Prospective Scholars had the chance to look around the Athlete Development Centre, among other facilities.

Young talent impresses at potential Sports Scholars’ open day

The University was joined by over 30 potential Sports Scholars at the Sports Scholarship Assessment Day on Friday 8 January 2016. Seven out of the nine focus sports were represented on the day, and the young talent got the chance to learn all about being a Sports Scholar and High Performance athlete at The Times and The Sunday Times Sports University of the Year 2016.

The athletes also got to the chance to train in our dedicated  and work with our top quality coaches and directors.

Julian Wyatt, Director of Cricket at the University, was impressed by the attendees: "Meeting several future potential Cricket Scholars during the open day proved a fantastic addition to the recruitment calendar. The cricketers were given the opportunity to impress and I was able to spend time finding out more about these talented young people. Hopefully the value of this event will be recognised and will become a standard fixture in the University Sports programme." The cricketers got the chance to put their skills to the test in the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Devon Cricket Centre, which contains four full-length indoor nets and 800 square metres of indoor playing area.

One attendee commented: “It was a very enjoyable and interesting day and really did cement Exeter in my mind as my firm choice”.

The University of Exeter’s High Performance Programme (HPP) has a reputation for encouraging and developing some of the best young sports men and women in the country. It also organises the development of Exeter’s elite sporting infrastructure.

Alan Pope led on the Strength and Conditioning (S&C) content of the day, and commented “The day was a huge success, with over 30 potential Sports Scholars attending a variety of workshops which focused on how the High Performance Programme can enhance their sporting career whilst achieving a highly regarded degree. The Strength & Conditioning workshop illustrated how the balance between a student athlete’s sporting life, academic demands and social life can be achieved. Those who attended offered up some great questions about the S&C programme, and how the Athlete Development Centre functions as part of the whole High Performance jigsaw”.

Over 300 student athletes benefit from the High Performance Programme every year. The programme offers a comprehensive package of services including state-of-the art training facilities, expert coaching, Strength and Conditioning, physiotherapy, sports massage, sports science services and video analysis.

Craig Townsend, High Performance Manager, commented: “Engaging, challenging, educational and relationship-building - the Scholarship assessment day was all of these, and gave our future Scholars an insight into the day-to-day structure of the High Performance Programme and what to expect from our coaches. These athletes have some exciting futures ahead and we can’t wait to be part of the journey with them.”

The University of Exeter Sports Scholarship Scheme is one of the most prestigious in the UK, helping the best student athletes reach their full potential. The scheme provides a comprehensive support package and is tailored to suit the needs of each individual athlete. Many of our graduating Scholars have progressed to a professional level in their chosen sport and represented their respective countries on the global stage.

The University of Exeter has been awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Sports University of the Year 2016, following significant investment and development over the past 10 years. The University has also achieved a Global 100 ranking in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The prestigious rankings, which mean Exeter retains its position as best in the South West, take into account a wide range of factors, including student satisfaction and research excellence. 

For further information about Sports Scholarships and the High Performance Programme, please email the team at sportscholarships@exeter.ac.uk or call Emma Taylor, Sports Scholarship & Recruitment Officer, on 01392 723759. 

Date: 14 January 2016