range of presentation skills appropriate for different social groups.

sports and active leisure and the individual You’ll explore the positive steps people can take to improve their lifestyle and the implications these choices have on society. You’ll also investigate the roles and responsibilities of managers and the skills they need to be effective and to motivate others.

sports and active leisure and the economy You’ll evaluate the industry’s impact on the economy, and look at how the industry promotes and increases tourism and enhances national reputation. You’ll explore its relationship with other sectors such as law, retail and journalism and find out what makes the industry in the UK unique.

sports and active leisure and the community You’ll look at the implications of equality and diversity legislation and the principles of inclusion. You’ll learn how to respond appropriately and fairly to all customer needs, taking ethical considerations into account. You might devise a strategy for using sport to improve community cohesion.

activities you migHt do in your principal learning

These are just some examples of the kind of things you’ll be learning.

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additional and specialist learning (cHoices you can make)

At each level, you can develop your particular sport and active leisure interests further by taking more specialist courses relating to your chosen subject and career ambitions.

Depending on the options available at your local school or college, you could, for example, learn about life saving (including first aid), youth work, facilities management, sports legacy development or the requirements of coaching.

Or you could choose a GCSE or A level in subjects like sciences that will help you get onto a university course.

You can also broaden your course by taking an additional subject that reflects your other interests and career ambitions – like a language, technology, or a creative subject like dance or drama.

Functional skills in englisH, matHs and ict

Like all Diploma students, you’ll develop a good standard of English, maths and ICT. These subjects are essential to succeed in any business or learning environment, whether you decide to continue in the sports and active leisure sector or not.

personal, learning and tHinking skills

All Diploma students will develop personal, learning and thinking skills, such as team-working, creative thinking and self-management. These are vital skills in both life and work, and will be useful to you in the future, no matter which path you take.

work experience

Your Diploma will give you the opportunity to do at least 10 days’ work experience. This is a great way to use the skills you have learnt in the classroom, and experience what work is like from the inside.

student projects

During your Diploma, you’ll complete a student project to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you have learnt. It could be a written piece of work like an investigation or report. Or it could be something practical like designing an adventure playground, or setting up a free-trial coaching programme for a certain sector of your community.

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a diploma in sport and active leisure will give you the skills you need for either university or work, and is a first step towards a career in this industry.

It could lead you to a university degree in sports science, sports management, health promotion, occupational therapy or physiotherapy, osteopathy, dietetics or food science.

It could also lead to a job with training as a senior play worker, personal trainer, head grounds keeper or youth support worker.

However, the Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure doesn’t mean you have to choose a career in this industry. Because a Diploma teaches a mix of subjects, it will give you the skills that will be welcomed by colleges, universities and employers, no matter what you choose to do.

What a Diploma

will lead to

08

09

Student example

tHe year is 2012. tHis could Be tHe experience oF one diploma student.

meet kingston, a diploma in sport and active leisure student.

Kingston, 16, is studying for an Advanced Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure.

‘I love sports and I’ve always wanted a job where I can encourage others to take up exercise too. I think that having an active and healthy lifestyle will become even more important, so this is the perfect time to get into this industry. Choosing the Diploma was easy, because it’lllet me study scientific theories as well as explore how to work with people in real-life situations.’

wHat i will learn...

The Diploma is a great opportunity for me to study subjects that relate directly to the industry that appeals to me the most – the sport industry. I’m really keen on learning about the body as well as getting others interested in sport.

I also want to fi nd out how sport and active leisure activities contribute to the economy. I want to look at how government policy affects the industry, as well as the relationship the industry has with the media.

i’m looking Forward to...

I can’t wait to learn about the body – how it’s put together and moves. So I’m really looking forward to studying subjects like anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. Once I know the basics of these subjects, I’ll be able tolook at how technology is used to boost body performance.

tHe Future...

I’m hoping that my local fi tness centre will give me a part-time job. Not only will that give me some extra money, but, once I graduate from my Diploma, I’ll also have the relevant experience to apply for a university degree in sports science.

This case study is an illustration of how and why a student might decide to do a Diploma. It does not refer to a real individual.

“at last, a coherent,

bridging framework

that can link the

different levels of

education accessed

by 14 to 19-year-olds.

the diploma in sport

and active leisure

promises to provide

the much-needed

opportunities to gain

relevant and

necessary skills

needed to engage in

employment or Higher

education.”

lee tucker, senior lecturer,

leeds metropolitan university

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To find out more about the Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure, speak to your teacher or careers adviser. You can also find more information about Diplomas on these websites:

www.direct.gov.uk/diplomaswww.connexions-direct.comwww.skillsactive.com/saldiploma

downloading tHis leaFlet

If you’d like to download this leaflet, go to http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/news_and_features

Finding a course in your area

If you’d like to find out where you can study for this Diploma in your area, go to http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/where_you_learn

Want to fi ndout more?

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You can download this leaflet or order copies online at www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications. Search using reference DCSF-00278-2009.

You can also order more copies by calling 0845 60 222 60; textphone 0845 60 555 60. Please quote reference 00278-2009LEF-EN.

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©Crown Copyright 2009. Version 2.