Solent shortlisted to provide staff training to Nuffield Health and Wellbeing

Solent recently submitted a bid to become the approved training provider for the national staff development programme for Nuffield Health and Wellbeing fitness staff and were shortlisted to present their proposal to 7 senior managers on Tuesday 13th December.

Martin Skivington, Principal Lecturer in Health, Exercise and Sport Science, who led the bid, commented "to be shortlisted against some of the largest training providers, not only from the UK, but also worldwide, represents a tremendous achievement by the entire team who helped develop the bid. It shows that the fitness qualifications offered by Solent are incredibly well respected in the sector, and our brand name within the fitness industry continues to grow."

Nuffield have ambitions to raise the standard of fitness provision within the UK, and the potential partnership with Solent would provide them with evidence-based staff training pitched at a higher level than current industry standards.  In particular, they provide a holistic approach to fitness and wellbeing,with a full health MOT offered to their members.

Three members of Solent staff presented the proposal to Nuffield at their City club in London and we should hear early in the New Year whether we have been successful.

Watch this space!

Applied Sport Science students heavily involved in GB Wheelchair Paralympics preparation.

This week students from all 3 years of the BSc (Hons) Applied Sport Science course helped Dr Stewart Bruce-Low undertake a battery of fitness tests to monitor baseline values of the GB Wheelchair Rugby Elite Squad. This meant an early start for all students in order to be at Stoke Mandeville to start setting up the tests at 7.30am. The successful testing day was followed by a high intensity workout for the players led by Dr Bruce-Low ably aided by the students. On the long drive home it was very clear that all students had gained huge amounts from this experience and are already looking forward to the next testing day early in the new year.

Solent students learn from local Health Promotion experts

Solent students from the BSc (Hons) Health, Exercise and Physical Activity course have been having a series of guest speakers to talk to them about physical activity initiatives within the city.  As part of their 2nd year Physical Activity and Public Health Interventions unit, students need to understand current national and local policy and strategy on physical activity, but also how this is being implemented in Southampton.  So far, students have learnt about active transport initiatives, and the complex issues of working with new communities. Also scheduled are talks on active workplaces, sport development, healthy communities and health trainers.  Senior Lecturer and unit leader Dr Marie Stopforth said, "not only does this give the students a fascinating insight into the work that is currently ongoing in the city, but it also allows students to forge valuable links with local employers including Southampton City Council and the NHS. Last year, one student gained part time employment in a health promotion setting as a direct result of this, and another will be carrying out his 3rd year project in conjunction with the Health Promotion team at the City Council."

Sport Science students run testing day for GB Wheelchair Rugby

On the weekend of 20/21 November, 30 students from the BSc Applied Sport Science degree ran a fitness testing day for GB Wheelchair Rugby. This provided a wonderful opportunity for the students to collect data and work with athletes that are being selected for the development squad. Attached below are some videos of the day with Patty Cornelius the Team Manager, some of the students helping out on the tests as well as one of our Applied Sport Science students feeding back about the day and the future. 
All the students showed high levels of professionalism throughout the testing days and were a credit to the university, and those students who excelled have now been selected to work with the elite squad next week. This is yet further evidence of how the opportunities afforded to students on the Applied Sport Science degree here at Southampton Solent University provide real-life experiences that enhance employability and hence should make us your first choice for a career in this exciting industry.

Guaranteed Job Interviews for Personal Training Students

Health and fitness students studying BA (Hons) Fitness Management and Personal Training, BSc (Hons) Health, Exercise & Physical Activity and BSc (Hons) Fitness and Personal Training were provided with 2 industry guest lectures within the space of an hour this week.

Firstly, Ray Algar from Oxygen Consulting, a company dedicated to providing strategic insight into the health and fitness industry, delivered a presentation on the emergence of low cost budget gyms in the UK. Ray provided a fascinating insight for the students who are currently undertaking an Operation and Management of Fitness Facilities academic unit.

To access Ray's blog, including a link to the information presented, please visit:

http://www.oxygen-consulting.co.uk/blog

The second guest lecture saw Dan Colman from Fitness Agents, the UKs largest Personal Training Management team, deliver a session to students from all 3 years of all the health and fitness courses about how to set up as a Personal Trainer within the industry.

All students in attendance were offered a guaranteed interview at one of their clubs, either during their studies or upon graduating, and were provided a valuable insight into how to make the most of the opportunities available within the industry.

