The Programme

The Female Basketball Academy at SGS Sport offers athletes aged 16-19 a comprehensive opportunity to advance their athletic careers while studying at SGS College. Learners in the SGS Sports Academy benefit from up to 15 hours of weekly contact time, including on-court training, gym-based strength and conditioning sessions, and athlete development sessions covering psychology, nutrition, and brand awareness throughout the season. Additionally, all learners receive three individual feedback sessions annually with their coaches, focusing on academic development, personal needs, and areas for improvement.

The SGS Sport program also offers an extensive Sport Science and Medical package focused on injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. This includes strength and conditioning sessions, sports rehab, sports massage, and pitch-side first aid and matchday emergency cover at the SGS WISE Campus. Each academy benefits from two strength and conditioning sessions per week, delivered by our coaches across our two performance gyms. Additionally, a dedicated team of sports rehab professionals is available to support athletes in case of injury. We also collaborate closely with the academic sports department to provide work experience opportunities for students, including sports massage services for sports academy learners. SGS College offers a dedicated ice bath facility for student use. Furthermore, there are various placement opportunities for university-level students in sports psychology, performance analysis, and strength and conditioning. For the 2024-25 academic year, SGS College, in collaboration with the University of Gloucestershire, is launching a paid MSc studentship opportunity. These initiatives aim to develop SGS College into a centre of sporting excellence and research.

The Basketball program begins each August with an extensive pre-season period that combines on-court sessions, strength and conditioning gym and track sessions alongside team-building activities. The main program runs from September to June, with academic schedules structured to accommodate the Sports Academy offerings. During the season, training sessions are held on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons, and Friday mornings, featuring a mix of individual, squad, and unit-based sessions.

The SGS Sport Basketball games take place on Wednesday afternoons, with the 1st team competing in the WEABL League against the top colleges in the country.

In addition to playing for SGS College teams on Wednesday afternoons, the close relationship with the Bristol Flyers offers athletes opportunities to progress and represent the Bristol Flyers at Under-18 level and for the Bristol Flyers Women’s team.

Academic Qualifications

To participate in the Basketball program at SGS College, all learners must be enrolled in a full-time academic qualification, such as Vocational qualifications or A Levels. Many learners choose to study disciplines like Sport, Sports Media, or Media at the WISE Campus, while others pursue A Levels or Business Studies at the Filton Campus. For those studying at the Filton Campus, a shuttle bus service is available to facilitate transportation to and from the WISE Campus.

Participation in the Sports Academy provision is contingent upon adherence to the SGS Sport Code of Conduct. This code outlines expectations regarding behaviour, attendance (maintained at 92% across all academic qualifications), timely submission of work, and adherence to sporting conduct standards. Compliance with these requirements ensures learners' eligibility for involvement in the Sports Academy program.

Partners and Progression

SGS College is the birthplace of the Bristol Flyers and has a longstanding relationship with the team across both the male and female pathways. The SGS WISE Arena serves as the home of the Bristol Flyers BBL squad, regularly hosting sell-out crowds who enjoy top-level British basketball at SGS College. In addition to this, the 2023-24 season saw Bristol Flyers make their European debut bringing top level European Basketball to the SGS WISE Campus for the first time in the club's history. The Bristol Flyers squad also trains at SGS College, providing elite athletes with the opportunity to combine their studies with training and playing for the BBL squad. This arrangement has benefited star athletes such as Jayden Edwards, Louis Tucker, and Callum Smart in recent years.

Additionally, SGS College operates the Bristol Flyers junior squads at the Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 levels, as well as the senior Men's 2nd team and Women's 1st team. This structure offers a complete basketball pathway at SGS College, enabling players to progress through the ranks and potentially play at the highest level. Moreover, there are external progression opportunities, with our coaches being well-connected to American Colleges, offering learners the chance to advance their careers outside the UK.

The Basketball program is one of the leading Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DISE) partnerships in the country and the only one in the South West. This designation enables high-performing athletes to pursue additional skills and qualifications alongside their basketball program at SGS College, further enhancing their development and opportunities within the sport. The DISE Qualification is worth an additional 64 UCAS points and is assessed through a portfolio of your student-athlete journey at the College. SGS Sport offers 6-7 places on the DISE Programme per year based on trials and references from our colleagues at Basketball England.