The academic year began in September with freshers' week. The first week is designed to help new students meet one another, get to know the coaching and education staff, and find their way around the YMCA Community and Activity Village.
A First Week on Site
Alongside their first sessions in the classroom, students spent time on the running track and across the sports facilities at the Village. The aim of the week is simple: every student, whatever their sport, starts the year knowing the site, the staff and the rest of the year group.
Finishing with Padel
The week finished on Friday 11 September with a day of padel at THAT Padel Club. Trying something new is part of the programme, and it applies to every student, whatever their main sport.
Why It Matters
Students at the academy study the same course in the morning and choose their sport in the afternoon. Freshers' week brings the whole year group together, so that students from different sports know one another from the start.
Applications for September 2027 are open. To see the academy for yourself, register for the next open day on Monday 4 January 2027.
