Diploma in Sporting Excellence

The diploma in Sporting Excellence is a great avenue for learners to undertake formal training to enhance their knowledge, skills and behaviours in a sporting environment. Athletes are provided with an opportunity to attain formal qualifications by combining theoretical learning with on the job development. The diploma in Sporting Excellence  will typically be 12 months in duration. The delivery of the learning will be a mix of on the job development, classroom-based learning, and online sessions.
The aim of the sporting excellence programme is to produce graduates who are competent to perform consistently and effectively in training environments and competition. As such, learners will be part of a playing team supported and managed by a wider multi-disciplinary team including a manager/coach, skills coaches, physiotherapist, psychologist, nutritionist, strength and conditioning expert, and educational staff.
Learners have a high level of autonomy, in terms of responsibility for what happens on the field of play and need to be able to cope with extreme pressure.

The majority of learning will take place during the day to day work of the athlete. APEC will provide guidance and structure to shape learning, reflection, and development through the necessary knowledge skills and behaviours needed to graduate. Alongside sport-specific development, learners will also receive external training in essential disciplines related to sporting performance. Learners will receive professional qualifications in nutrition, strength & conditioning, training science, and coaching science to enhance their applied skills and ability to work outside of professional sport. 

The APEC diploma in Sporting Excellence has been designed by industry-leading coaches providing the essential skills knowledge and behaviours needed to work in sport.

Course Length: The course is designed with flexibility in mind so that it can be complete in conjunction with your playing environment. While it takes an average of 6-12 months to complete the diploma in Sporting Excellence, the program is normally run inline with your sporting season. 

Entry Requirements: Anyone who is 16 years or older can enrol.

Cost: €1800. No extra fee for certification or exams.

Offer & Payment Options: APEC offers flexible payment plans from as low as €51 a month to make payments manageable.

Completion of your diploma in Sporting Excellence will require you to complete both theory and practical assessments.

• 70% score required on the multiple-choice paper on training anatomy and physiology
• 70% score required on the multiple-choice paper on the principles of exercise and health
• 100% completion of the online interactive quizzes and assignments after each module
• Practical assessment on technical refection 
• Practical assessment on tactical refection 
• Completion of practical observation
• Completion of panel interview 

APEC offers a blended learning approach to education allowing you to complete your qualifications at your own time and pace depending on your personal circumstances and lifestyle. You can now complete 80% of all diplomas online with our award-winning online e-learning platform.

Once you have compleated your online theory work we will arrange your practical assessment at one of our many performance centres throughout the country.

Online Learning

APEC provides 80% of the theory-based learning associated with the course online. This enables you to start learning the same day you enrol and begin working through the course modules at a pace suitable to you. APEC’s team of dedicated tutors provide you with support and guidance, all 7 days a week via phone or email.

Our award-winning e-learning platform is completely custom built and is tailored to your learning needs. The platform provides learning in the form of digitalised and animated video-led content. Online training tools such as online programming software, excel files and  assessment sheets are also provided to help you with your learning. Finally, APEC has one of the most extensive digital exercise libraries to help you with your understanding of movement skill.

Progression Route

We at APEC take pride in our further education approach. After the completion of your diploma, further education diplomas in Personal Training Strength & Condition, Nutrition and Health Coaching at level 5 and 6 will become available to you.