Torquay AcademyFootball Development Programme

Football Development Programme

The Torquay Academy Football Development programme is for talented and committed players between the ages of 16 and 19. The programme aims to develop footballing potential as well as enabling players to gain academic qualifications and national qualifications in sport.

The players will receive a minimum of 8 hours of football throughout the week and a full fixture programme on Wednesdays, playing in the English College Football Association League which is a very high standard.

Football Provision

All players will train to a professional standard and be encouraged to keep the lifestyle of a full time athlete. We are ambitious and want the players to fulfil their potential within football.

We have links to professional clubs and will liaise with them to showcase any players that may make the grade, we also have good relationships with Conference and the South West Peninsula league teams and look to help players into this standard if they want to play at weekends.

UEFA B qualified coaches will work with players to coach and manage all squad members in sessions and in a competitive league with both development and success on the agenda. Differing systems of play, opposition analysis and individual player feedback will all create an environment designed to mature not only the player’s ability but their mental and social approach to the game.

We will play in the English Colleges F.A South West league which is a strong league against other schools that also train on a daily basis. This type of competition will give the players a chance to play a very high standard of football in the South West. We will also enter the U19 National Cup and Futsal competitions.

Our aim is for all players to leave playing the highest standard they can or continue to study on scholarships in the UK and overseas.

Coaching & Referee Qualifications

All football development programme students will also take part in our coaching programme. The programme includes the students taking their FA Level 1 Award in Coaching Football or a Referee qualification. Students may have opportunities to work as an assistant with qualified and experienced coaches from Torquay Academy* in the community to aid further options to play and coach in future life. This will aid them with their development and create a pathway to a potential career in the coaching or referee industry.Students interested in coaching / refereeing will have the opportunity to take up roles within Torquay Academy’s football structure to gain valuable experience with our younger age groups.

* All opportunities of working with Torquay Academy as a volunteer or coach are dependent on a clear DBS disclosure.

Study Provision

Students will have a range of courses to select from studying either BTEC or A Level qualifications based on academic ability and GCSE results. Studying Sports Development, Coaching and Fitness as an integral part of their provision. Theoretical understanding of anatomy, physiology, sociology and culture will be taught to back up their day to day football lives. The emphasis will be on practical lessons wherever possible to fit in with learners strengths.

Large emphasis will be placed on professional standards and behaviour being maintained at all times. Simple procedures will be used to ensure players act to these expectations during all of their time at the school.

The Level 3 Extended Diploma in sport (Performance & Excellence)• 2 year course• Equivalent to 3 A-Levels. This program is suited to students who are

considering progression to university• The course covers a broad range of 18 sport related units• Assessed through a number of different methods (coursework, practical,

presentation, video)

Core Units Specialist Units

Principles of anatomy Sports coaching

Physiology of fitness Sport as a business

Training and fitness for sport Organising sports events

Fitness testing for sport and exercise Talent identification and development

Assessing risk Sports injuries

Sports nutrition Analysis of sports performance

Psychology for sports performance Sport and exercise massage

Technical and tactical skills in sport Current issues in sport

The athletes lifestyle Work based experience in sport

Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in sport (Performance & Excellence)• 2 year course• Equivalent to 1 A-Level. This program is suited to students who are

looking to go straight into employment• The course covers a broad range of 6 sport related units• Students will also have an opportunity to gain a number of additional

qualifications to help them gain direct employment into the industry

Core Units

Principles of anatomy

Physiology of fitness

Training and fitness for sport

Fitness testing for sport and exercise

Assessing risk

Sports nutrition

Level 3 Diploma in sport (Performance & Excellence)• 2 year course• Equivalent to 2 A-Levels. This program is suited to students who are

looking to go straight into employment• The course covers a broad range of 12 sport related units• Students will also have an opportunity to gain a number of additional

qualifications to help them gain direct employment into the industry

Core Units Specialist Units

Principles of anatomy Sports coaching

Physiology of fitness Talent identification and development

Training and fitness for sport Current issues in sport

Fitness testing for sport and exercise Work based experience in sport

Assessing risk

Sports nutrition

Psychology for sports performance

Technical and tactical skills in sport

Those with appropriate results from Year 11 will have the opportunity to study A Level courses from our wide range of courses. Individuals will manage their own timetable to enable them to study more traditional academic courses as well as train on a full time basis. Some of these options are below but for a full list of the courses on offer please visit our website: www.tqacademy.co.uk.

All academic work will be delivered by academy staff in the School environment to allow continuity between football and academic studying.

All players will be encouraged to continue with their football outside of school to

mutually benefit from the programme. Links with local senior football clubs will be

used to give high achievers greater experience at youth and adult levels.

The combination of football and academic studies will give students a superb

opportunity to apply for Football specific courses at University. We currently have

strong relationships with a number of universities to aid those who have aspirations

to study football to degree level.

