Sporting Futures: An Evening for Aspiring Sportspeople

Oakham School’s Sports Department is pleased to be hosting an evening of presentations and networking aimed at athletes from any sport who are already, or aspire to be, involved in talent pathways or academies.

Sporting Futures will be held at Oakham School at 6:30pm on Thursday 5 October and is open to 14 to 16-year-old sportspeople and their parents.

The talent development journey is both exciting and consuming, with pitfalls and hurdles along the way. For most parents, this is a journey that they undertake only once. Navigating through the ups and downs and coping with successes and setbacks can be a lonely business.

Oakham School has a huge amount of experience in supporting athletes through these experiences, but also in preparing them to cope along the way and for what comes next.

For many athletes, the dream outcome of top-flight selection or securing a contract is unfulfilled. Therefore backup plans are a hugely important part of the planning process on a talent pathway.

With the right development and support, deselection need not always be the end of the journey; so many success stories are built on the ruins of a setback or perceived failure.

We have drawn together a wealth of experience from different sports, academies and pathways to help paint a picture of what lies ahead for aspirational young sportspeople, as well as telling the story of what comes next.

 

What to Expect

Hosted by Dr Iain Simpson, Oakham School’s Director of Sport, the evening will feature presentations and networking opportunities, including:

• The Pathway Experience: what to expect; balancing sport and academic progress
• University Sport in UK: the changing landscape
• University Sport in USA – scholarship opportunities
• Gap Years in a Performance Environment: playing opportunities overseas
• Supporting the Parent Journey: balancing Support while promoting growth and the ability to cope
• Preparing for Life After Sport: the challenges of transitioning and when to start preparing

 

Book Your Place

To book a place on Sporting Futures, please complete this short booking form.

 

Confirmed Guests

• James Bateman, Head of Men’s Performance Hockey, University of Nottingham
• Leon Lloyd, Ex-Leicester Tigers and England rugby player, motivational speaker
• Fran Baldwin, Performance Nutritionist, Loughborough University
• Alex Keay, Sporting Gap Years
• Imogen Ainsworth, sports journalist
• Leo Mattoccia, Junior Academy Manager, Leicester Tigers
• Tom Drewett, Director of Rugby, University of Birmingham
• Tom Flowers, ECB Level 4 Specialist cricket coach
• Alex Laybourne, CEO, Power2Inspire
• Jigar Naik, Head of Talent Pathway, Leicestershire CCC
• Sarah Cockayne, Best Version of Yourself Coaching
• Katie Smith, Operations Director, Mintridge Foundation
• Paul Westgate, Head of Performance Rugby, University of Nottingham
• Alex Smith, Excellence Physiotherapy, ex-Leicester City FC Academy physio
• Dr Ed Cope, Lecturer in Coaching, Loughborough University
• Nic Sestaret, Academy Education Advisor, University of Exeter
• Louise Hopkin, Head of Netball, Nottingham Trent University
• Mark Hudson, Cricket Development Officer for Women & Girls, Leicestershire CCC