U18 Football Apprenticeship Schemes

The Team Bath Football Apprenticeship Scheme is a two year or three year programme (dependant on GCSE grade’s) aimed at young players who have aspirations to play in the top end of non league football or even league football but who also appreciate the value of their academic studies. It is designed to allow players to develop their potential as footballers whilst continuing their academic studies.

The programme is full time and offers the opportunity for players to train most days at Team Bath and then continue their studies through a partnership with Wiltshire College.  Players will get the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications both academic and vocational whilst also receiving professional coaching from highly qualified and experienced staff.

Players can go on to the Foundation Degree in Sports Performance where they can achieve a Bachelor of Science should they successfully achieve the academic course.

The programme is designed to allow for at least nine hours of football coaching per week which will be delivered at the University of Bath, Claverton Down campus whilst the academic programme will be delivered at Wiltshire College, Lackham Campus.
The Team Bath Football Apprenticeship Scheme is similar to that of a professional football club. Candidates will train three days each week preparing for a game on Saturday and study at Wiltshire College on two days each week, therefore integrating professional football with an educational programme.

The final preparations are now in place for the first intake of students onto the exciting new Foundation Degree in Sports Development and Coaching at Richard Huish College.

This degree will build on the outstanding reputation that the Huish Sport programme has developed in recent years, and will give students the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and experience required for a successful career in the sport industry.

The degree is run in partnership with University College Plymouth, Marjon and will take 2 years to complete. Students then have the option of completing a 3rd year in Plymouth to achieve a full Honours Degree.

During the 2 years, students, in addition to their theoretical studies, will work closely with local sport providers and get a wide range of ‘hands on - real life’ experience through community projects and work placements.

 

Introduction
The Football Apprenticeship Scheme is a two year or three year programme (dependant on GCSE grade’s) aimed at young players who have aspirations to play in the top end of non league football or even league football but who also appreciate the value of their academic studies.
The Apprenticeship is jointly delivered by Wiltshire College and the University of Bath’s Sports Development Department Team Bath.

Frameworks
The Academy students will study the BTEC National Certificate or the BTEC First Diploma in sport at Wiltshire College Chippenham along with the key skills in two intense days of study each week. The NVQ and the remaining qualifications will be delivered at the World Class training and competition facilities of Team Bath at the University of Bath for three days per week.

Mandatory units
Advanced Apprentices follow a ‘framework’ of qualifications in Active Leisure & Learning consisting of a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 3, a technical certificate which develops knowledge and understanding of the particular subject area and key skills in literacy and numeracy.

(2 Year programme for those with 4 GCSE’s at Grade C or above)

• NVQ Level 3 in Coaching, Teaching & Instructing
• Level 3 Certificate in Industry & Organisational Awareness
• BTEC National Certificate in Sport 
• FA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football
• Key Skills – Application of Number & Communication at Level 2

Apprentices follow a ‘framework’ of qualifications in Active Leisure & Learning consisting of a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 2, a technical certificate which develops knowledge and understanding of the particular subject area and key skills in literacy and numeracy.

(1 Year programme for those without 4 GCSE’s at Grade C or above)

• NVQ Level 2 in Coaching, Teaching & Instructing
• Level 2 Certificate in Industry & Organisational Awareness
• BTEC First Diploma in Sport 
• FA Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football
• Level 2 Award in Coaching Studies
• Key Skills – Application of Number & Communication at Level 1

The Bristol Academy of Sport is an initiative developed at Filton College in response to various demands from students wanting to study and play sport at the same time.

It enables students to pursue their sporting interests, whilst obtaining suitable academic qualifications from our wide range of further and higher education qualifications.

Our Concept
The FDC recognises and encourages the talents of players whilst not compromising their overall education and welfare. The time devoted to technical development is maximised whilst ensuring competitive games are also part of the overall development programme.

Why join the Football Academy?
The FDC plays in the following leagues:
The South West Counties League
The English Colleges Centre of Excellence League
The newly formed British Colleges League.

The Male Football Development Centre (FDC) has recently gained FA Charter Standard, one of only ten colleges in the country to be awarded Football Association Charter approval. Development prospects have been further enhanced with the September 2005 opening of WISE, a purpose built £17.5 million world-class sports training complex.

LEAP
The development of the Sports Academies at Filton College over the last six years, has given us the opportunity to reflect on providing opportunities in sport for students with disabilities and learning difficulties, so that you have the opportunity to engage yourselves in sport on a weekly basis in addition to studying a full-time educational course.  You will study at Filton College’s £17.5million sports campus which is known as WISE and is the home of the Bristol Academy of Sport.

So if you are aged between 16-18 years of age and are about to or have recently left school with no formal qualifications but have great passion for playing football, why not join the LEAP programme at Filton College’s award winning Bristol Academy of Sport?