The Student Athlete Programme is for the Foundation’s young aspiring sportsmen and sportswomen who are already competing at a national or regional level. It will provide participants with specialist support in the form of excellent sports coaching, fitness, strength and conditioning, nutritional advice, sports psychology and lifestyle mentoring. This bespoke support will be provided in collaboration with all stakeholders involved in the student athletes’ growth and education programmes and will be a hugely valuable resource for participants.
The carefully planned programme will equip our aspiring athletes with the tools and life skills required to carve out a successful career in competitive performance environments. The individually tailored support and mentoring will ensure that our sporting pupils understand what it takes to prosper in high-performance sporting environments.
“The Student Athlete Programme has two clear aims: to create outstanding sporting individuals and to encourage participants to take ownership of their learning. We will prepare each athlete to ‘kick on’ in elite sport upon leaving school.” Mr Emyr Lewis, Head of Performance Sport.
The Student Athlete Programme is built on the following four pillars:
- Technical and Tactical Skill Development
- Mental Skills Development
- Physical Development
- Lifestyle Development
These pillars will be explored in detail throughout the programme through the following:
- Working closely with specialist sport-specific coaches to individualise and enhance skill development, including strength and conditioning provision
- Developing and tracking progress of Individual Development Plans
- Reviewing and adapting both training programmes and training load, including technical, tactical and physical skills
- Improving knowledge and advice about nutrition around training, recovery and competition
- Developing understanding of injury prevention and rehabilitation
- Undertaking mental skills training to improve preparation and in-competition performance, as well as dealing with setbacks and developing resilience
- Target setting and monitoring
- Providing both mental health and wellbeing support
- Understanding the realities of life in high performance environments Providing lifestyle support
Those selected to join the Student Athlete Programme will represent a variety of sporting disciplines. The number of participants will be strictly limited to ensure the mentoring is individually tailored and truly beneficial for all pupils involved.
Student athletes on the programme are expected to be:
- Incredibly passionate about their sport
- Highly motivated
- Detailed in their preparation
- Very resilient
- Willing to work hard and make sacrifices
- Take full responsibility for their own progress
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Student Athlete Programme?
Applicants from all sports are welcome to apply, however only a small number of places will be available on the Student Athlete Programme. Places will be allocated depending on sporting commitment, training load, performance level, and future potential. In order for a pupil to qualify they need to be in Years 8-13 and be a high-performing athlete, ideally competing at a national or regional level.
Selection into the Student Athlete Programme is competitive, and places will be offered on a priority basis.
- Places on the programme will be prioritised for athletes nationally ranked or nationally recognised in their sport for their age group or representing their country.
- Applications from athletes performing at regional level (e.g. Midlands) or equivalent will be then considered.
- Applications from athletes involved in academy/county programmes will then be considered.
- Additional places may also be made available for pupils who regularly display outstanding sporting performances and show great potential to improve. The allocation of these places will be at the discretion of the selection panel.
How do I apply for the Student Athlete Programme?
Please complete the Student Athlete Programme form.
What does the application process involve?
The first stage of the application process will comprise of a formal written application followed by an interview to determine suitability. All applicants are expected to display an understanding of performance behaviours and attitudes, as well as examples of how they apply them in their own training and competitions.
What is the timeline for applications?
The application process opens from September 2024, with applications closing at 12:00 on 11 October. Interviews will take place in the week of 14 October with the shortlist being confirmed and the programme launching on 4 November 2024.
I have been offered a place on the Student Athlete Programme, what happens next?
Successful student athletes will be invited into the programme where they will work closely with members of the Sports Department, who have experience coaching or competing in professional and high-performance sports environments. Additionally, pupils will attend and participate in termly seminars and regular mentoring meetings.
How will I fit this in alongside my studies?
Training and development sessions take place before and after school, as well as at lunch breaks. You will not miss any school lessons if participating in this programme.
How long do I stay on the programme?
Your commitment and discipline to the programme and your athletic development will be continually assessed by the staff and mentors involved. Participants are accepted for one year and continuation at the end of the year will be discussed individually with the Head of Performance Sport; pupils will either leave the programme or be offered a space to continue into the next academic year.
What if I am unsuccessful in my application?
Applicants who are not offered a place on the programme will be put on a reserve list. They may be either invited to re-apply in the future if additional places become available, they regularly display consistent ‘high-performance behaviours’, and/or their level of performance increases to a higher level. How an athlete responds to setbacks and disappointment is a big part of the performance behaviours that we wish to develop in all the pupils across the Foundation. Therefore, the way individuals respond to an unsuccessful application may be a significant factor to future involvement.
If you have any questions regarding the Student Athlete Programme or the application process, please contact Mr Emyr Lewis, Head of Performance Sport, on e.lewis@lsf.org