Inherent requirements for sports coaching programs

Inherent requirements are core activities, tasks or skills that are essential to a program or course. They apply to the following programs:

Master of Sports Coaching
Graduate Certificate in Sports Coaching

What you need to do

If you plan to apply for one of these programs, carefully read through the inherent requirements.

If you think you may experience any problems meeting them, contact a Student Adviser to discuss your needs and whether any reasonable adjustments can be made.

Learn more about inherent requirements at UQ

Inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with other information, including the program requirements and Sport Australia publications, such as:

Ethical behaviour

Context	Sport coaching is a professional area that is governed by codes of conduct and standards where practitioners are both accountable and responsible for ensuring safe and professional behaviour in all contexts.
What you need to demonstrate	You, the student, will need to demonstrate knowledge of – and engagement in – ethical behaviour in practice.
Why this is required	Complying with the standards, codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people they engage with. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must ensure the codes and standards are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Complying with academic and professional misconduct policies. Demonstrate ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour.

Behavioural stability

Context	Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role.
What you need to demonstrate	Behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and professional practice placement environment, which may at times be challenging and unpredictable.
Why this is required	Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Sports coaching students may be exposed to emergency situations and challenging/stressful or potentially traumatic environments and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and any practicum placement setting, which includes hospitals. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback. Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals in the professional setting.

Legal

Context	Coaches’ and fitness practitioners’ practices are mandated by legislation to enable the safe delivery of services.
What you need to demonstrate	Knowledge and compliance with Australian Law and professional requirements and standards.
Why this is required	Knowledge, understanding and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements and standards are necessary pre-requisites to work integrated learning placements, to reduce the risk of harm to self and others. Compliance with the Australian Law and professional requirements and standards ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Complying with relevant child protection and safety legislation. Complying with requirements (e.g. immunisation) for safe practice.

Communication

Verbal

Context	Effective and efficient verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of coaching services.
What you need to demonstrate	Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences. Ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner. Ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation. Timely clear feedback and reporting.
Why this is required	Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others to develop trusting relationships. Communication may be restricted to verbal because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g., injury, disease or congenital conditions). Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual needs. Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to individual needs.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Giving clear and appropriate instructions to athletes, parents, carers or team members. Ability to work equitably and communicate constructively within a variety of team settings.

Non-verbal

Context	Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental for effective coaching practice and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic and non-judgemental.
What you need to demonstrate	Capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues, both verbal and non-verbal. Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours. Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences.
Why this is required	The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships. Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of personal space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes respect in academic and professional relationships. Being sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others develops trusting relationships. The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for safe and effective observation of client symptoms and reactions to facilitate the assessment and treatment of clients.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response or/as well as initiation of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in the academic environment. Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in the professional practice setting.

Written

Context	Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.
What you need to demonstrate	The capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
Why this is required	Comprehension of a range of information relevant to an academic/professional environment is critical for the study of sport coaching. Communicating with respect and empathy for others develops trusting relationships. Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice. Accurate written communication, including record-keeping, is vital to provide consistent and safe coaching.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and professional practice placement environments. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Constructing an assignment to academic standards. Constructing coaching notes, reports and information sheets in a timely manner that meet legal and professional standards.

Cognition

Knowledge and cognitive skills

Context	Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and competent sport coaching services.
What you need to demonstrate	Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information. Ability to process information relevant to practice. Ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice in a timely manner.
Why this is required	Safe and effective delivery of coaching management is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items and practicum placement opportunities. Appropriately applying knowledge of theory, research evidence, policies and procedures in the coaching settings.

Literacy (Language)

Context	Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective coaching advice and management.
What you need to demonstrate	Ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages. Ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information. Capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner.
Why this is required	The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment and delivery of coaching. The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for safe and effective delivery of coaching.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Conveying spoken and written messages accurately and effectively in a professional setting. Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions in written assignments.

Numeracy

Context	Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential to provide safe and effective sport coaching services.
What you need to demonstrate	The ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria.
Why this is required	Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in sport coaching to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of sport coaching services.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Interpreting and analysing testing and result outputs.

Relational skills

Context	Sport coaching practice requires the ability to make and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of individuals, groups and communities.
What you need to demonstrate	The ability to build and maintain relationships and rapport with key stakeholders including clients, academic staff, supervisors and peers. Skills include empathy, trustworthiness, patience, active listening, approachability and reliability. Ability to engage and relate appropriately in individual and group professional practice supervision and experiential learning groups.
Why this is required	Highly developed relational skills are a cornerstone of effective relationships that permit effective assessment and intervention.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable level of effective relational skills. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Rapidly building rapport with a client to engage them in an assessment while coaching. Effectively using relational and interpersonal skills to manage relationships with all parties while coaching.

Reflective skills

Context	Sports coaching practice requires self-awareness and a capacity for reflectivity to consider the effect of one's own issues, actions, values and behaviours on practice.
What you need to demonstrate	The ability to accurately reflect on their professional performance. The ability to accept feedback on their professional practice and respond constructively.
Why this is required	Working with athletes in coaching workplaces and understanding and responding to them requires a well developed understanding of oneself and the ability to effectively manage one's reactions to situations that may arise. Reflective practice is considered standard practice in sport coaching where individuals are able to consider their responses to situations and think about how they might respond differently to improve an outcome.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of capacity in this area. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Identifying when a practice issue is outside one's scope or expertise or when one's practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions.

Sensory ability

This course requires adequate visual and auditory abilities.

Visual

Context	Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective sport coaching services.
What you need to demonstrate	Sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.
Why this is required	Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care of self and to others. Visual observations, examinations and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective sport coaching practice.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in professional practice settings. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Safely operating equipment. Identify a safe working environment.

Auditory

Context	Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective sport coaching services.
What you need to demonstrate	Sufficient auditory function to undertake the required range of verbal communication skills.
Why this is required	Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage an individual’s needs consistently and accurately. Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective sport coaching practice.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must address the need to perform the range of tasks involved in practice on any given professional practice placement. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment of safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Engaging appropriately to a player’s responses during an activity.

Tactile

Context	Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe sport coaching practice.
What you need to demonstrate	Sufficient tactile function to undertake the required range of skills.
Why this is required	Student demonstrates sufficient tactile function to undertake the required range of skills.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must have the capacity to make effective assessments of physical characteristics and abnormalities within safe time frames. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Conducting a physical assessment and detecting any anatomical abnormalities.

Sustainable performance

Context	Sport coaching practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time.
What you need to demonstrate	Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time. The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately. The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period.
Why this is required	Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective sport coaching practice.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a required period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Provide consistent sport coaching services over a negotiated time frame.

Information and communication technologies

Context	Competent information and communication technology skills are essential for practice in sport coaching.
What you need to demonstrate	The ability to engage with academic and professional staff, peers, university systems, learning resources and assessment tools using current digital technology. The ability to use appropriate current technology in the completion of activities.
Why this is required	Safe, appropriate and effective practice as a sport coach requires the ability to effectively use a range of information and communication technologies suitable for academic and professional environments.
Scope for reasonable adjustments	Adjustments must ensure that safety of self and others is not compromised or impeded. Strategies to address ICT related impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise completion of assessment tasks, community engagement or work placement requirements. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser.
Example ways to meet the requirement	Access library resources to develop skills in video development, prepare video and submit online in an appropriate format and timely manner. Access and utilise online learning content.

Need more information?

If you're not sure what an inherent requirement means, contact the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences.

Adapted from Inherent Requirements © Western Sydney University, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International licence.