Junior Satellite Academies - 2011

Introduction & Background
Volleyball is one of the top five sports in the world with over 200 federations affiliated to the International Federation. With recent significant increases in central funding for its new four year strategic plan (2009 – 2013) to grow, sustain and excel and the prospect of a London Olympics, Volleyball in England has never been in such an exciting position. One of the key areas of work over the next two years will be the development of talent pathways  at  club,  divisional  and  national  levels  with  a  particular  emphasis  on  youth programmes. With this in mind Volleyball England is committed to the following outcome:

Increase the number of English Volleyball players engaging in high quality (daily and monthly) training environments feeding into performance clubs and the Senior National development programmes (Indoor & Beach)

In order to compete with our European neighbours and think seriously about success at junior international level a significant step change is required in the way that we prepare our talented junior aged players.  For  many  years  the  powerhouse  nations  of  European Volleyball (e.g. France/Italy) have put in place networks of full time training centres for junior talent development,  where players  are housed  and  educated  centrally with professional coaching and support services. More recently, nations similar to ourselves in stature (e.g. Norway/Finland/Sweden) have started to follow suit and as a result countries that we were once competitive with are now starting to move away in performance terms.

After many years of debate and considerable planning the National Volleyball Academy at Loughborough College is up and running since September 2010. The Academy is home to twelve of England’s top junior players who have made the move to Loughborough to combine study with a vigorous training schedule. The National Academy offers a daily training environment for the elite junior players with professional coaching, appropriate support and ancillary services. Athletes are based at the College.
Volleyball England would like now to enter the 2nd phase of this project which is to establish Satellite Academies. This is priority and will provide hopefully an enhanced level of support to our talented junior players and satellites environments. Over  the  two  years,  Volleyball  England  is  aiming  to  establish  6  daily  training satellites environments for junior players based at post-sixteen institutions with professional coaching, appropriate support and ancillary services and linking to AASE programmes. Each Satellite Academy will cater for student volleyball players who wish to remain in full time education while undertaking a full time training programme delivered by the satellites in partnership with Volleyball England and support from Loughborough College. Alongside this Volleyball England will deliver Divisional and National Team competitive programme for a select group of academy players providing an extended exposure to International representative Volleyball with the aim of to increase the number of junior age players capable of i) moving into senior development programmes indoor and beach ii) delivering optimal performances at nominated domestic and international competitions including qualification for the CEV Youth/Junior Championships.

Partner Self-Review
The  purpose  of  this  document  is  to  support  post-sixteen  education  providers and clubs  who  are interested in becoming a partner for one of Volleyball England’s Satellite Junior Academies. It should also help you to self-review the support and provision currently offered to student athletes enrolled at your institution. After conducting this self- review the school or college should be better informed of their capacity and readiness to explore a partnership with Volleyball England. [Note definition of a ‘Student Athlete’: A student in full time education who is also engaged in high performance sport and is recognised in part of the governing body talent pathway].

The  Self  Review  will  address  the  following  categories  with  regards  to  student  athlete provision:

Section 1: Ethos and Policy 					Section 5: Volleyball Context
Section 2: Provision, Standards and Achievement 		Section 6: Potential for Future Development
Section 3: Support for the Student Athlete including delivery of AASE        Section 7: Questions for Volleyball England                              
Section 4: Facilities and Amenities                                           Section 8: Declaration of Interest

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Section  1:  The  ethos and policy of the school  or college

1a Outline the school/ college policies for students who have been identified as talented in sport:

1b How does the school/ college perceive student athletes' contribution to the ethos of the school? Give examples:

Section  2:  Provision,  Standards and Achievement

2a Give a brief outline of your current vocational and academic provision for post 16 students. Please attach a current prospectus which lists all Level 1 and 2 courses.

2b What is the student’s current level of academic achievement for Key Stage 5 and post
16 education? Please attach the most recent Ofsted Report for your school and college that outlines academic standards and quality of teaching at post 16.

2c What evidence is there to suggest that students at post 16, meet or exceed expectations?

2d What evidence is there to suggest that the academic standards of student athletes meet or exceed expectations?

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Section  3:  Support  for the Student Athlete including delivery of AASE

3a What experience does your school/college/club have in the last five years of supporting student athletes? (Please gave a brief description of current or past programmes including working with other sports governing bodies)

3b How many student athletes do you currently have on roll on your post 16 programmes?

3c How does your school/college/club actively recruit student athletes to post 16 education?

3d Please describe the school/ college’s capacity to provide flexible and personalised learning programmes for student athletes:

3e How does the school/college/club monitor student athlete academic progress and welfare?

3f How does your school/college/club mentor student athletes?

3g Is the provision described in 3e and 3f the same or in addition to the normal tracking and mentoring procedures adopted for all post 16 students?

3h Does your school/college/club provide any lifestyle support or training for student athletes such as the Junior Athlete Education (JAE) or Athlete Career Education (ACE) programmes?

