University Holds Special Activities for its Talented Student Athletes

As the University of Worcester welcomes thousands of students back to campus for the new academic year, the University has given a special welcome to its elite and talented student athletes - and potential sporting stars of the future.

Ahead of the new term, the University hosted a dedicated week of activities for more than 160 new and returning Sport Performance and Scholarship students.

The week helped student athletes ease back into training, allowing them to explore the support available through the Sport Performance and Scholarship programme, which includes strength and conditioning, therapy, nutrition, gym access and lifestyle guidance.

The Programme supported just short of 200 athletes over the past year, including those representing their country at national or international competitions along with those playing in the top tier of some of the University’s sports teams in the annual BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) competitions.

Notable successes over the last year include the Men’s Cricket team, which won the Super 8 Indoor Championship Finals earlier this year, and the Women’s football team, which made it into the BUCS Women’s Midlands Conference Cup final.

Charlotte Beaman-Evans, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education at the University and sports scholarship lead, said: “The week was a resounding success; a fast paced and energising start to the academic year that brought together our student-athletes, coaches and wider multi-disciplinary sport team in a dynamic and collaborative environment. The engagement, professionalism and camaraderie was exciting to see and be a part of. We are motivated for the year ahead.”

Alice Hopkins, currently finishing a Master’s in Research in Media and Culture, is one of the University’s Scholarship students and competes for England internationally in women’s blind football. She said: “We did team building activities down at Lakeside, which was so much fun. We’re all athletes but here we’re having fun doing different things, getting to know people across different sports and what they do.”

Dani Williams, a first year Special Educational Needs Disability and Inclusion student, who plays women’s cricket and is in the Sport Performance programme, said: “Having the opportunity to get these kinds of experiences and learning about the psychology, strength and conditioning, but also the nutrition side of it has been interesting. It’s something that I thought only elite athletes got.”

Ollie Taylor-Bradley, a third year PE and Sports Coaching student, who plays for the University of Worcester football first team, said: “Rather than just turning up and playing your sport, you have got all of this support in terms of nutrition, psychology, sports therapy. It’s been good to have an insight into all the opportunities that the University can give. We [University football team] have really improved both on and off the field due to the opportunities the University gives to you as a performance player including strength and conditioning, specific gym sessions, rehabilitation programs, and ice baths for recovery. All these amazing opportunities have massively impacted our team in a positive way.”