We pride ourselves on being an athletecentred Netball provision
All athletes are supported by experienced College & Academy Teaching staff
Student athletes can apply for our Netball Academy whilst gaining further academic qualifications by studying a variety of courses that Oaklands College has to offer.
It is important to make it clear that we are not a Community Netball Club, we are an East Region Netball College Team who made National Colleges Finals weekend in 2020/21( where we came 7th in the Country) and also the 2021/22 Finals weekend.
Participation within our Netball Academy is open to all students enrolled on a course at the college, including the Welwyn Garden City campus.
joy.porter@oaklands.ac.uk
Strength and conditioning training 3 times a week
Individually tailored sessions with one-toone support.
For students aged 16-18
Physiotherapy
Support
Fantastic indoor & outdoor training facilities
On-site accommodation available
Coaching sessions
Nutritional guidance
Oaklands Netball Academy have supported athletes on their Netball journey both in local leagues and the above Netball playing routes
The Netball Academy prides itself on being an athlete centred Netball provision. All Netball athletes registered on the programme will be supported by experienced college and academic teaching staff, who will work alongside the Head Coach and Assistant Coach to provide a programme that suits the individual student.
Athletes are also supported by qualified medical input during rehabilitation and recovery from injury, as well as providing other sports medicine support and nutritional advice where appropriate.
The academy side of this unique partnership will always be fundamental to the Netball programme; therefore the academic aspect will always take priority over Netball and students are expected to engage fully in their studies. Our coaches are in regular contact with students tutors to ensure this. If students are falling short of academic expectations, students can be withdrawn from playing and/or training.
The college offers a broad spectrum of courses. Not all courses fit around to the Netball programme, but many do. The Netball Academy runs alongside the college’s A-Level programmes, as well as courses such as BTEC in Sport (Level 2 and above) that will allow you to have access to the full Netball programme.
Should you find a course that clashes with the programme schedule, the coaches will find a solution that involves available participation so athletes can still train and play.
Pre-season training starts at the end of August and our college course timetable starts in September. Training will continue through to the end of May. The East Region Colleges League Competition Season generally runs from September to April. The National Colleges Competition Finals weekend is in April.
Head Sports Coach, Netball
Joy has coached Netball for 25 years after becoming a PE Teacher with a special interest in Netball and Basketball.
In earlier years Joy was a Coach on the Herts County Talented Athlete Development programme and has delivered numerous workshops and Coaching Sessions in this environment.
Joy also led the University of Hertfordshire Netball programme for 6 years. As Lead Senior Club Coach she delivered weekly sessions for Talented Athletes in East Region 1 and 2 Leagues. At Club level we have grown participation from one Senior Team to 14 Senior Teams that play across Local League, Herts County League and East Region League as well as four Junior Teams across each age range. Joy delivered guest Junior Elite sessions for Club too I have been involved from the beginning of the Oakland’s Netball Academy Provision which was established in 2012 and we have supported Elite and Participation Netballers develop their Netball Skill whilst gaining qualifications.
KAREN STUBBS
Assistant Coach, Netball
Karen has an extensive background in Netball, having held the role of Head Coach at Abbey Flyers Nomads Netball.
Karen’s full biography will be uploaded shortly, alongwith her official academy photo.
The Netball Academy is passionate about supplying our student athletes with an all-round training programme, focusing on key areas to enhance their potential and give them a competitive edge.
The Sports Zone Gym in the Discovery Centre of our St Albans campus has a selection of gym equipment including cardio & resistance machines, free-weights, changing facilities and showers aswell as fitness mats and a variety of dumbbells, balance balls and much more.
Provided there are no lessons taking place, academy students are free to use the gym to develop their fitness, in addition to their internal academy training sessions.
Day / Time Focus
Monday
9:00 - 11:00
11:00 - 12:30
Tuesday
9:00 - 10:45
12:00 - 13:00
Wednesday
9:00 - 11:00
Thursday
Fitness and Technical training
Strength and Conditioning
Match Analysis: Technical and Tactical
Strength & Conditioning Game Day
Physiotherapy sessions
9:00 - 11:00 Recovery day
Friday
9:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:30
Strength/Plyometric/Positional training
Strength & Conditioning
In the Oaklands College Netball Academy, game day is our favourite day of the week!
In-line with University Sports, game days are played on Wednesday afternoons as Oaklands College compete in the East Region Colleges League. This involves travelling across the region and are always an enjoyable team minibus adventure!
