The increase in the number of leisure facilities and fitness clubs throughout the State has meant additional openings for graduates of the sport and recreation course at Cavan College of Further Studies. The one-year National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA) sport and recreation course in Cavan College is ideal for students who may be interested in sports or the health and fitness area and want to incorporate it into their career plans, says course co-ordinator Mary McEnroe.
However before embarking on the course, McEnroe says, prospective students need to have a certain standard in sport. "They need to have an interest in sport. In other words they need to be able to go out there and coach Gaelic football, to coach basketball and coach soccer and obviously to stand up and teach exercise and fitness."
Entry to the course is based on students reaching a Leaving Certificate standard and displaying an interest in the area. The ability to swim is an advantage as swimming is a vital component of the course. Course participants study for a pool-lifeguard qualification as part of their coursework. The course may appeal to student who are good at sport but not as strong academically and would not achieve enough points to get into an institute of technology. "Students can explore whether a career in sports and leisure management is for them during the one-year course. On successfully completion they will have a national qualification and then if they wish they can pursue a full degree at an institute of technology or start work immediately."
The course gives students a fair mix of essential subjects and a chance to experience working life. Students have five-and-a-half hours of lectures a day from Monday to Thursday. This includes at least one practical class a day. Fridays are set aside for work experience, usually in a leisure centre in their own locality. All together they must complete 80 hours of work-experience as well as 15 hours coaching Gaelic football, 10 hours basketball coaching and six hours soccer coaching. "The more practical experience they get the better," explains McEnroe.
The main subjects include leisure administration, sport and recreation, communications, computers and exercise and fitness. Exams are divided between practice and theory. There is also a continuous-assessment element. Students also gain coaching experience and qualifications in numerous sports.
In addition to gaining an NCVA award, students taking the course have the opportunity to complete award schemes offered by the GAA, FAI, IBA (Basketball Association) the Irish Red Cross and the Irish Water Safety Council. According to McEnroe, "the merits of the course in Cavan is that it is a very practical course, with a lot more continuous assessment. Class sizes are normally smaller."
To gain employment, graduates must have a swimming qualification, first aid proficiency and a National Certificate in Exercise and Fitness (NCEF) qualification. McEnroe tries to get students to obtain the NCEF while attending Cavan College. On successful completion of exercise and fitness module of the course, students can gain entry on to the NCEF conversion course, which will allow them to become fully qualified instructors. Many graduates use their NCVA award as a passport on to leisure management degrees in institutes of technology.
Once qualified, leisure attendants and recreation assistants are employed in the private and public sector, including public swimming pools and private health clubs. "Like other sectors, there is a shortage of qualified instructors and while many of our graduates do go on to study for diplomas and degrees, we are finding that an increasing number are opting to take up immediate employment in the industry. A number do change careers and in the past we have had several graduates who have opted for a career in the Garda or the Defence Forces," says McEnroe.
Students are encouraged to attend the open day at Cavan College of Further Studies on March 22nd.
