Sports Coaching success with new Saints placement
Date 14.05.2021
14.05.2021
A first-time activity with a leading sports team adds to the trophy cabinet of placement opportunities for University of Northampton (UON) sports students.
Six students from the University’s Sports Coaching degree recently had placements with Northampton Saints Community Coaching Camps.
The camps run across the school holidays and during the summer or children and young people, with Saints coaches offering coaching and training plans that focus on player development and fun.
Those who take part train and play like a Northampton Saint and feel what it’s like to be part of a professional Premiership Rugby club. As well as coaching, the team provide specific skills sessions and the opportunity for participants to make new friends.
UON students were tasked with developing and delivering a sport coaching plan and coaching delivery skills in-line with the Saints ethos and goals.
Jed Martin, second-year student, took part in the camps. He said: “This was an amazing opportunity and great experience for me; I learnt a lot from the Easter camp and the two coaches I worked with.
“I was placed with the under 8’s and some of my responsibilities at the camp included making sure they were listening and understood what was being asked of them.
“One of the main things I got from the experience was to make sure I asked them questions, not just to give instructions. This helped me explain why we did certain things and why there were important, which really helped beef up my communication skills.”
The Sports department also have students looking to complete their third-year placement with the Saints and possible dissertation research projects in performance analysis. They are working with the club on other, mutually beneficial arrangements.
These will mean students get first-hand experience of putting into practice what they’ve learned during their lectures, helping boost their skills and CVs.
The Saints, in turn, are able to provide more, quality support for their community outreach work.
Dr Peter Jones, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, said: “It’s great to hear how students such as Jed got so much out of their placements with the Saints recently.
“In the Sports team, we talk about wanting to generate ‘energy in Northampton’ and this placement with the Saints really helps showcase all the benefits to providers, students and the wider community. Over time, we hope to develop this with them.
“Our aim is to continue building links with key health and wellbeing partners* to help make Northamptonshire healthier and more active and continue to create a brilliant student experience.”
Ben Lawrence, Community Programmes Manager at the Saints, added: “The UON students were a great addition to the camps in Easter, and added real value to the age groups they supported. This is the first time that they have attended as coaches and we are looking to further develop the relationship with the coaches.”
Find out more about Sports Coaching at the University of Northampton.
*This opportunity is one of many the University offers its sports students. There are formal agreements to help them increase their career prospects with placements at: