State-of-the-art facilities and real life experiences provides opportunities in elite sport for university student

The University Campus Doncaster High Performance Centre officially opened its doors back in November 2023, providing state-of-the-art facilities for local grassroots and elite sports clubs across Doncaster, but it’s not just these clubs that have benefitted from the centre. 

The partnership between Club Doncaster Sports College and University Campus Doncaster, allows pathways for students looking to study degrees in sport. Students like Rhys.

Rhys is currently enrolled on the BSc (Hons) Sport, Health & Exercise Science course, here at the Eco-Power Stadium, having completed 2 years at the Sports College on a BTEC Level 3 extended diploma in Sports Coaching and Development course. 

There were a number of factors that led him to continue his journey, that the partnership between the University and the Sports College has to offer. 

“I’m on the Sports Science course here at the High Performance Centre and we’re currently doing biomechanics and fitness testing this month,” Rhys said. 

“I wanted to come and study here within the HPC because of all the equipment that is available to use anytime we want. 

“It’s great to be based within the stadium, somewhere that I already know from my time with the Sports College. I knew the tutors beforehand, so it’s not been a massive change since graduating from the college, it’s been a smooth transition and it’s still a similar structure.”

Those who study at the HPC, get to learn in a ‘live sporting environment’ and with elite athletes using the facilities on a regular basis. 

Speaking on the benefit of this to his degree, Rhys said: “We have elite athletes from across Club Doncaster coming in the centre all the time, so you can help them recover after games.

“Every professional football and rugby team uses the equipment, so being able to get in and use it as early as I possibly can, will help me in the long run. 

“To get a job in the future, you need to have the experience, and there’s no better experience than working on professional athletes that need it. It helps you in the long run, while helping them at the same time.”

As Rhys looks at the career path he hopes to take once graduating at the end of his degree, the support he’s received from the university to access additional work experience within elite teams, has given him an insight on a handful of roles in the future.

“I want to be a physio or strength and conditioning coach within a professional team and the staff here have helped me to gain that experience of these roles, allowing me access to different places. 

“Every Monday I help out at Doncaster Knights, giving massages to players before their sessions and I’m also working with Doncaster RLFC’s S&C coach and helping with their sessions.”

Reflecting on the first few months of his degree and how much he’s enjoying it, he said, “This university has helped me get them hands on experiences.

“I’ve gained life skills, how I should be applying for jobs and what I need to do to actually get these jobs. 

“It’s given me insight into working with professional clubs and helped me progress into working with elite athletes, seeing how I can improve and how we both benefit from working with one another. 

“I’ve learnt so much already and I’m enjoying every single minute.”

Want to study a degree in a live sporting environment within the Heart of Doncaster, contact josh.wroot@don.ac.uk for Sports Science courses or Adam.lloyd@don.ac.uk for Coaching & PE courses.