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Sports Excellence

Sportspark provides an ideal venue, together with specialist staff to support and guide performance athletes to reach their true potential. David Cosford, Assistant Director or PE and Sport, has the responsibility for developing excellence within the Sportspark. Sportspark works closely with other local, regional and national agencies to deliver key support services to the community (ie, National Governing Bodies, English Institute of Sport, TASS scheme, Norfolk Sports Alliance, Specialist Sports Colleges, etc). Please find more information on the sections below:-

Focus Sports

Sportspark offers comprehensive support to selected Student Focus Sports. Assessing a combination of the following criteria has identified the Focus Sports:
• Past success rates
• Club professionalism
• Coaching availability
• Links with local clubs
• Potential for improvement
• Commitment to succeed

Sportspark works closely with these sports, to enable progress towards a higher standard of competition and performance. For more information with regards to the Focus Sports please contact David Cosford on 01603 593482.

Current Student Focus Sports are:

Swimming:
The UEA swim squad offers a fantastic opportunity to both study at UEA and aspire to great success in swimming competition. A great future is in store for the UEA squad, now they are benefiting from the new Olympic Pool at the Sportspark. The higher standard UEA swimmers train within the UEA City of Norwich SC programme which allows upto 19 hours pool time per week, and is coached by David Calleja.

Rowing

The UEA Rowing team are regularly the most successful sporting team at UEA. Whether you are a complete novice or a competent well-developed oarsman, the UEA squad can offer you a fantastic opportunity to blend rowing with an academic degree course.

The Sportspark has also provided specialist support to the following sports – Basketball, Hockey, Athletics, Korfball, and Volleyball.

STAR awards

Norfolk has developed and will continue to develop outstanding young talent in a variety of sports. These athletes need all the support possible to reach their true potential and represent their County, Region and even their Country. Funding such an ambition is a problem with the majority of athletes not getting lottery support or governing body support.

Sportspark has developed the STAR awards to support upto 10 athletes who already use the facility on a regular basis. The awards will be customised to meet the needs of the athlete (covering such aspects as facility charges, a grant, fitness assessments, etc).

The awards will be granted from the end of October each year. For more information and application form please contact David Cosford on (01603) 593482 or D.Cosford@uea.ac.uk.

Sports Bursaries

Pursuing a successful sporting career whilst trying to balance gaining a good education can be a very costly time and students benefit enormously from many different areas of support.

National/International athletes require support over and above that recognised by the average performer. Specialist support services are available at UEA such as:
Sports Science support (e.g., Physiological fitness assessments)
• Training advice
• Specialist training sessions (e.g., plyometrics, sprinting, strength & power)
• Nutritional support
• Physiotherapy service
• Regular coaching clinics

The University offers Sports Bursaries to UEA students who demonstrate sporting prowess alongside their academic ability. Bursaries of up to £1000 are available for successful candidates.

Sports Bursary Application Form