UCLan Coach Scholarship Programme

If you're interested in gaining extra coaching experience the UCLan Coach Scholarship Programme (UCSP) is for you.

The scheme has been developed to offer our coaches a reward for their hard work, but also a structure allow development and improvement.

The UCSP offers a number of benefits including the opportunity to attend FA education courses and the chance to mentor to aid personal and professional development.

Full details of the scheme can be found here and the application form is here. Any queries please email Sarah Nickless.

Sarah secures life changing trip

UCLan Sports Coaching student Sarah Nickless has been chosen to spend a week in Rwanda as part of the FA's Changing Lives Programme.

Following an interview at Wembley Stadium, Sarah secured a place on the scheme which allows four young leaders the opportunity to travel to a country in Africa for a week in February 2014 to deliver a football leadership course.

Candidates must show a commitment to the Football Futures Programme and their own personal development. Those picked are expected to inspire and empower peer leaders to continue their work into their own communities.

Course Leader Cliff Olsson said: "Sarah fully deserves to be selected. Throughout her time at UCLan she has taken every opportunity to develop herself. This is a wonderful chance for Sarah to add to her experience and skills."

During her time at UCLan Sarah has secured a role as a Football Activator, working in conjunction with the Students' Union to help increase football provision at the university. She has also established her own female drop-in session at the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre on Friday afternoons.

Students give Jack winning DNA

SSTO students teamed up with a professional footballer this week to help him progress up the League ladder.

Morecambe striker Jack Sampson was invited to UCLan by Course Leader Amy Whitehead to undertake a series of football (position) specific tests.

The session, hosted in conjunction with elite performance experts Winning DNA, was designed to help Jack enhance his performance by improving his motivation and focus.

Sports Coaching, Sports Science and Psychology students helped conduct the tests as part of their Sport Physchology modules. Jack is striving to push to the next level of football and was tested not only on his athletic ability but also his level of motivation.

All the students involved questioned Jack on his training plan and game preparations and got to see first-hand experience of Sport Psychology in action through interaction with a high-level athlete. Jack was very impressed with the facilities at UCLan and the session is likely to be repeated with other footballers in the coming weeks.

International Opportunities Day

International Opportunities Day takes place on Friday 18 October from 12-4pm. We will be inviting a range of internal and external speakers to advise sport students about international opportunities including studying and volunteering. The schedule is as follows:

Introduction to International Opportunities
Greenbank Lecture Theatre, 12-1pm

Volunteer in Sport for Development with the International Citizens Service
Vernon Building VE080, 1.15pm

Work in the USA and Canada with Challenger Sports
Greenbank Building GR202, 1.15pm

Study Abroad with the International Student Exchange Programme
Vernon Building VE080, 1.15pm

For further details please email Cliff Olsson.

Referee and Coaching Opportunities

Preston City Council Sports Development Team are looking for 6-8 football referees for a tournament being held at UCLan Sports Arena on Thursday 26 September 12.30-4.00pm.

They are also offering 12 free places on a Freestyle keep-up course run by John Farnworth taking place in the training hall at the Arena on Friday 27 September and Thursday 3 October between 10am-4pm.

Part One of the course will focus on practical skills and coaching techniques, while Part 2 covers theory and delivery (including an assessment). Attendees who reach the required level will be qualified to coach the KS2 PE Freestyle ball control course (6 x 1 hour) and to run an after school coaching club for six weeks. Please click here for further details.

You can register your interest for both these opportunities directly with Dean Brandwood, Competition Manager with Preston City Council by email or telephone: 01772 906184.

Students and Lecturer team up on book

Third year SSTO students and Senior Lecturer Clive Palmer have teamed up to produce a book about the unsung heroes of the Olympic Games.

As part of a module entitled 'The Sporting Image', final year undergraduates on the Sports Journalism BA (Hons) and Sports Studies BA (Hons) courses were provided with the opportunity to have their work published.

The module scrutinises how sport is portrayed in popular and high culture; including literature, film, TV, art and music.

Developing the module through active workshops and experimentation students were engaged, through a sport related topic or stimulus, to apply modes of artistic abstraction across painting & drawing, poetry, prose & short stories, collage, sculpture, music and film.

The book, entitled 'The Sporting Image: Unsung Heroes of the Olympics 1896-2012', was published 31 July 2013 and is available for purchase here.

