Severn Stars netball franchise is excited to announce that it is launching a new Nova Academy at Stafford Grammar School from September 2020 to continue to develop the Severn Stars performance player pathway.
The school, based in Staffordshire, will host a Severn Stars Under 17 Nova Academy in partnership with Stars, which is a joint franchise between the University of Worcester and University of Gloucestershire.
Severn Stars’ Director of Netball and Co-founder, Dr. Anita Navin, commented that she was “really thrilled to see the Nova Academy programme extend to partners in locations into the wider territory of the Severn Stars Super League Club. Stafford Grammar School demonstrate a strong passion and commitment to sports performance and netball.”
Severn Stars currently runs Nova Academies for Under 17s in educational centres across the West Midlands and South West region, including in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire. The aim is to engage with the surrounding area and develop a pool of young talent. Each education centre that hosts a Nova Academy, provides talented Under 17 players with weekly training sessions, strength and conditioning programmes and provision, high level technical training, as well as sports therapy and off-court support.
Players attending the Nova Academies will be working towards competing in the Severn Stars Under 17 National Performance League team and, beyond that, the Under 19, Under 21 and professional side. They have the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice when the Nova Academies compete against each other with monthly match play sessions. The season usually culminates in the Supernova Tournament in May. As part of the programme, the players receive a Severn Stars training kit, a training journal and a ticket to a Severn Stars home game.
Lee Harwood, Director of Sport at Stafford Grammar School stated “we are excited to announce the launch of the Nova Netball Academy at Stafford Grammar allied to a highly talented super league team.” Headmaster, Lee Thomas, added “we are delighted to be establishing the Severn Stars Nova Academy at Stafford Grammar School. As the only school in the area with this partnership we are able to provide an opportunity for young players at our school and other local schools to develop their skills and excel in netball.”
Sport plays a prominent part in the lives of all pupils at Stafford Grammar School with individuals and sporting teams enjoying regular success. Lee Harwood said ‘’I am most proud of the fact that our pupils are given the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of different sports and that we have a significant number of current and past pupils performing at district, regional and national level in their chosen specialisations.’’ Girl’s major sports at Stafford Grammar School include hockey and netball where a talented and dedicated team of teachers and coaches provide an extensive programme of training and fixtures.
To find out more about Stafford Grammar School, please visit: www.staffordgrammar.co.uk or contact the school on 01785 249752.
For further information regarding the Nova Academies and the Severn Stars Talent Pathway visit www.severnstars.co.uk/playerpathway
