Severn Stars netball franchise can confirm it will be working with Redmaids’ High School to launch a new training academy to develop young netball talent in the South West area.

The school, based in Bristol, 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’ Executive Director and Co-founder, Mick Donovan, said: “We are delighted at the addition of Redmaids’ High School, which continues to build upon the expansion of talented players in the Stars’ Nova Academy programme. Under the leadership of Severn Stars Under 21 Coach, Kellie Hull, we know that the addition of Redmaids’ High School Nova Academy will help maintain and increase the level of success that the Nova Academy programme has had in the last four years.”

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 Severn Stars training kit, a training journal and a ticket to a Severn Stars home game.

Kellie Hull, a Netball Coach at the School and current Severn Stars Under 21 NPL Coach, will be the Head Coach for the new Redmaids’ High School Nova Academy.

“I am looking forward to working with the top athletes in the area,” said Kellie Hull. “I am really excited to work with a different age group within the Severn Stars pathway and help develop their skills and support them both on and off the court.”

Director of Sport, Claire Maggs, added: “We are delighted to become one of only ten academies in the region. It is an outstanding achievement for the school and we are very fortunate to have an excellent player and coach in our PE department who is already part of the Severn Stars set up as co-head coach for the Under 21 side. This is a great opportunity for young, talented netball players to come onto our Westbury site to experience our fantastic facilities and coaching expertise.”

Redmaids’ High School has a proud reputation of high quality sporting provision and expertise from both coaches and teaching staff across multiple sports. With Netball being one of the main two sports at the school, they have had success with their Under 16 and Under 14 making regional school finals. With current redevelopments taking place of a community sports campus, Redmaids’ will have another sports site, The Lawns, to further enhance their sporting provision.

Severn Stars Nova Academy 2021/22 programme trials are taking place on Wed / Fri, 8th / 10th September 2021. To attend these U17 open trials, you need to have been born in 2005 or more recently.

To register for trials:

1. Complete application form (bit.ly/NovaTrialForm)
2. Pay £10 Trial fee (bit.ly/NovaTrialFee)

BY SEPTEMBER 1ST 2021 – LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

For further information on how to attend trials for the Severn Stars please go to www.severnstars.co.uk