SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Advanced Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
116404  Advanced Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management 
ORIGINATOR
Exercise Teachers Academy PTY Limited 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Certificate  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Sport 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2020-02-28  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Advanced Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management enables learners to demonstrate their knowledge of and apply their skills to the following:
  • Plan, coordinate, and ensure safety in the implementation of community and regional sports tournaments and events.
  • Promote local economic growth through the development and implementation of sport tourism initiatives.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of business and project management.
  • Maintain operations in a sports organisation or structures.
  • Promote, develop and implement social development qualifications through sport.
  • Develop and design marketing plans for various organisation or entities in the sport, recreation and fitness environment.
  • Promote athletes and manage media.
  • Develop and create wellness qualifications.
  • Design, conceptualise and manage outdoor and adventure centres.

    Rationale:
    Together with its associated industries of recreation, fitness and leisure, the sport has entered a period of rapid growth. New skills audits conducted by the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA), highlight the need for capacity building in sport to promote competence in the management of entities, organisations, qualifications and events. There is also a need for the management and support of community-based participation in various sport codes.

    South Africa has opportunities to host more sports events at a national and international level and it is these events which promote economic development through the sectors of sport, tourism and hospitality. Equally, sports marketing and sports sponsorship represent a multi-million rand industry, and the current range of television channels dedicated to sport evidences its reach and the public demand for sport as entertainment.

    Another area of growth is the development of wellness qualifications that bring improved health and enhanced lifestyles in the workplace and communities. To this end, South Africa's National Sport Plan promotes the principle of 'Active Communities' and the need for the development of mass participation qualifications in sport, recreation and leisure; leading to a healthier society.

    Thus, managerial capabilities are a necessity in a variety of contexts, including private fitness facilities, sports events, leisure facilities, sports clubs and local government initiatives in sport and recreation. There is pressure to deliver effective and efficient management, with the marketing of sports entities, promotion of facilities and events and sponsorship of athletes comes from participants, federations, spectators and the media.

    Achievement of this qualification provides the relevant theoretical and applied knowledge and skills to work at the level of competence required to manage within the environments indicated, meeting the demand for qualified management professionals in the sport, recreation, fitness and leisure sector.

    This Advanced Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management prepares learners for vocations in sport, management, administration, recreational and leisure environments as well as sports tourism, health promotion and community-based sport and recreational qualifications.

    Learners can work in local government, regional and national sport organisations, in schools, sports clubs or private institutions. Their ranges include but are not limited to sports events, recreation and leisure centres, single and multi-sport clubs, sports teams, community-based sports development and mass participation qualifications.

    A learner with an Advanced Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management will be able to follow the following career paths:
  • Sports administration and facility management in local government sport and recreation departments.
  • Sport development and mass participation qualification managers in provincial government sport departments.
  • Sports centre and fitness facility managers.
  • Outdoor and Adventure centre administrators and project managers.
  • Event co-ordinators for sport and recreation events and tournaments with the potential for promoting tourism.
  • Community-based sport and recreation qualification managers.
  • Administration and project management within NGOs with a focus on sport and recreation development.
  • Sports marketers and public relations co-ordinators.
  • Manage individual sport athletes and teams. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    This qualification can be achieved wholly or in part through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), and the granting of the Qualification to learners who have acquired the skills and knowledge without attending formal education will take place, provided they can demonstrate knowledge and skills that meet the assessment criteria as stipulated in the qualification and its Exit Level Outcomes.

