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SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in Sport Coaching and Exercise Sciences 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
101906  Higher Certificate in Sport Coaching and Exercise Sciences 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Sport 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to provide sport coaches with competencies to ensure athletes are coached within a holistic framework of athlete development. This will be ensured using the principles of coaching science, developing the skills to identify common sports injuries, the knowledge of human sport performance, exercise physiology and personal development. These skills will add to the holistic development of the athlete within the four domains for coaching (children, participation for adolescents and adults, emerging and talented athletes and high-performance athletes).

Rationale:
This qualification is in line with South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC's ) Learning, Teaching and Curriculum Development (LTCD), were coaches are required to undergo professional training and education in order to coach athletes. Many coaches working within Federations do not have any formal education qualification and will now be required to follow the guidelines set out by SASCOC in order to coach. The Higher Certificate in Sports Coaching and Exercise Science has been aligned to the guidelines set out in the LTCD document. The qualification reflects the changing needs of South African sport's coaching climate and industry that calls for a more professional and focused training framework for coaches across Federations.

The Higher Certificate will be contributing to its value of "participating in and helping the community" by ensuring athletes gain the benefit of being coached by well-trained coaches who promote health and wellness. Students will thus be in a position to contribute actively to the health benefits associated with participation in sport within their society and be in a position to contribute within the economy. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

The Faculty accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It acknowledges that all learning has value and accepts the challenge posed by the assessment of prior learning and awards credits that are aligned with the Faculty's programmes in order to promote lifelong learning.

RPL applicants will be assessed in terms of their skills, knowledge and abilities by evaluating them against the qualification's Exit Level Outcomes. All applicants who wish to gain access to this programme via RPL will need to submit the relevant documentation. This documentation will include reference letters from a sports federation and proof of prior coaching experience.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum admission requirement for this qualification is:
  • Senior Certificate (SC).
    Or
  • National Certificate Vocational (NCV), Level 4.
    And
  • Relevant experience in the sport industry. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.
  • Basic Anatomy and Physiology, 10 Credits.
  • Basic coaching science, 10 Credits.
  • Coaching within the four domains, 20 Credits.
  • Work Integrated Learning, 10 Credits.
  • Basic injury prevention, 10 Credits.
  • Communication and computer literacy, 5 Credits.
  • Self-management and personal skill development, 5 Credits.
  • Sport Leadership and Ethics in Coaching, 10 Credits.
  • Sport Law, 10 Credits.
  • Facility and competition management, 10 Credits.
  • Club administration, 5 Credits.
  • Coaching athletes with disabilities, 10 Credits.
  • First Aid Level 1, 5 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate the ability to conduct and design basic fitness training protocols within the four domains of coaching namely a) children b) participation c) talent identification d) high performance and disability sport as well as show competence in preventing common sport related injuries.
    2. Develop a personal coaching philosophy, vision and code of conduct.
    3. Identify key aspects of sport law and key risk factors within the coaching context and sport
    4. Develop a basic understanding of sport facility and event management as well as identifying the key requirements for starting a sports club. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Write out a periodised fitness training plan within the four domains of coaching as well as training plans for athletes with disability.
  • Prepare training plans demonstrating how potential sport injuries can be prevented and treated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Compose a personal coaching philosophy and code of conduct.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Explain the key risk factors within the coaching context and how these relate to the basic tenants of sport law.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Design a strategy for a sports event.
  • Write up the key components for a sports club.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative and Summative Assessments will be integrated to provide a coherent indication of the candidates' ability, skill and experience. Formative assessment practices may include formal and informal class tests, module or semester tests (where applicable), projects and practical assessments. Summative assessment will be done on completion of each module to assess the achievement of outcomes and may include written examinations, practical examinations, and project assessments.

    Integrated assessment approaches are required. These assessments are focused on assessing the achievement of the Exit-Level Outcomes holistically, i.e. in groups rather than individually, and will be done where possible/manageable by means of written examinations, practical examinations, project evaluations and final examinations in each module, including project reports and presentation assessments.

    Work Integrated Learning will be included in the qualification and will be assessed in conjunction with the coaches in various sports federations where students will be placed. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This Higher Certificate in Sport Coaching and Exercise Sciences was designed to provide students with specific vocational and industry-specific intellectual competencies, knowledge and practical skills for the South African sports context. The research was conducted to compare the Higher Certificate in Sport Coaching and Exercise Sciences Level 5 with examples of qualifications designed to meet the same purpose in other countries. At the level of the rationale and purpose of the qualification, no similar international qualification was located. The University of Canberra in Australia offers a variety of qualification in the field of sports management and offers a Bachelor's Degree in Sport Coaching and Exercise. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal articulation into programmes at the same NQF Level is possible into other Higher Certificate or similar NQF Level 5 qualifications in a cognate field of study both internal and external to UJ.

    Vertical articulation into qualifications at a NQF 6 Level is possible for students who have successfully completed this qualification. Students will be able to further their studies by enrolling for an Advance Certificate in the same or a cognate discipline.

    Vertical and horizontal articulation possibilities whether at public or private higher education institutions offering comparable studies will take place in terms of their respective Rules and Regulations of the offering. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.