Wales Netball
March 1, 2024
Last week, we began to raise the profiles of our Regional Academies by highlighting Bangor University Regional Academy. This week, we take an in-depth look at Bridgend College Regional Academy to understand its training methodology and overall focus. The Regional Academies’ monthly focus for this month are Defensive Principles, with the aim of enabling players to dictate their opponent’s moves and limit their space.
At Bridgend College Regional Academy, athletes are challenged to be competitive, make decisions, think tactically, and have fun. They follow a game-based approach to coaching, which helps them become problem solvers, and basic skill practice is also a focal point in the Regional Academy’s curriculum.
The Regional Academy emphasises teamwork to ensure athletes bond and feel they are in a safe environment to make mistakes and ask questions, which ultimately aids their development. It also helps athletes identify how skills can work together to be beneficial on court, and the need for multiple efforts. Players learn that often more than one attempt is required to achieve success on the court.
Throughout the year, the Bridgend College Regional Academy offers match play opportunities against Cardiff Dragons Pathway Squads and other teams, which allow athletes to showcase their journey at Bridgend Regional Academy.
The coaching team at Bridgend Regional Academy grew this year, with Leigh Chesterman joining Claire Hughes as an Assistant Coach. This has been extremely beneficial for everyone involved since athletes now have three supportive coaches.
About being a great coach, Head Coach Lisa Power said, “A great coach has a vision, sets a plan in place, has the right people in place to execute that plan, and then accepts the responsibility if that plan is not carried out.”
Bridgend College Regional Academy train at the College’s Pencoed Campus in Bridgend. Bridgend College is a Further Education (FE) College that provides over 7,500 students with a wide range of courses, from GCSEs to Honours Degrees.
Bridgend College offers part-time and full-time study opportunities, as well as short hobby and leisure courses through its Community College as well as a portfolio of higher education programs, in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University, as well as higher education courses awarded by Pearson and CPCAB.
The college also works closely with businesses and employers to help them drive economic success and achieve growth.
To find out more about Bridgend College, head to their website, or follow them on social media using the links below:
