Best undergrad for sport related career?

[evaperonspoodle]

My DS is currently doing AS maths, chemistry, biology and science. He would like to work in something related to possibly strength and conditioning coach. He got straight A's at GCSE but has fallen a bit at A level, possibly beause he isn't sure what degree he is aiming towards.
I read a fairly related thread on here (that I can't find now) recommending a solid science for undergrad and then specialising in sports at post grad to be in with a better chance of getting a good career. I must admit I am not overly keen on the sports science degrees as I fear they might be on par with media studies. Can anyone advise?

*physics at AS, not science.

physiotherapy, but aiming to work with athletes?

ps: I'd look at the graduate's destinations info for Loughborough Uni sports science courses.

If he does physiotherapy or rehabilitation science, make sure he understands that very few graduates go on to work with athletes: the vast majority work with elderly people after strokes or fractures, people who have injuries or illnesses that affect physical ability (e.g. heart failure, respiratory disease, etc.) and people who encounter a lot of occupational injuries (e.g. police officers, fire-fighters). There is huge competition for jobs working with professional sports people.

Sports science degrees don't have a partricularly good financial outcome on the jobs market. However it depends if that matters or not. Loughborough is full of very sporty types. Is he one of them? Would he fit in? Or be forever looking in?

If he wants to be a specific coach, why not find out what qualifications such people have? What is their background? Many sports clubs (football, rugby, hockey, rowing etc) would tell him if he wrote to them.

There is huge competition for jobs working with professional sports people

This is exactly what I want to know, the best route in. He definitely wouldn't be interested in working with the elderly long term. I was just reading now about a new-ish course in UCL Sport and Medical Science which seems more aligned to what he wants to do. Anyone know anything about it?

Will it be the degree though or who you know and what your knowledge base is for that particular sport? These people are sports specific these days. Football conditioning coaches wouldn’t be the same as rowing conditioning coaches one would have thought.

These people are sports specific these days. Football conditioning coaches wouldn’t be the same as rowing conditioning coaches one would have thought.

But they need the same basis in human anatomy & physiology. There would be a large overlap in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness, although the particular muscle groups they concentrate on for specific sports would differ a bit.

I was just reading now about a new-ish course in UCL Sport and Medical Science which seems more aligned to what he wants to do. Anyone know anything about it?

Do you mean the bachelor's course (Sport & Exercise Medical Science)? I'm sure it is excellent: very few of UCL's science & health courses aren't. There will still be the issue that a lot of exercise science & medicine focuses on people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, with only a minority of graduates going on to work with elite athletes. I would expect quite a lot of UCL graduates to go on to be involved in research.

The UCL web site says: The prestige of UCL and our allied sports institutes stands SEMS graduates in good stead to progress to a host of careers that require a sound understanding of medicine and science, from patient healthcare and industry such as pharma and nutrition, through to elite sport or academia including research and clinical trials.
Students would also be well placed to apply for higher research degrees, such as an MSc, PhD and NHS scientist programmes, or vocational degrees such as medicine or physiotherapy.

Remember, also, that UCL requires all students either to have a modern foreign language GCSE or else to study a language in their spare time while at university.

Harry UCL requires students to get a basic knowledge of an MFL if they do not have a GCSE in one - they put on courses to do this. It is not onerous. Sorry - not the main point but it does seem to be an urban myth that UCL requires an MFL at GCSE for entry ( they don't) and the post entry effort ( if no MFL GCSE ) is not really terribly hard. Sorry - just wanted to say in case it puts anyone off. Sorry for taking away from your post.

I imagine a job as masseuse for professional cyclists is great fun. Or nutritional expert or cook etc. Maybe I'm just a fan from watching too much Tour de France. Looks like an intense great time for young people, though.

What sport(s) does he actually love & do & want to spend more time around, OP?

@BasiliskStare - Thanks for the clarification. I'm actually quite keen on UCL's stance on languages. I have major concerns about science students' narrow outlook and would like to compel them all to spend some time studying art, music, literature, philosophy, religion or language/culture at a fairly basic level if they haven't already done it post 16.

I immediately though of Loughborough as well. It’s known as the uni people go to who particularly like sports.

Perhaps look for a sports degree with a work gap year.

What sport does he do now? Some unis offer scholarships relating tohose sports. Is that worth considering?

I quite agree, Harry. Breadth of learning is never wasted learning.

Having had a quick look at the sports scientists working with football teams, they have all worked previously for football teams. One was a lecturer at university and has a PhD. Or you could just be the son of the manager - Spurs! Choose your sport and work up!

Working for a football team is very precarious though , the manager gets sacked and you go with them as the incoming manager may well have their own staff they like to work with. There are loads of sports science type degrees

dd wants a sport related career but wants to work in ethics and governance. She says every single person she has met applying to similar courses wants to be a physio!

Sports Science is a well respected degree. The league tables are easy to find. Off the top of my head, Exeter, Bath, Loughborough, Birmingham are all excellent.

How about materials science or engineering with the aim to end up in a sports equipment development role? For example the guy who set up Ronhill running brand has a PhD in molecular chemistry (I think) so could better design kit for him to run marathons in. Rowers need boats and footballers need boots. F1 need cars and everyone need training machines. There are probably more roles afterwards if the sport direction doesn't work out!