ADP Pupils Discover the World-Class Facilities at St George’s Park
The Athlete Development Programme (ADP) is a well-established initiative for identifying and nurturing sporting potential at RGS. Our carefully structured programme offers a wide range of additional services to help our athletes achieve peak performance. We have adopted a three-tiered approach to support our athletes, in the form of ‘Aspire ADP’, ‘ADP’, and ‘ADP Elite’ programmes.
On Monday 16 April, our Elite Athlete Development pupils had an exciting opportunity to visit St George’s Park, the English Football Association’s National Football Centre. The Centre is the country’s premier Football training facility, covering 330 acres and boasting world-class facilities.
During the visit, pupils were given an exclusive tour of the venue which included a unique and behind-the-scenes look at a top sports training facility. The pupils were privileged to have the current Head of Strength and Conditioning and Medic to the Senior Men’s National Football team, Ben Rossenblatt, take them around the facility.
The tour began with a visit to the pitches, where the pupils had the opportunity to see the outdoor training grounds. The tour then moved on to the first team changing rooms, boot rooms, and recovery rooms, where the pupils saw the cutting-edge medical and sport science facilities, including ice baths, Cryo Chambers, and hydro pools. Throughout the trip, pupils had the chance to ask questions and engage with the venue’s experts.
In addition to the tour, the pupils had the pleasure of meeting the current Premier League Football officials who were training on-site, as well as club players. This provided a valuable opportunity for the pupils to gain insight into the life of professional athletes.
Finally, the pupils took part in a Strength and Conditioning session led by Ben, which he regularly conducts with his elite players. This experience was an exceptional opportunity for our pupils to gain an insight into the training and recovery techniques used at the highest level of sports performance.
Overall, the visit to St George’s Park was an invaluable experience for our Elite Athlete Development pupils, giving them a unique and privileged insight into the world of professional football training and recovery techniques. We hope that all ADP pupils had a great time and we look forward to more experiences like this in the future!