    The institution will use the RPL process to grant credits to learners with modules of the qualification wherein learners can show that they have developed the necessary competence as a result of the workplace or experiential learning. RPL may be relevant for applicants who do not hold a qualification, to gain access to the qualification. Learners submitting for RPL will be thoroughly briefed before the assessment process and will be required to submit a Portfolio of Evidence in the prescribed format to receive formal recognition.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Higher Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management at NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 6 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory modules, Level 6, 120 Credits:
  • Sport Specific Marketing, 10 Credits.
  • NGO and Local Government Business Development and Management, 10 Credits.
  • Wellness Programmes, 10 Credits.
  • Sport Team and Athlete Representation, 10 Credits.
  • Social Development through Sport, 25 Credits.
  • Long Term Participant Development Programmes, 15 Credits.
  • Recreation and Leisure Environments, 25 Credits.
  • Sport Tourism, 15 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Engage in community and regional sport development.
    2. Analyse sport, recreational and leisure needs for communities, regions and organisations.
    3. Apply administration and business management skills to the sport.
    4. Conduct sport-specific marketing.
    5. Manage and promote athletes and teams.
    6. Manage Sport, Recreation and Leisure activities and events. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Design and develop a community-based sports development qualification for community sport development.
  • Plan a volunteer strategy to achieve community and regional sport development outcomes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Analyse sport development needs and develop plans to respond to identified needs.
  • Identify individual needs are against the principles of inclusiveness and diversity and applied to project plans.
  • Develop appropriate communication channels are developed and are maintained to promote sports organisations' structures and projects.
  • Analyse needs, and develop solutions to address sport, recreational and leisure development needs for communities or organisations.
  • Analyse and promote organisational health through the design and development of wellness qualifications.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Explain and apply management principles in the context of facilities and various business entities with a specific understanding of NGO, local government, sports agencies and wellness organisations.
  • Develop marketing plans to enhance public relations in the context of sports NGOs, local government, sports agencies and wellness organisations.
  • Describe and apply Operational functions per best practice in sport, recreation and leisure contexts.
  • Analyse human resource needs and identify are in the context of management of various business entities with a specific understanding of NGO, local government, sports agencies and wellness organisations.
  • Apply appropriate governance principles to the management structures of NGO, local government, sports agencies and wellness organisations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Conduct and analyse market research sport-based entities.
  • Develop sponsorship proposals for potential funders.
  • Design and develop marketing plans to promote sports organisations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Design and develop marketing, promotional and public relations plans for athletes, sports groups and organisations.
  • Develop representation plans for athletes, sports groups and teams.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Design and develop a community-based sport, recreation and leisure activities and events are for community implementation.
  • Conduct an environmental analysis to ensure compliance with legislative requirements and develop plans for safe participation.
  • Analyse and design sport tourism strategies in the context of local economic growth stimulation.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Assessment at the level of qualification provides an opportunity for learners to show that they will be able to integrate concepts, ideas, and actions to achieve knowledge and skills that are coherent to the purpose of the qualification.

    Integrated assessment judges the quality of the observable performance and the quality of the critical thinking and problem solving that underpins the performance. Assessment tools must encourage learners to give an account of the thinking and decision-making that underpins their performance. Assessment includes a range of tasks which ensure that learners demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The ratio between action and interpretation is not fixed but varies according to the modules within the qualification.

    Assessment of knowledge is through ongoing class tests, semester exams and assignments. Practical skills are through practical projects, demonstrations or simulations. Learners demonstrate their ability to plan and implement an event, using relevant resources and demonstrating appropriate communication skills to engage with communities and role players. Projects show how learners work with others, preparing events or tournaments; learners monitor and adapt their plans according to the needs of participants.

    Experiential learning: Learners work at fitness facilities, schools, sports clubs; local government SRF units and other sport-based organisations. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is benchmarked against qualifications at similar levels in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom where the fitness profession is well established and where professional registers also exist. These countries have similar qualifications frameworks to the National Qualifications Framework in South Africa where portability is a requirement of qualifications. USA may not have a similar qualifications framework, but highly regarded qualifications are listed below because they have international legitimacy and are acknowledged on the USA Registry of Exercise Professionals, US REPS.

    International qualifications that lead to qualifications at similar levels of exercise specialisation to the Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations are as follows and, these qualifications are selected because their core modules are similar to those in the Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations, e.g. exercise physiology, applied movement, screening, assessment and testing and nutrition for special populations are mostly included in the qualifications below.
  • New Zealand, Skills Active - Diploma in Exercise: Unique to this qualification is the module, working with Technology whereas students studying towards the Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations will complete a pre-programme module called Academic Literacies and Technologies.
  • United Kingdom, University of Middlesex - Postgraduate Certificate Exercise and Physical Activity for Special Populations and Healthy Ageing: Similar to the Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations, this certification has a module covering Motivational Factors of Exercise Adherence which compares to some of the elements of the module called Instructing Exercise to Individuals and Groups.
  • United Kingdom, Health and Fitness Education - Certificate in Exercise for Special Populations: the Health and Injury Management module in the Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations addresses chronic diseases of lifestyle and when and how exercise can be prescribed. Similarly, this UK qualification includes a module addressing this topic.
  • USA, National Strength and Conditioning Association - Certificate in Special Population Specialist: This qualification is for post-undergraduate studies and, like the Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations, it contains modules that address how to assess, motivate, educate, and train particular population clients of all ages regarding their health and fitness needs. Like the Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations, this qualification also addresses the scope of practice and professional referral.
  • Australia, Australian College of Physical Education - Diploma of Applied Fitness: This diploma contains the module Exercise Prescription throughout the Lifespan which compares with the module in the Advanced Certificate called Screening, Assessment and Programme Design for Special Populations. Unique to the Advanced Certificate is the module Lifestyle Coaching, Motivation and Communication. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Diploma in Sport and Recreation Management NQF Level 6.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Arts in Sport Recreation and Management, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Exercise Teachers Academy PTY Limited 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.