Football Academy (Oxford) Level 3

Develop as a footballer while building the knowledge and professional skills needed for careers and further study in sport.

Your academic learning and football development work together. Topics studied in the classroom will help you understand performance on the pitch, while training, matches and practical activities will give you opportunities to apply what you learn.

You will explore:

• Sports coaching
• Anatomy and physiology
• Fitness testing and training
• Strength and conditioning
• Sports nutrition
• Sports psychology
• Sports injuries
• Analysis of sports performance
• Technical and tactical development
• Practical team sport
• Leadership in sport
• Sports development
• Organising sports events
• Preparing for a career in sport and physical activity
• Work experience in sport

Your football programme will include regular training, performance analysis and competitive fixtures. You will work on your technical ability, tactical understanding, fitness and decision making while learning how preparation, recovery and analysis can improve performance.

As you progress, you will be expected to take greater responsibility for both your academic work and your football development. You will learn to review your performance, respond to coaching and feedback, set targets and develop the discipline needed to balance study with a demanding training programme.

Alongside your football and sport knowledge, you will develop wider skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, organisation, resilience and working effectively under pressure.

Students compete in regular college league fixtures and may play against Academy-level opposition. The squad also represents the club in the FA Youth Cup. Community coaching and other football-related development opportunities may be available alongside the main programme.

You will normally need:

• Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths
• A suitable standard of football experience and ability
• The commitment to take part fully in training, fixtures and academic study

If you have not yet achieved grade 4 in GCSE English and/or Maths, you will need to continue studying these alongside your main programme.

Your suitability for the Football Academy will also take account of your football experience, attitude and commitment to developing as both a player and a student.

You will get the most from this programme if you:

• Have a genuine passion for football
• Already have experience of playing football at a good level
• Want to improve your technical and tactical ability
• Are committed to regular training and competitive fixtures
• Are interested in sport, coaching, fitness and performance
• Can work effectively as part of a team
• Are willing to respond positively to coaching and feedback
• Can balance football commitments with academic study
• Are prepared to work independently and meet deadlines
• Have the resilience and discipline needed to work towards long-term goals

Being part of the Football Academy involves more than playing football. You will be expected to show the same commitment to your academic work as you do to training and competition.

NCFE Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training

After completing the Football Academy programme, you can progress into higher education, an apprenticeship, employment or further opportunities within football and the wider sport industry.

Your combination of academic study, practical sport experience and football development can prepare you for a range of next steps.

Possible progression routes include:

• Higher education in sport, coaching, fitness or related subjects
• Sports coaching qualifications
• Sport and fitness apprenticeships
• Personal training and fitness roles
• Football coaching
• Sports development
• Performance analysis
• Strength and conditioning
• Opportunities within community sport
• Football scholarships in the USA
• Further playing opportunities where appropriate

Newbury College also offers higher-level sport study, providing a potential route towards degree-level education.

Your football development may also create opportunities to progress within the game, although playing opportunities will depend on your ability, development and the pathways available.

The Sport and Physical Activity qualification is assessed through coursework and practical activities completed throughout the programme.

Assessment may include:

• Practical demonstrations
• Written reports
• Presentations
• Video analysis
• Short-answer activities
• Sport and coaching projects
• Evidence from practical performance

Your tutors will provide feedback throughout your work to help you improve your knowledge, develop your practical skills and build evidence of your achievement against the assessment criteria.

Your academic progress is an important part of the Football Academy. You will be expected to keep your coursework up to date and meet agreed deadlines alongside your training and match commitments.

English and Maths, where studied alongside your programme, are assessed separately and may include exams.

You will complete regular independent work outside your timetabled sessions.

This may include:

• Completing coursework and written assignments
• Researching sport and performance topics
• Preparing presentations
• Analysing football performance
• Reviewing training and match performance
• Preparing for practical assessments
• Responding to tutor feedback
• Organising evidence and meeting assessment deadlines

You will need to manage your academic work alongside your football commitments. Keeping your coursework up to date is an important expectation of the Academy and may affect your eligibility to train or represent the programme in fixtures.

Your tutors and coaches will support your progress, but at Level 3 you will also be expected to take responsibility for managing your workload, meeting deadlines and maintaining appropriate standards both in the classroom and on the pitch.

You will take part in practical activities that help you understand the different careers available within football and sport.

Your training and competitive programme will give you regular experience of working within a structured football environment, including working with coaches, preparing for fixtures and reviewing individual and team performance.

Depending on the opportunities available through your Academy, you may also:

• Support coaching sessions for younger players
• Work with community football programmes
• Take part in sport and coaching projects
• Observe experienced coaches
• Help organise sporting activities or events
• Develop leadership and communication skills through practical activities
• Gain experience of different roles within football and sport

These experiences will help you develop the professional behaviours, confidence and practical skills needed for employment, apprenticeships or further study within the sport industry.

• You will need to purchase the required Football Academy training and match kit
• Details of kit requirements and costs will be provided before enrolment
• Optional trips, tournaments or additional activities may have an additional cost, and you will be given information in advance