Football Development Pathway
The Football Development Pathway offers talented male and female footballers the opportunity to further develop their footballing ability whilst studying for a career in the sport and football industry. The Academy offers three training sessions per week with a competitive game each week in which they will represent Sheffield United Community Foundation at a regional and national level in the NFYL & CEFA league and cup competitions.
The Academy provides a player development pathway from participation level up to elite level with each site offering opportunities for players to either simply participate for the enjoyment or to play to compete and progress to a higher level within football. This enrichment pathway provides a player with greater exposure including a pathway that includes links with local and wider grassroots, semi-professional and professional football clubs.
Each of our sites at Handsworth and Westfield boast state of the art 4G training facilities where the extensive training and games programmes will take place. Taking a holistic approach to player development, the academy provides a training experience that aids technical, tactical, physical and psycho-social development in line with the FA’s 4 corner model. These areas are developed by the provision of elite coaching from UEFA qualified coaches and with support from physios, strength and conditioning coaches and performance analysis.
Once the season finishes students who undertake this pathway will have the chance to gain additional coaching qualifications in the form of FA and leadership awards.
Fitness Pathway
This enrichment pathway is designed for those who want to develop and/or maintain their physical fitness away from traditional sport or for those who wish to pursue a career within the fitness industry. Students enrolled within this programme will partake in daily fitness sessions including but not limited to weightlifting, running (Speed & Endurance), Cross-fit, testing and group and/or individual fitness classes. Students will learn about the principles of training and how this can be applied in programme/session design. Students will apply training methods on themselves as well as other students who enrol onto this pathway. Outside of the gym students will learn about nutrition, recovery, and lifestyle strategies to maximise health and performance for them and/or their clients.
Those who undertake the Fitness Pathway will have opportunities to start their professional career in the fitness industry by undertaking various fitness related qualification including;
- Active IQ Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing.
- Active IQ Level 1 Health and Wellbeing
- Active IQ Level 2 in Understanding Nutrition, Performance and Healthy Eating
- Active IQ Level 2 Employment Awareness in Active Leisure and Learning
- Active IQ Level 1 Award in Assisting Sport and Physical Activity Sessions
Esports Pathway
New for 2022, the Esports pathway gives students an opportunity to take part in competitive sport through the form of digital media. Esports is an exciting, team-based activity that engages a wide demographic of young people. When done in moderation, as part of a balanced lifestyle, Esports is a beneficial alternative to watching passive media (like TV) or scrolling social media. It has notable links to computing education, STEM subjects, and the development of business and enterprise skills. Every Wednesday while in term time, the students will represent the BLADES in the esports British Championships against teams across the country! This exciting opportunity is for a variety of different team games, with you and your course mates experiencing competition like no other. In addition to this student will get the opportunity to plan and lead tournaments, design and develop games, get involved with digital marketing as well as utilise a wide range of IT software and tools. The Esports enrichment pathway will take place off campus at the Lava Esports Centre (S1 4LZ).
Included as part of this enrichment pathway students will be able to undertake additional qualifications in IT, leadership, and Digital marketing.