Talented young athletes are being given the chance to brush up on their game this half term, training alongside professional coaches and players.
Bede Sixth Form College has enlisted the support of those at the height of their game to help inspire and motivate the Tees Valley’s future sporting talent.
With elite sessions lined up for the half term, including men’s football, basketball and netball, the college’s Institute of Sport and Education (ISE) lead, Ian Hewitt, said: “We know that there’s some amazing sporting talent in schools and local clubs across the Tees Valley.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for those youngsters to experience training at an elite level.”
A Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) dual career accredited college, Bede Sixth Form regularly gives up and coming young athletes who study at the college the chance to continue to work towards their sporting ambitions, alongside their studies.
For Bede students this can mean time put aside in their timetable for training, competing, and also access to expert coaching, fitness, strength and conditioning training and valuable lessons in injury prevention and management.
But, Ian explained, the high-performance camps now enable them to take that expertise out into the wider community, reaching those youngsters with a clear talent for their sport who may not usually get the chance to experience training at such a high level.
He said: “By working with schools and sports clubs, together we want to help break down any barriers that could be stopping talented young players from being able to develop or even go on to perform professionally.”
He added, response to the sessions so far has been incredible with the women’s football and men’s rugby high performance camps this half term, already fully booked.
Among the professional coaches on board are Stockton Rugby Club men’s and women’s first team coach and development player pathway lead coach, Rob Green.
Rob said: “For me this is a great chance to help develop local talent and give the young players opportunities that they might not otherwise have had. It is about building strong links with schools and community clubs and opening pathways for these young people.”
While heading up the action for budding young basketball players is Teesside Lions’ director of coaching, Anthony Reed. He said: “The high performance camps and basketball academies at Bede can give up and coming young players in the area the chance to train in a bit more of a professional way and also bring together some of the most talented players from different schools and community clubs to train alongside one another.”
High performance camps taking place next week include:
Men’s Rugby - Fully booked, hosted at Durham University, Sport and Well-being Park
Women’s Football - Fully booked
Netball – Monday Feb 21, 1.30pm-4.30pm (To take place at Durham University Queens Campus, Stockton.)
Basketball – Friday Feb 25, 12.30pm-4.30pm
Men’s football – Friday Feb 25, 1pm-3pm
For more information about the session or to book a place visit: www.bede.ac.uk/high-performance-camps
