The U19 Football & Sports Academy will timetable practical training sessions four days a week, so all students receive professional and inclusive UEFA coaching sessions delivered from a structured Player Performance Plan covering a wide range of areas which will develop players across the FA four corner model.

Where appropriate, each student is guaranteed to receive opportunities to play in organised and structured leagues, such as The Tactic League, college leagues and a variation of small-sided games. All matches are filmed, and data is collated and presented during post and pre match analysis sessions and discussed with all students to aid their sports development. Pre-season targets are established with each student as they are given their own seasonal individual development plan linked to their specific playing position which is reviewed by them and the coaches at least three times throughout the season.

There is a dedicated Sports Science Programme which specifically focuses on three key physical areas which are Strength, Speed and Agility. Sessions are led by a sports science specialist who utilises the fantastic TechnoGym onsite as well as the pitch-based performance sessions on the turf. We have enabled young people to continue to develop within an inclusive high-quality football environment with previous players now playing at universities here in England and in America and playing senior non-league in England.

Have any queries or wanting to find out more? Why not email our Head of Study Programmes at steve.dampier@sportsconnect.uk

Running collaboratively with the playing pathway we also offer and have had fantastic success running our Coach Development Programme. Our students who demonstrate an interest in sports-based coaching are supported through the coaching pathway.

The coaching pathway consists of them being enrolled onto The FA Playmaker. Once this qualification has been completed, they can then progress onto the FA Introduction to Coaching Football. If they still wish to pursue along the pathway, as a 1st4sport approved centre we can then enrol them onto the 1st4sport L2 coaching qualification and onto the 1st4sport L3 PE School Sport coaching qualification.

Not only do we provide these qualifications, but we also employ coaches onto the HAF programme and place them within our partner networks to gain valuable experiences and still receive support and guidance during the placement.

If students don’t wish to participate in football, then we do cater for a wider sports-based provision.

Every Tuesday we have a dedicated multi-sports practical focus involving different sports such as dodgeball, tennis, touch rugby, hockey, rounders, cricket, and dedicated gym time.