USA Scholarship applications will also be supported as a potential route for players

who show high levels of ability.

Exit routes

OCR National

ICT (Sub Dip, Diploma)

AS / A Levels

Biology Chemistry Physics

History Mathematics English Literature

Creative Writing

BTEC Level 3 Courses

Music Performance Music Technology Health and Social

Care

Childs’ Play and

Development

ICT Travel and Tourism

Facilities and Development

The squad will have access to our outstanding facilities which include a floodlit third-generation artificial surface, enabling training to take place throughout the year, plus a full size grass pitch. Our facilities include a fitness suite that encompasses both resistance and cardiovascular equipment as well as a full size sports hall with a coach education room.

The students will also study in the £26 million state of the art school.

Students will be chosen through a trial process, players may also be identified

by members of staff or through our club links as potential Football Development

programme students. Students will need to demonstrate that they are self-

motivated and committed to football and studies, be strong club or school

performers, or have achieved representative honours.

Selection onto the Football Development Programme

High Quality Coaching StaffGareth Harries: Sports Academy Director Assistant Principal and former Head of P.E. Gareth has a wealth of coaching experience in several sports including football, rugby and fitness training.

Chris Hogg: Football Development ManagerThe programme will be run under the direction of Chris Hogg, an experienced coach who holds his UEFA A prep and UEFA B coaching licence. Chris has a proven track record of developing players and over his twelve years in coaching he has been involved in helping many boys join professional clubs.

Justin Grinsill: Football Development Coach & PE TeacherFor many years now Justin has been involved in coaching at all levels from grassroots to elite level. Justin has managed school teams to the last eight in National Cups in years previous and knows what it takes for players to achieve. Justin has also led teams to success in a range of county cup competitions in the past four years his hard work and close relationship was a key factor in Lloyd Jones joining Liverpool F.C. last season.

Dan Jones: Football Development Coach & PE TeacherDan is an FA level two coach and holds a BSC in Exercise and Sports Science. Dan has been coaching for four years now whilst still playing for Tiverton Town. Dan joined the school four years ago and has already had success with his year groups in regional and national competitions. Dan played a significant part in the development of young premier league footballers Sam Gallagher (Southampton) and Sean Goss (Manchester United).

Mark Edwards: Strength and Conditioning CoachMark runs our fitness suite and has years of knowledge in the fitness industry. Mark is a qualified fitness instructor and is also qualified to give nutritional advice and will be a key member in keeping the players in top shape.

Emily Lovell: PhysiotherapistEmily qualified as a Physiotherapist from the University of West of England in 2006 and have been working within Torbay Hospital since 2007. She has worked at Torquay United and Exeter City Football Club's in their Academy settings additional to her full time employment. She also worked within the Athletes Village for the London 2012 Olympics providing assessment, treatment and management to professional athletes and coveringcompetitions.

All of our football coaches have played for professional clubs and havegone through a football scholarship programme so know exactly

what it takes.

Players Kit and Uniform

All players will be issued with full training and day wear plus a kit bag asabove. Each player’s kit and bag will be personalised with their squadnumber. A player contribution of approximately £200 will go towardspaying for the kit, with the school subsidising the remaining cost.

All students in the Football Development Programme will be expected to wear

the Torquay Academy tracksuit and polo at all times when in school and

Football Development Programme kit when training, playing or working in the

community.

All students will have to purchase their uniform which will consist of the

following:

Adidas Football Shirt x 2

Adidas shorts x 2

Adidas polo x 2

Adidas socks

Adidas Tracksuit

Adidas Bag

Adidas rain jacket

F.A.Q

• How do I apply? – Complete the football application form in this pack plus your application for entry into the Sixth Form and send it to us.

• How often will I train? – Training will take place every day with fixtures on Wednesdays. We will start our training in August so we are fit and ready for a September school start (dates will be given to you).

• Who takes our training? – All training will be taken by our fully qualified coaches (High Quality Coaching Staff page) all of them have ex professional playing backgrounds and years of coaching experience. We also have access to fitness coaches, medical staff and nutritionists.

• How are players selected? – Once we receive your application form we will send you all the details of the trial dates and interview schedule. Its important to get your application to us quickly as our first trial will be in January.

• How many places are there? – Places are limited so we advise you to get your application form in to us as soon as possible.

• What else can I study? – All players will take the FA level 1 coaching qualification with the chance to do the level 2 the following year. There is also the opportunity to take a refereeing qualification. All students enrolling on the Football Development Programme will have a choice to take level 3 BTEC’s or AS/A levels (study provision page) alongside their training.

CONTACT US:

For all Football Development enquiries please contact:

Chris Hogg - Football Development Manager

Telephone: 01803 317137

Email: chogg@tqacademy.co.uk

Cricketfield Road TorquayTQ2 7NU