@SRA_StAlbans
Samuel Ryder Sports Academy
Combining Academia with Sport
At Samuel Ryder Academy, we are proud to offer a unique opportunity that allows students to combine Sixth Form entry together with a competitive sports programme that offers dedicated sports training.
Please be aware that there are no further Sports Academy trials scheduled for this academic year.
However, if you are a talented sportsperson who would like to consider this pathway for September 2024, please contact our Director of Elite Sport/Academies - Mr M Pope - by email: sportsacademy@samuelryderacademy.co.uk
Please click here to sign up for our forthcoming trials
Please click to view our recent news
Rugby, Football and Netball Academies
Our three specialist academies offer students the opportunity to develop in a high quality environment which includes:
- Excellent facilities
- Specialised training sessions
- District, county and national competition entry
- Coaching and officiating qualifications
- Leadership skills and CPD development
- Access to sports physiotherapy consultation
Proud Partners
Each of our academies works with prestigious partners known for excellence in sport, ensuring that students have access to the best quality provision available.
We are proud to work with Watford Community and Education Trust (football), Saracens Rugby (rugby) and Saracens Mavericks (netball) as part of our dedicated sports programme.
Excellent Facilities
To support our excellent teaching and coaching standards we have invested in state of the art facilities, which include:
- Full size 3G floodlit football pitch
- Indoor heated swimming pool
- Grass rugby and football pitches
- Sports hall and indoor netball court
- Gymnasium
- Five brand new netball courts
- High tech media suite
Admissions
Students are required to take part in an open trial day to assess their technical ability and meet with the Head of PE and Head of Sixth Form.
If successful in the trial phase, students wishing to join our academies, must meet the entry requirements of our Sixth Form offering and submit an application form following their choice of subjects.
For our latest trial date information, please click here.
To find out more about our Sixth Form life, the subjects we offer and the application, please click here.
For more information on each academy, please click the relevant tab below:
Samuel Ryder Rugby Academy
Our comprehensive development programme, spearheaded by Head of Rugby, Mr Walker, aims to provide opportunities for elite and non-elite rugby players to develop and reach their potential with enhancing their enjoyment and passion for the game. This is supplemented by exceptional facilities helping to ensure our students are fully equipped to deal with the rigours of rugby.
Specialised Training Sessions
Outstanding coaching from excellent teachers and specialist community coaches provides boys with the opportunity to train during lessons, after school and in allocated programme slots on their timetable. In partnership with Saracens RFC and Herts RFU, students will experience sessions run by high quality coaches and professionals. These sessions will include:
- Strength and Conditioning
- Rehab and Recovery
- Tactical Analysis
- Game Management
- Sports Psychology
CPD and Qualifications
As well as playing, students will be offered the opportunity to gain further qualifications in various areas including:
- Officiating
- Coaching
- Fitness training qualification
Rugby Coaching and Leadership Sessions
As part of the Samuel Ryder Rugby Academy programme, students will be expected to participate in lessons and clubs for our lower school whilst also getting the opportunity to gain experience of coaching and officiating. Alongside this will be the opportunities for pupils to partake in the Saracens coach education programme and also gain coaching and officiating qualifications to enhance their rugby development.
Performance and Development Pathways
A key aspect of the programme will be to offer all students the opportunity to play and experience rugby in various different settings. This will include:
- Regular games and entry to competitions, both locally and nationally.
Tours are a regular part of rugby at Samuel Ryder Academy. Students with promise will be recommended for county trials and linked with Saracens development pathway opportunities.
As part of our partnership with Saracens, students will have access to numerous coach education sessions held at Allianz Park.
Meet the team
Samuel Ryder Football Academy
Our comprehensive development programme, delivered in partnership with Watford FC's award - winning Community Sports and Education Trust, aims to provide opportunities for talented footballers to develop and reach their potential with enhancing their enjoyment and passion for the game. This is supplemented by exceptional facilities helping to ensure our students are fully equipped to enhance their development.