3i Does your school/college/club have experience of operating the Advanced Apprenticeship in
Sporting Excellence (AASE)?

3j Does your school/college/club have an understanding of apprenticeship frameworks?

3k Does your school/college/club have a qualified A1 Assessor?

3l Does your school/college/club have a qualified V1 Verifier?

3m Does your school/college/club have established links with a HE institution to assist you in the delivery of psychology and nutrition? Please note that these individuals will need to be BASES accredited (psychology) and be a registered Dietician (SENr Registration)

3n Does your school/college/club have links to an EIS lifestyle support advisor who may be able to assist you in the delivery of Lifestyle if required?

3o Does your school/college/club have links to a Careers Advisor who may be able to assist you in the delivery of the Career unit if required?

3p What experience does your school/college/club have in recruiting student athletes from your local area (primary schools & secondary schools)?

3q Does your school/college/club have a specific member(s) of staff responsible for the overview of the academic progress, pastoral support and welfare of the student athlete? Please explain:

3r If the school/college/club was to become a Junior Satellite Academy, would the institution support attendance at two Volleyball England Academies development days? (Likely to be at Loughborough College or Volleyball National Centre in Kettering) If so please outline your expectations.

Section  4:    Facilities  and amenities  to support  a full  time  Section 4: Facilities and Amenities                                           

4ai Please provide a brief outline of the school/college’s current physical education and community sport facilities available on campus.

4aii Please provide a brief outline of off campus sports facilities that your school/college/club accesses on a regular basis.

4aiii Please comment on the suitability of the sports hall for performance volleyball training, including:
Floor surface:
sprung wood 	rubberised 	semi-sprung ground wood 	 other (please specify)

Floor area (including min 3m free space):
1 volleyball court
2 volleyball courts
> 2 volleyball courts

Post fittings: bolt in drop in

Height (highest point of clearance):
< 7m
7-9m
> 9m

4b Explanation of the school/college’s capacity (subject to timetabling arrangements) to provide up to 3 hours of sports hall time for volleyball training each day,7 days a week. This training could take place before or after lessons, on or off campus.

4c Please add your proposed programme (average - subject to timetabling arrangements) weekly plan (Training & competition timetable that may include Strength & Conditioning Fitness Testing, Matches/Competition, Physiotherapy, Video and Match Analysis. This could take place before or after lessons, on or off campus.

4d Would your school be interested in working with Volleyball England and other partners to develop a beach volleyball facility on or near to campus?

4e Are there any other amenities or facilities your school may be able to provide to facilitate a daily volleyball training programme (e.g. strength and conditioning area/equipment, office and meeting space for coaches, treatment/recovery room)?

4f What provision do you have for sports medicine support (e.g.doctor, physiotherapy, soft tissue therapy etc.) either on site or through a partner agency/institution?

4g Do you have provision for sports science support (e.g. performance analysis, psychology, strength & conditioning etc.) either on site or through a partner agency/institution?

Section  5:  Volleyball  context

5ai Please describe any previous or current links that the school/college has with local, regional or national volleyball programmes/clubs.
5aii Please describe any previous or current programmes/links that the school/college/club has for development of girls/women volleyball? 

5aiii Are there any school, college, university and local or national league clubs already accessing the school / college sports facilities for training and or competition? Please explain.

5b If the school/ college was to become a Junior Satellite Academy, would the institution
be interested in improving its curricular / extra curricular provision for volleyball and its links with the wider volleyball community? Please explain how.

5c If the school/ college was to become a Junior Satellite Academy, would the institution support Volleyball England National Academy (e.g. support the decision of an athlete to move to the National Academy). Please explain how.

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Section  6:  Potential  for future development  and sustainability

6a Does the school or college access external funding to enhance its provision to student athletes? Please explain

6b Would your school or college be interested in exploring with Volleyball England the possibility of integrating aspects of the Junior Satellite Academy in to the mainstream provision of the institution? E.g. the employment of the academy's coaching staff to support enrichment and outreach programmes. If yes, please explain.

Section  7:  Questions  for Volleyball  England

7a Please list any questions the school or college would like to ask Volleyball England about the proposed set up, organisation and delivery of the Junior Satellite Academies

Section  8:  Declaration  of Interest:

8a Is your school/college/club interested in arranging visit with Volleyball England to discuss in more detail the possibility of establishing a Junior Satellite Academy?  Yes / No

Name of Head teacher/ Principal

………………………………………Signature…………………………….. Director of PE and Sport (or equivalent)
……………………………………..Signature………………………………….

Member of Staff responsible for student athlete academic achievement, pastoral support and welfare

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Section  9:  Deadlines

Please send it back to Volleyball England:

James Poole
Satellite Academies – Audit

Volleyball England
SportPark, 3 Oakwood Drive
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3QF

The final deadline is 15th August 2011.
Shortlisted results on 15th September 2011.