UCLan student joins Conference team

Sports Coaching student Joe Lolley has signed for Kidderminster Harriers.

The 20-year-old, who has agreed a one-year contract at Aggborough, hit a prolific 88 goals in 83 games for Midlands Combination side Littleton last season.

This summer he was part of the Great Britain team which finished runners-up at the World University and College Games, for whom Harriers player-coach Steve Guinan was assistant manager. He went on to have a trial at Harriers - coming off the bench to score a hat-trick in a pre-season friendly at Chasetown - and was subsequently offered a deal.

"It's brilliant to get a contract, something I've always have wanted and dreamed of, so hopefully now I can just work hard and make sure I keep a future within the game," said Joe. "I hope it’s a long time before I hang my boots up, but I’ll be able to take what I’ve learned at UCLan into my career after football by working towards my badges and becoming a coach in the future."

Harriers boss Steve Burr believes Joe could have a big future ahead of him: "He is the type of player who just gets in to the right place at the right time and we have kept a good eye him. It is important we keep in perspective what we expect of him straightaway, but we feel there is quite an exciting talent here."

Connor close to achieving goals

Sports Coaching student Connor McGowan admitted to being overwhelmed and humbled after receiving Padiham FC’s Clubman of the Year accolade.

Connor became a vital cog in the Storks’ promotion charge after becoming the club’s analyst as part of a module for his second year studies. The 20-year-old was added to the backroom staff following talks with assistant manager Steve Cunningham and started the project against AFC Liverpool at Valerie Park in November 2012.

Using software such as Sportscode and Dartfish, the football fanatic would spent meticulously dissecting the team’s performances as well as generating graphs, databases and statistical packages to outline key points for manager Steve Wilkes.

Criteria such as possession, pass completion, heading, tackles made, interceptions, first and second ball success rates, movement patterns, shots, shape/organisation and set-pieces - both offensively and defensively - would be analysed, plus a break down of every goal in the fixture.

"It was a module I fancied but as the project progressed it became a bit more on a personal level," said Connor. "As the season went on it became more of a job than a module."

The Storks went on to create history by climbing out of the North West Counties League into Evo-Stik First Division North. At the end of season awards evening Connor’s contribution was recognised with the presentation of a prestigious award.

"I’d like to think what I contributed was paramount to the success that the club had this year with winning the North West Counties Premier Division," he said. "I think it may have given them that cutting edge. I’m happy my work was of some importance to their season and the performances. The award came as a huge shock but was such an honour. It showed my work had been recognised."

Since the season ended Connor has taught sports leadership in underprivileged communities in Kabwe, Zambia, before flying out to Sacramento in California to coach football. Connor has also been interviewed for an analysis internship at Turf Moor, a post which would see him working with the development squad, though he remains keen to return to Padiham to provide his unique service and enjoy the new challenge.

"Either way I’ll be experiencing a new level of football. I love looking at the game from a technical, tactical, psychological and physiological perspective and I’m being given the opportunity to enhance that experience. I’m close to achieving everything I’ve ever wanted."

UCLan offers Rugby League scholarships

UCLan are offering scholarships of £4,000 for successful applicants to a scheme which combines studying while playing Rugby League at an elite level.

UCLan Rangers Rugby League Club has been chosen as a Performance Sport at the University with financial support being committed to ensure the team reaches the Super 6’s, the pinnacle of Student Rugby League/BUCS, within the next three years.

The team trains twice a week and competes on Wednesday afternoons in the BUCS league. Leading the team will be Andy Procter - a UKCC endorsed level 4 coach who has had coaching and playing experience at the professional level and is currently a Coach Educator for the RFL.

Our £12M sports complex has a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suite, 400m running track, grass and astroturf pitches.

The team also receives strength and conditioning programmes, nutritional and lifestyle advice, physiotherapy support and performance analysis to ensure all players are assessed, monitored and developed according to their specific needs.

The team has a close knit group of students who organise excellent social events each week including a foreign tour at the end of the year. Many of the players have representative honours with the North West regional and International teams, so those opportunities will be open to successful candidates.

To supplement this we offer a large range of sport related courses you could study or you could choose a course to suite your particular needs here.

For further information and application forms please email Andy Procter or call on: 07790 437057.