Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Carnegie School of Sport partnership
Leeds Rhinos Netball
Leeds Rhinos Netball was established in 2017 and the Leeds Beckett Carnegie School of Sport (CSS) has been working with the team ever since to support the growth of netball and women’s sport.
The partnership with Leeds Beckett allows Rhinos’ Superleague netball squads to benefit from the CSS’s expertise, with staff and PhD students from the University working within the organisation to provide sport science and strength and conditioning support to maximise their performance. Players from across the Rhinos’ pathway also use the CSS’s expertise to support their long-term development to help them reach their potential.
Impact of our partnership
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Student experience
Students in the CSS benefit from the opportunity to access professional work placements at Leeds Rhinos Netball, giving them hands on experience in elite sport which will help them with their future employability. They also gain valuable insight from the Leeds Beckett staff working with the netball squads who bring sports theories to life by demonstrating the application of research in practice. As part of the partnership, two match-funded PhDs for Leeds Beckett students will also be starting in 2021 to provide sport science support to the club.
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Sports performance support
Both the Superleague and Under 21 squads use the CSS’s Strength and Conditioning Suite for weekly weights sessions. They also use the lecture theatre and performance analysis laboratory to review and prepare players for Superleague matches. The CSS provides coaches and athletes access to its state-of-the-art equipment for sport science support, fitness testing and performance analysis.
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Research with impact
Leeds Rhinos Netball’s vision is to help professionalise netball in the UK, providing the first full time high-performance environment for a Superleague franchise and through our partnership, Leeds Beckett staff and students are playing a vital role in supporting this. The support provided to the teams also filters into the wider netball community. CSS staff are working closely with performance and medical staff from England Netball on a number of research projects, which shows how Leeds Beckett and Leeds Rhinos Netball are supporting the development of netball at both elite and community level. -
Opportunities
Several of Leeds Beckett’s undergraduates and alumni also play for the Under 21s team, with Brie Grierson and Brittany Coleman contracted to the Superleague squad.
