Level 3 Diploma in Sports Development and Coaching students kickstart their career while studying at EKC Broadstairs College by signing up to ongoing work placement experiences throughout the year.
These experiences boost their coaching skills and give them the confidence needed to lead. We spoke to Ethan, Obrain, Beth, Sam and Ollie about their time on the course and their drive to progress into successful careers in sport.
Ethan, Obrain and Sam gain experience by coaching at Margate Football Club on the weekends. Beth assists at Margate Football Club while occasionally coaching for Thanet Swim Club. Ollie completes at placement at Garlinge Primary School two days a week, all to gain experience while studying the course.
Students also coach or referee regularly with events run by Thanet Passport, bringing their coaching skills to hundreds of students across Thanet for a variety of sports.
What do you enjoy about your work placement?
Sam said: “I like the development. Normally, you do loads of sessions, and you see a child’s development change from week one to week three and you can see the progression. It’s like, ‘Oh, I taught them that.’ That’s really good.”
Obrain said: “I’m very passionate about sport, and I’m a person who likes to go out there. I don’t like being stuck behind in the office, texting and all that. I like to be outgoing. I feel happy when I’m coaching.”
What skills do you learn from your coaching work placement?
Beth said: “I sometimes observe the other coaches, and I learn from them, like the coaching points they’re giving and how they’re teaching them.
“It makes me a lot more confident when I’m coaching because I’ve learned something from a coach that’s higher above me.”
Ethan said: “My confidence was probably quite low before I started this course, but since I’ve joined, it’s gotten so high because you get so much experience actually in the workplace.”
Plans for progression vary for each student on the course. Ethan plans to become a professional football coach while Obrain will apply for university to study to be a physiotherapist.
Ollie’s next steps come after his positive experience on placement at the primary school.
He said: “After I did a synoptic with them, Garlinge have come back to the College to say, ‘We want Ollie, to come in for a couple days.’ At the start of September, I got offered to come in every Monday to do after-school clubs, and from the start of January, I’ve been able to go Mondays and Thursdays to do a full day with them.”
He hopes to eventually be employed by the school.
EKC Broadstairs College provides continuous opportunities for Sports students to gain practical skills through work placements, coaching and refereeing children of all ages. Learn more about the opportunities available on our Sports courses.
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