Graduate Sport Therapists Successfully Deployed to Five Schools

• 04

  Apr

  Graduate Sport Therapists Successfully Deployed to Five Schools

   

  Across Levels 3 and 4, the Youth Sport Trust and The Society of Sport Therapists have worked in partnership to deploy five of the Society’s Graduate Sports Therapists in five schools during the 2010/2011 academic year.  The work of the Graduate Sports Therapist includes injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as implementing strength and conditioning programmes, monitoring growth and development and ensuring the athletes within the schools have the correct balance between their academic, sport and social life. Four of these pilot schools have continued with the employment of Graduate Sports Therapists for the current academic year, solely funded through the host school.

  ‘The most rewarding part of my work with the athletes in the school is supporting them on their journey to reach their full potential, while they achieve life ambitions and have the opportunities to compete in world class events such as London 2012 Olympic qualification,’ said Kristian Weaver a Sports Therapist at Windsor High School.

  The Graduate Sport Therapists have also added to the whole school through the development and implementation of first aid courses for staff and pupils, expert input into the curriculum, as well as in a number of other areas of school life.

  ‘One of my roles is to provide treatment and rehabilitation to student-athletes from all the schools academies and by far the ‘best bit’ is seeing a student overcome an injury and achieve their school sport ambitions,' said Tom Creswell, a Sports Therapist for Ivybridge Community College.

  The relationship between the Youth Sport Trust and the Society of Sport Therapists is expected to continue over the coming years, with a vision of deploying more Graduate Sport Therapists in a growing number of schools. For further information on the work of the Graduate Sports Therapists in the schools setting, contact Tom Mapp (Solution Manager Competition and Talent) on tom.mapp@youthsporttrust.org.