The JMU Sport Coaching Graduate Certificate assists practicing coaches in further developing their expertise through meaningful and evidence-informed learning experiences centered on real-world sport coaching problems of practice. Coaches emerge from the program with a better understanding of their own coaching practice as well as being better prepared to holistically develop athletes and enhance athlete performance.

Program Goals

1) Participants will be immersed in a meaningful learning environment focused on resolving current sport coaching issues using evidence-informed practices aligned with a variety of sport science disciplines (i.e., strength and conditioning, psychology, sport pedagogy, and sport nutrition) while embracing the complexity inherent in coaching.

2) Participants will further develop and apply their coaching knowledge and skills aligned with learning outcomes to design practices and use coaching strategies to enhance athlete learning, performance, health, and well-being to help them feel more prepared and confident to meet the demands of their job.  

3) Participants will learn to critically evaluate and reflect on their coaching practice based on evidence-informed practices as well as develop a social network with other coaches to support their learning during and after the program. 

Graduate Certificate Requirements

The certificate is completely online and can be earned in as few as two summer semesters (2 years) or in as many as four summer semesters (4 years). Earning this certificate requires the completion of 12 graduate-level credit hours.

For curricular information, visit the university catalog.