Wakefield College - Academy of Sporting Excellence Skip to main content

Academy of Sporting Excellence

The pathway to elite

Are you looking for a forward thinking, ambitious and successful academy which provides you the chance to excel in your desired sport, get an education and progress playing professionally, semi-professionally or even abroad?

Join our Academy of Sporting Excellence, which is made up of three specialist programmes:

Athlete Development Programme

The Athlete Development Programme is designed for talented athletes of different sports and gives you the chance to develop and represent yourself, your club and the college at national events throughout the year.

We work closely with your coaches and devise training plans, strength & conditioning, performance analysis and individual sessions that compliment your training outside of College and you will have the opportunity to represent yourself and the College on a national and even international level.

All sportsmen and women will be able to make use of the College’s top class fitness testing and conditioning facilities and access high level coaching and support.

The sports sessions are run alongside a Level 3 sports course timetabled around your training, fixtures, competitions and coursework.

Athletes on the ADP will have access to workshops, visits and guest speakers to guide and encourage them to the next level of their sporting success.

What’s Included
  • Entry into local and national events
  • Nutrition and lifestyle management
  • One to one support and guidance in balancing sport and academics
What you will study
  • A supervised strength and conditioning programme
  • Recovery and injury management, including access to our own Sports Therapist
  • Video analysis
  • Preparation for competition
  • Level 3 Sports qualification

Football Development Programme

The Football Development Programme is an elite academy which runs alongside the curriculum providing talented male and female footballers the chance to gain an education, improve their football ability and have the opportunity to progress their career using football as a tool.

We have strong links with professional and semi-professional clubs that can provide students with unique opportunities to progress whilst also competing in the English Colleges FA leagues and cups – the highest level of competition students can play in.

Your week will be balanced between your coursework, classes and FDP coaching sessions with weekly fixtures on Wednesdays against other college teams and academies in the north of England. You will also receive workshops, guest speakers and visits to maximise your potential both in the classroom and on the field.

We are known as one of the best Sports Development Programmes around and have created an environment for excellence. All coaches are UEFA qualified and coach at professional clubs as well as at international level. We also have specialist fitness, goalkeeper and strength coaches alongside nutritionists who work with some of the best athletes in the world. Serious about football? Wakefield College is the obvious place to go.

What’s Included
  • Professional UEFA qualified coaches
  • Fixtures in the English Schools FA Cup and English Colleges FA League
  • Access to scholarships in the USA
What you will study
  • Technical, tactical, strength & conditioning, performance analysis and individual training sessions
  • Level 3 Sports course
  • Study modules about, diet, lifestyle, training methods, injuries and rehab, sports massage, coaching as well as video analysis techniques

Rugby Development Programme

The Wakefield College Rugby League Development Programme is run with Championship side Wakefield Trinity to enhance the opportunities and ability of promising young players throughout the region.

It is a programme open to male and female players with ability, commitment, good attitude and dedication. It’s a great opportunity to develop your skills and possibly follow the progression route into professional rugby league with our links into super league and championship clubs.

You’ll benefit from first-class professional coaching from Wakefield Trinity coaches.

Your week will be balanced between your coursework, classes, and RDP coaching sessions as well as weekly fixtures on Wednesdays against other RDP college teams from all over the UK – the highest level students can play.

Students will also have regular guest speakers, workshops and visits to enhance their development.

What’s Included
  • Professional Wakefield Trinity coaches
  • Pathway to play professionally
  • Play in Wakefield Trinity’s Belle Vue Stadium
What you will study
  • Professional Rugby League coaching with the Wakefield Trinity coaching staff during the day
  • Technical, tactical, strength & conditioning, performance analysis, recovery, and game prep sessions
  • Fixtures in Association of Colleges League on Wednesday afternoons
  • Fixtures in the AOC National Cup
  • Level 3 Sports course

Massage suite - a seven bed massage room for sports therapy and injury rehab.

Sports Lab - state-of-the-art sports science equipment.

Strength & Conditioning Gym - Top of the line fitness equipment.

Large free weight area with bench stations.

Training Grounds - private football and rugby training pitches, City centre locations.

Sports Lab - professional testing equipment.

Wakefield Trinity RLFC - Play games out of professional stadiums.

Ossett Town FC - Play games out of professional stadiums.

Lightwaves - sports hall, fitness studio, gym, classrooms and sports lab.