Course Description

This course is designed for sport coaches at the college, academy, and elite levels who want to enhance their coaching skills with modern, evidence-based approaches to coaching. 

The program shines in its practical and applied focus, helping coaches to translate the latest science into effective coaching practice. 

Highlights of the course include:  

• A leading multidisciplinary team of instructors from Brown, USC, Stanford, professional sport, college sport, and the U.S. Center for Coaching Excellence. 
• A curriculum designed for and with coaches, focused on helping participants to advance their careers and coaching skills in areas that are relevant to coaching success. 
• Learning about evidence-based approaches and techniques that can enhance athlete development and performance.
• Conversations with top coaches and sport practitioners, providing students with access to professionals making a positive impact at the highest levels of sport.
• Networking and collaborative learning opportunities, providing students with the chance to connect with and learn from each other along with experts in their fields. 

This is a first-of-its-kind course in the Ivy League, focused on professional education and career development for sport coaches. All participants who successfully complete the course will earn a Certificate of Completion from the School of Professional Studies at Brown University.

Course Outline

The 14-week online course features a 1.5-hour live, instructor-led Zoom class each week, along with 2-3 hours of self-paced learning between each weekly Zoom session. 

Course Schedule:

This course will begin on Monday, September 14, 2026, and end on Monday, December 14, 2026.

• Each weekly Zoom class will be held on Monday from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm Eastern Time
• For Monday holidays, classes will be held on Tuesday
• The final Zoom class will be held on Monday, December 14, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and will include a one-hour live moderated Capstone Forum with coaches

Course Outline:

This course will include 4 units and 14 weekly live instructor-led Zoom classes.

Unit 1 (weeks 1-2): Lessons from Serial Winning Coaches at the Highest Levels of Sport.
Unit 2 (weeks 3-7): Principles of Skill Development and a Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) to Coaching.
Unit 3 (weeks 8-10): Developing the Whole Athlete for Success: A Holistic Approach to Athlete Development.
Unit 4 (weeks 11-14): The Coach as a CEO: Coaching Leadership and Communication Skills.

Objectives and Outcomes

By the end of this 14-week course, participants will be able to:

• Implement coaching practices and methodologies known to promote and support athlete well-being and performance. 
• Design training activities that enhance athlete learning and skill development using evidence-based techniques such as differential learning and the constraint-led approach.
• Recognize how stress can influence training and performance, and implement mind-body techniques known to elicit relaxation and improve self-regulation.
• Deliver coaching communication, cues, and feedback known to enhance athlete engagement, accelerate learning, and improve performance.
• Apply a holistic and person-centered approach to coaching and athlete development.
• Implement training, travel, and game-day protocols known to enhance training, athlete recovery, and game-day readiness and performance.
• Integrate coaching and support staff to cultivate a positive and aligned environment that supports athlete health, well-being, and performance.
• Apply coaching leadership and communication skills to cultivate trust and accountability, and a high-performance environment. 

Course Completion

Participants who successfully complete the course will earn a Certificate of Completion from the School of Professional Studies at Brown University.