- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 6
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks (August to January)
Ready to dream big? Brought to you in partnership with Celtic Soccer Academy, this exciting course will help you brush up on your performance on the pitch and give you the essential coaching skills to work within the football industry. You’ll develop your technical abilities and your tactical game via weekly coaching sessions from the Celtic Soccer Academy, picking up various SFA Awards along the way. As this is a pathway course, it can also lead to further studies or even possible employment with Celtic Football Club, Celtic Soccer Academy or Celtic Foundation.
What will I learn?
The football coaching course consists of SQA Level 6 units, National Governing Body awards and college certificates which cover a range of practical and theoretical sports-related units.
During this NQ Football Performance and Coaching in paternership with Celtic Soccer Academy course, you may study the following units:
- Sporting activity football
- Coaching children
- Coaching young footballers
- Introduction to analysing football performance
- Talent identification and scouting
- Human physiology through physical exercise
- Introduction of support mechanisms
You will also complete SFA Awards - 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 along with 1.2 goalkeeping award.
A programme of teambuilding and leadership skills is undertaken along with core skills.
Please note: A Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check will be required to undertake any coaching placements/work experience which may be included in the course.
Hear about our Football Performance course and our relationship with Celtic FC.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- Three relevant subjects at National Level 5 with C pass or above, or equivalent
- Any relevant level 5 course such as NQ Sport and Fitness (Level 5) or Introduction to Sport and Fitness (Level 5) (January Start), including a pass at Level 5 Communications
- You must have an active interest in football coaching, sport and fitness
- Entry will be a face-to-face or online interview. You may also be asked to take part in a practical football session
- We will consider your application if you have no formal qualifications but can demonstrate an active interest in fitness or sport and relevant life/work experience.
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
- Celtic Football Club, Soccer Academy
- Scottish Football Association (Coaching Awards)
- Glasgow Sport/ Football
- Active Schools Glasgow
Guest speakers have included:
- Jose Romero – International Soccer Academy Manager
- Michael O’Halloron- Intermediate Academy Manager
- Current Women's First Team Manager and Coaching Staff
- Kirsty Cunningham - Soccer Academy Coordinator
- Chris Hendtry - Current unter 18s Coach
- Willie McStay - head of Recruitment and Scouting
- Willie McNab - Head of the Junior Soccer Academy.
- Stevie Hammell - Head of Academy Coaching
- Current First Team Manager and coaching staff
Students have enjoyed visits to Celtic Park, Barrowfield and Lennoxtown to watch coaching sessions for:
- Current First team
- Celtic B team
- Under 18s
- Junior Academy
Students have also attended Celtic’s International Coaching Convention.
Jobs and further study
- Offered a guaranteed interview for a coaching role within the Celtic Soccer Academy and or Celtic Foundation (subject to meeting all criteria and availability)
- Access to HNC Football Coaching (Level 6) January start
- HND Football Coaching & Developing Sport In partnership with Celtic Soccer Acadamy
- HND Coaching and Developing Sport
Take a look at the course progression map for coaching and developing sport courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply:
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- invited to book an interview session. You will be given a selection of dates to choose from for the interview and must confirm your preferred date. When you attend the interview, you must bring a copy of your qualifications. The interview will take the form of a one-to-one discussion regarding your interest and experience related to the course. During the interview, you will hear about the course and will get the chance to ask questions.
- advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- we aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you accept your offer, you will be sent instructions about student funding. This will normally be sent out within three weeks of you accepting the place.
You will also be sent details on an information day. This normally takes place in June and will give you the chance to meet other students on your course, get a tour of the college, meet some ex-students and get a chance to speak to people from the industry.
You will then be sent information about the induction date. This will take place in August, 2–3 weeks before your course starts.