If we are not travelling across the region to a fixture, our girls will be playing on the Show Court in our state-of-the-art Sports Hall, cheered on by fantastic home crowd.
Wednesday afternoons as Oaklands College compete in the East Region Colleges league as well as the National Premier South League. This involves travelling across the East Region as well as the entire South for National Colleges Competition.
Our MiniBus/Coach trips are always an enjoyable Adventure.
Since 2013, the Netball Academy has witnessed a remarkable rise of 15 stars, who have all gone on to represent local County and Regional Leagues, Universities and the National Premier League.
Mia Dunsmuir 2018/19
Herts County League
Lillie Murphy 2018/19 Herts County League
Francesca Bullard 2017/18
Brighton University
Amy Collins 2017/18 Nottingham University
Mavericks Futures / East Region League / England National Colleges Team Representative
Sasha Joseph 2017/18
Toni Wright-Brown 2017/18
Zara Bunce 2016/17
Eleanor Hobbs 2016/17
Mavericks Futures / East Region League / England National Colleges Team Representative
Mavericks / East Region League
East Region League / Twickenham University
Mavericks / National Premier League / Herts County League
Ellen Whittle 2016/17 University of Hertfordshire
Millie Salmon 2015/16 Twickenham University
Megan Thornton 2015/16 Nottingham University
Sophie Gregory 2014/15 Nottingham University
Shareen Mohammed 2014/15 Nottingham University
Elleyse Robertson 2013/14
Herts County League / Oaklands College Lecturer
The academic side of the course is integral to the netball programme. Full compliance with the chosen academic course is expected and any riders in breach of this are banned from training until they have caught up or complied.
Students are expected to engage fully in their studies and there is regular communication with tutors to ensure our students are on track academically. If falling short of expectations, students can be withdrawn from training.
Should you have any questions about the courses available within the academy, a full list of courses can be found online at www.oaklands.ac.uk.
It is an expectation that all students without GCSEs in English and Maths graded at 4 or above will retake English and/or Maths alongside their main programme, as either a GCSE or Functional Skills qualification. This may impact on some training involvement during the week.
The College has an excellent student advice team who can support you with any pastoral needs. There are trained support tutors available in the Learning Resource Centre to support you with assignment work outside of lessons. We are also able to provide additional learning support for students with particular learning needs, either on a one to one basis or through in-class support, as well as support with special exam arrangements and so forth.
Oaklands is proud to be able to offer a state-of-the-art Residential Homestead for its student athletes. If you’d like to get a taste of what it is like to live away from home whilst pursuing a professional career in sport, please apply for residential accommodation.
Introduced in 2019, the homestead introduces on-site living at the colleges St Albans Campus for over 80 students. The secure, modern and comfortable living quarters are akin to what would be expected from a University.
Should you wish to apply for residential accommodation at Oaklands, this should be included within the online application when prompted and our team will be in touch.
Oaklands students are expected to uphold the values of the college and respect the living quarters and fellow student of which share the facilities.
All rooms have en-suite bathrooms and the facility has four disabled-accessible rooms.
With two large communal areas, shared kitchens and underfloor heating throughout, the homestead is designed to ensure students have everything they need whilst studying at the college. An on-site warden is also present at all times to ensure student safeguarding, wellbeing and good behaviour.
info@oaklands.ac.uk
Saracens Mavericks
We are proud to be sponsored with Saracens Mavericks and support them to spread our love of Netball within the community and wider region. Oaklands Wolves Netball Academy are also proud to sponsor Saracens Mavericks players.
As a result of this partnership, we have access to a Saracens Mavericks player who comes into Oaklands College to deliver specialist sessions to our athletes and our student Netball players also have the opportunity to attend NSL matches.
As a Netball Academy, we are fortunate to work with the staff from Performance Hertfordshire to provide our athletes with first-class Strength and Conditioning services.
Performance Hertfordshire will take into consideration our training and game schedule to design and deliver a Netball specific rehabilitation programme, which is taught in our on-site Performance gym.
Oaklands Netball kit
Above are examples of the purchasable kit required for students of our Netball Academy.
Saracens Mavericks
www.mavericksnetball.co.uk
We are proud to be in partnership with Saracens Mavericks and supporting them to spread the Netball love within the community and surrounding regions.
As part of our partnership we have access to Mavericks players who come and deliver specialist training sessions to our athletes and our academy students also have the opportunity to attend NSL matches.
