Our Sports Development Centre is for talented students aged 16 to 19 who have a passion for their sport and want the opportunity to combine a full-time education programme with high-quality coaching in one of our Sports Development Centre teams.
- Mens’ and Women’s Football
- Rugby League
- Basketball
- Netball
These teams are competing at the highest level regionally and nationally within English Colleges and Association of Colleges competitions and leagues. Involvement with the Development Centre is organised during the College week ensuring that students are still free to train and play for their own club outside of College time.
Our Sports Development Centre has outstanding links with local partners who support and enhance our delivery.
The whole York College football programme runs in partnership with York City Football Club. Both the Men's and Women's Football teams follow the framework of a professional club whilst still accommodating a full-time education programme.
Every football coach is UEFA qualified and actively working in academy football.
Our Esports Development Centre is for Esports athletes aged 16 to 19 who have a passion for their games and want the opportunity to combine a full-time education programme with high-quality coaching in one of our Development Centre teams.
- League of Legends
- Rocket League
- Valorant (Women in Esports available)
- Overwatch 2 (Women in Esports available)
These teams are competing at the highest level nationally within the British Esports Student Championships and other applicable tournaments and competitions. Involvement with the Development Centre is organised during the College week ensuring that students are still free to train and play for their own teams outside of College time.
Every student accepted on to our Development Centre teams is required to undertake a full-time programme of educational study. This is organised to fit in with regular training and coaching. Students may study across the full range of courses offered at the College, (subject to Vocational pathways' timetables and excluding Apprenticeships) and results demonstrate success in both exams and coursework. Attendance and satisfactory progress on the educational programme is monitored regularly, and all the Development Centre members are expected to work equally hard on this aspect as well as their coaching and training. York College wants every student to attain academic success as well as sporting achievement.
Successful involvement in any of the Sport Development Centre programmes will provide opportunities to progress into: careers in professional/semi-professional sport (this is only for those who show exceptional development), coaching, refereeing, work in sport and recreation, further and higher education, overseas coaching and possible scholarships to higher education institutes.
Just complete the section on the full-time application form.
York College are recognised for their support of talented athletes as part of the TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme. This recognises our support to talented athletes in their chosen sport in helping them to balance their academic studies alongside their sporting commitments.
For further information please ask our sport tutors at our Open Events or contact Stu Horsfield, Sports Development Centre Coordinator, at shorsfield@yorkcollege.ac.uk. You can also ask about the scheme when you enrol at College.
York College provided an amazing environment where it was possible to do both sport to a high standard as well as study alongside that. This was made even easier by constant support from members of staff. College also provided some of the most amazing sporting opportunities for me, which have developed me as a person and a player, like representing my country in the England Colleges national team.
This area is open to all College students, offering them a chance to take part in a range of sports and fitness-based enrichment activities. Using both our students and staff we aim to develop a weekly schedule that would help contribute to improving the physical and mental wellness of our staff and students.
This includes access to the Athletic Suite (our on-site gym), using our personal training students to offer a free personal training service, along with creating exercise classes and a sports activities timetable.