Martin Skivington, Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Fitness Management & Personal Training and BSc (Hons) Fitness & Personal Training commented, "to be able to offer students a guaranteed interview shows just how well regarded these courses are within the fitness industry. We provide a learning experience that is valued by industry as well as providing extensive real-life working experiences for our students to improve their employability."

2012 Paralympic opportunity for Applied Sport Science student

Phil Zealey (pictured far left), one of our third year Applied Sport Science students is pictured here applying the knowledge learnt on his course to the real world experiences that we expect our students to undertake. 

This was pictured in early October after GB Wheelchair Rugby won the silver medal at the European championships in Switzerland. His role was to act as one of 4 students from Solent on either our BSc Applied Sport Science or BSc Sport Coaching courses who delivered the performance analysis for the squad. This role will take Phil to the Paralympics in London in 2012. Phil has shown extensive dedication in both his studies and his practical work which has afforded him this opportunity. Keep checking the blog for details of Phil's progress as he and squad prepare for 2012! Go GB!

Solent helps develop Croydon's talented young athletes

Staff at Southampton Solent University last month were pleased to work with some of Croydon's finest athletes! Coming from the Croydon Schools Sport Partnership (CSSP), staff from Solent offered a mixture of laboratory and field based testing. Some of our undergraduate students were also on hand to help out. Events such as these are part of our community outreach programme which we offer to a range of schools and colleges. We are currently investigating ways in which we can extend this link with the CSSP to regularly test their elite athletes - this would then primarily be a student led project affording them a wonderful opportunity to work with some of the country's most talent developing athletes. Keep an eye on the blog to see how this develops!

The write up below was written by 3 of the students who attended.

Archbishop Lanfranc Solent University Trip

On September 21^st 2011,   Mr Knight and Mr Feist took a group of 16  elite athletes and other pupils interested in sport science  to Southampton Solent University where we got to work with  leading sport scientists who have worked with the England rowing and wheelchair rugby teams, as well professional footballers from the south coast clubs. Our day would be split into two; the first half of the morning would be looking at  Sports Science facilities and running a test on our leading middle distance runner, Femi Agbetoyin.

Session 1

We took a Par-Q test  to check if we were okay to do the test. Femi was our lab rat for the morning, going through the range of tests in  the lab and helping us get an insight into how things are performed in preparation of the VO2 maximum test. Femi was then hooked up to a heart monitor and we were able to monitor his heart rate throughout the test and from different areas around the heart . He was also hooked up to oxygen mask which would show us how much oxygen he uses

 

The Solent staff had no hesitation in allowing us to join in with the test and made sure each one of us had a job. Some of us recorded heart rate, two took blood samples to test blood lactate levels. Kertis was checking Femi's state of mind using indications on a card. Others recorded heart rate.

We then collected Femi's data and put it into the a graph. Dr Stewart Bruce-Low then explained to us what data we could get from out graphs and how to use them to help coaches and athletes get the best out of training.

It gave us a more of an idea of what studying sports science would be like and also answered many of the questions we had.

Session 2 consisted of  a series of tests: the 20m. speed test, vertical jump, stork test and the line drill which resembled a suicide. Not a single person slacked off, everyone was ready to work and do the best they could. The Solent staff picked up on our work ethic and how well we supported each other. We like to think of ourselves as a family and we believe no one gets left out.

There were a lot of surprises for some of the tests,  for example Jaylesh and Jessica  balanced on one leg for 17 minutes  which was just an incredible act of strength . Omar out- jumped national basketball players in the vertical jump with a amazing 32cm. Taiwo ran a fast time in the speed test which compared with 10.6 sprinters.

We wound down the session and discussed what options were available for talented athletes to study and train. It was a great experience working with the Solent staff; they showed nothing but enthusiasm and passion throughout  the day. They were excellent at supplying us with the information and still managed to maintain a fun atmosphere and provide us with a great day.

We enjoyed the trip to Solent so much that we are extremely keen to go back and learn more but also make these trips on a regular basis. We would like to say a huge thank you to Solent for allowing us to come down and for giving us an exciting and valuable day.  Thank you to Mr Feist and Mr Knight for organizing this trip. As a consequence of everyone’s hard work, our school is now in discussion with Solent University about creating a long term program with the university.

Tamara, Kala and Jessica.