Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure
The Industry
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, grounds 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 will 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.
What will I learn?
The Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure focuses on three main themes:-
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 will learn about the issues that are driving the industry today, how it works and what skills you need to have to work within it.
Activities you might do in your principal learning
These are just some examples of the kind of learning you will be doing:-
-----Sports and active leisure and the individual: You will learn all about your body and the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle, including positive risk-taking. You will be introduced to the science of sport and exercise. You will also look at the effects of over-eating, smoking, drinking and substance misuse.
-----Sports and active leisure and the economy: You will study the industry's profile in terms of size, scope and location. You will 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 will 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 will learn more about the behaviours and choices that influence diet, level of exercise, sleep patterns and substance misuse. You will also learn the basic principles of anatomy and physiology and their applications within the industry.
-----Sports and active leisure and the economy: You will look at the range of jobs in the industry and how the industry structure differs from place to place. You will find out about government policy and the responses of different businesses. You will 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 will learn how to develop interpersonal skills and how to encourage repeat business. You will 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 will explore the positive steps people can take to improve their lifestyle and the implications these choices have on society. You will 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 will evaluate the industry's impact on the economy, and look at how the industry promotes and increases tourism and enhances national reputation. You will 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 will look at the implications of equality and diversity legislation and the principles of inclusion. You will 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.
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 will 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 will 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.
What a Diploma will lead to
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.
"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.
Want to find out more?
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/diplomas
www.connexions-direct.com
www.skillsactive.com/saldiploma