Excellent Facilities
At Samuel Ryder Academy we are able to boast state of the art facilities including: media studio for video analysis sessions, indoor heated pool for rehab and recovery, sports hall and gymnasium for strength and conditioning programmes, a high specification 3G pitch for training and match preparation and access to fitness facilities for personal training programmes.
Specialised Training sessions
Outstanding coaching from WFC CSET community coaches will provide boys with the opportunity to train in allocated programme slots on their timetable. Students will experience high-quality sessions run by UEFA B licensed coaches.
As well as playing, students could gain their 1st 4 Sport Level 1 Award in coaching football.
Training sessions will involve:
- Strength and Conditioning
- Rehab and Recovery
- Tactical Analysis
- Game Management
- Sports Psychology
Coaching and Leadership Sessions
As part of the SRA football programme, students will be expected to participate in lessons and clubs for our lower school whilst also getting the opportunity to gain experience of coaching and officiating. Students completing their Level One coaching. will gain experience in:
- Officiating
- Coaching
- Fitness training
Competitive Competition
A WFCCSET/SRAFA team will participate in a formalised league, playing league and cup fixtures in the Watford FC kit against teams from other professional clubs' community trusts/foundations.
Students will also need to successfully complete a football trail process before being offered a placed on the programme.
Information on upcoming trial dates can be found here.
For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact: sportsacademy@SamuelRyderAcademy.co.uk
Meet the Team
Samuel Ryder Netball Academy
|
Here you will find information about what to expect from the netball programme at Samuel Ryder Academy.
|
|
| Excellent Facilities: | |
|---|---|
 |
As part of the netball academy, students will be training in some of the best facilities in the region including; 5 state of the art, brand new, county standard netball courts (including floodlit show court), brand new fitness suite for player strength and conditioning, indoor heated swimming pool for recovery and rehabilitation, indoor sports hall with playing court and gymnasium. Students will also have access to our media suite for tactical analysis sessions post match |
| Specialised Training sessions: | |
|
Academy students will have a unique and bespoke training programme that includes; six weekly training sessions as well as dedicated training from our school partner coaches at Saracens Mavericks. These sessions will cover a multitude of aspects including tactical analysis, strength and conditioning, coaching and officiating, game management, sports psychology and rest and rehabilitation. |
|
 |
|
| Coaching and Leadership sessions: | |
|
As part of the SRA academy programmes, students will be expected to participate in lessons and clubs for our lower school whilst also getting the opportunity to gain experience of coaching and officiating. Alongside this will be the opportunities for pupils to partake in the coach education programme and also gain coaching and officiating qualifications to enhance their netball development. |
|
| Coaching and Leadership sessions: | |
| As part of the SRA rugby programme, students will be expected to participate in lessons and clubs for our lower school whilst also getting the opportunity to gain experience of coaching and officiating. Alongside this will be the opportunities for pupils to partake in the Saracens coach education programme and also gain coaching and officiating qualifications to enhance their rugby development. | |
| Performance and development pathways: | |
 |
A key aspect of the programme will be to offer all students the opportunity to play and experience netball in various different settings. This will include:
Involvement in district, county, national and specialist leagues including Sisters in Sport and AOC. Pupils can expect to be involved in competitive fixtures on a weekly basis.
Tours are a regular part of netball at Samuel Ryder Academy - the next senior tour will be in 2022, where students will spend 2 weeks playing, training and experiencing netball and culture in the Southern Hemisphere.
Students with promise will be recommended for trials and linked with Saracens Mavericks development pathway opportunities.
As part of our partnership with Saracens, students will have access to numerous coach education sessions held at Allianz Park.
|
Students will need to meet Samuel Ryder Academy Sixth Form requirements.
For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact: sportsacademy@SamuelRyderAcademy.co.uk
| Meet the team: | |
|---|---|
|
|
