Marjon 2nd university in UK to achieve CIMSPA endorsement for a football degree

Released: 26.08.21

Plymouth Marjon University’s new BA (Hons) Football Development and Coaching degree has gained sector endorsement from The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

 CIMSPA’s professional standards have been developed with the contribution of employers, education providers and sector leaders, to ensure all current and future practitioners they endorse possess the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to be deployed and retained in the sector. Marjon’s endorsement is proof that all these attributes are evident and taught well to Football Development and Coaching students.

 Vice Chair of CIMSPA’s Sport and Physical Activity Professional Development Board, Richard Millard, said: “On behalf of the Sport and Physical Activity Sector Professional Development Board we congratulate Plymouth Marjon University in achieving CIMSPA endorsement BA (Hons) Football Development & Coaching.

 “We are delighted to see the employer developed Professional Standards have been included enabling the development of work ready graduates”.

 BA (Hons) Football Development and Coaching is delivered in partnership with Plymouth Argyle Football Club’s Community Trust and Devon FA. Students can earn FA recognised coaching qualifications, up to UEFA B. Graduates now work for the FA and Plymouth Argyle Community Trust in a variety of football development, social inclusion, football coaching, and educational roles.

 Marjon Graduate and Head of Women and Girls Football at the Argyle Community Trust, Ryan Perks, said: “Whilst studying Football Development and Coaching at Marjon university I came across Argyle Community Trust in one of our lectures and enquired about some additional coaching alongside my course. I was taken on as a casual coach during my first year at uni. I became an Academy coach during my second year, where I was lead coach for the U11's. In my final year, I was offered a full-time role with Argyle Community Trust as a Community Sports Coach.

 “Once I completed my degree, I applied for the role I'm currently undertaking, overseeing women and girls’ provisions within the trust. In August 2020 I was also offered the role of Manager of Plymouth Argyle Women's First Team. My time at university provided opportunities to progress within the sport industry. The course also gave me the confidence to go into unfamiliar settings and deliver coaching.”

 Senior lecturer and BA (Hons) Football Development and Coaching programme leader, Phil Brown, said: “We are delighted that our new Football Coaching and Development Degree has achieved CIMSPA professional endorsement.  Marjon’s is only the second football programme in the country to achieve this endorsement. 

 “Our curriculum meets all the industry standards for the role of assistant coach and coach.  Students on the programme will achieve an industry aligned degree from Marjon with lots of hands-on experience with Argyle Community Trust. Students' coaching skills will be formally recognised by the professional body, CIMSPA, and industry employers.”

 Marjon offer a variety of courses and opportunities for those interested in Football. Marjon is one of nine FA Women’s High-Performance Football Centres (WHPFC) at universities across the country. It provides an educational and community-based setting to recruit, develop, deploy and produce quality coaches, who in turn can inspire player development. Because of this, Plymouth Argyle Women’s team use Marjon’s facilities to train.

 Plymouth Argyle Men’s 1^st team use the on-campus strength and conditioning suite twice a week. With this, Marjon provides students with the opportunity to conduct their placements shadowing and leading the strength and conditioning and/or sport science support facilitated.

 Another course offered for those interested in Football is the BSc (Hons) Football Science degree. On this course, students are taught to apply scientific principles to all aspects of athletic development across the age-appropriate phases of player development. Again, working with industry partners including Plymouth Argyle FC and the FA Women’s High Performance Football Centre which is based on our campus.

 The new CIMSPA endorsement will add to the array of connections students on the BA (Hons) Football Development and Coaching course already have and help towards future employability.

View the full range of Marjon’s sport courses here