Module Directory

This module offers students the opportunity to apply sport development principles in a practical context by planning, organising, and delivering a real-world sport competition for local secondary schools. Students will work collaboratively with the University's Essex Sport department and external stakeholders, gaining first-hand experience in community sport delivery, project management, and event operations. The module places emphasis on communication, organisation, teamwork, and reflective practice in a professional setting.

The aims of this module are:

• To develop students’ practical skills in planning and delivering community sport events through real-world experience.


• To apply and reflect on sport development theory to enhance professional practice in community sport settings.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Plan and implement a sport development event that addresses the needs of a defined community group, demonstrating effective project and event management skills.


2. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., Essex Sport, local schools, officials) to deliver a high-quality sporting experience, showcasing professional communication and teamwork.


3. Apply relevant sport development and event management theory to the planning, promotion, and evaluation of a live sport event.


4. Critically reflect on the planning and delivery process, identifying key learning points and areas for personal and professional development in community and sport development contexts.

Module Information

This module provides students with the opportunity to design, plan, and deliver a real-world sporting competition for local secondary schools. Working in teams, students will gain practical experience in sport event management, including stakeholder engagement, promotion, facility booking, officiating coordination, and event delivery. In addition, each student will be assigned as a coach to a participating school team, fostering communication and collaboration with school staff to support athlete preparation. The module combines theory and practice to develop students’ competence in project management, community engagement, and reflective coaching practice.

Indicative Syllabus Content

• Principles of planning and delivering community sport events.


• Project and event management techniques in sport settings.


• Effective communication, teamwork, and leadership in applied contexts.


• Marketing and promotion strategies for local sport initiatives.


• Stakeholder engagement: working with schools, officials, and facility providers.


• Roles and responsibilities in event operations (e.g., logistics, scheduling, risk assessment).


• Coaching communication and relationship-building with school partners.


• On-the-day delivery: coordination, roles, contingency planning, and debriefing.


• Reflective practice for personal and professional development.


• Evaluation and impact assessment of sport development projects.

This module will be delivered via a blend of lectures, seminars, workshops, and drop in-sessions. All resources will be made available to students prior to session delivery. A variety of learning resources including e-book, podcasts etc. will be available to students to cater for differing learning material needs. Listen again will be available for all teaching events.

• Three 1-hour seminars
• 9 x 2 -hour workshops per week
• One tournament day (9-5pm)
• Four drop-in sessions (e.g. voluntary support classes)

Students are expected to undertake the reading before classes and be prepared to engage in discussion.

Students are expected to prepare and deliver a sporting competition, competition plan and reflective statement.