Sport – Kitty
Level 3 Sports and Physical Activity
Starting athletics at eight years old, Kitty Laurence has gone from strength to strength as a high jumper, winning gold and bronze medals at the national level. Alongside this success, she has claimed the indoor Northern Champion title and currently holds both the inter-county and multiple school records.
At North Notts College, Kitty balances athletics with her Level 3 Sports and Physical Activity course, developing knowledge and skills to support her sporting performance and future career ambitions. Through her studies, she also gains practical coaching experience at Worksop Harriers, the athletics club where she first trained.
Why did you choose to study your course?
“I have always loved sport and knew I wanted to work in the industry in the future. Sports massage and psychology particularly interested me because they relate to my own experiences as an athlete and the support I have needed. Knowing how much that support can help someone, I wanted to learn more about how I could help others.”
“Choosing this course instead of A-levels felt right for me because I knew sport was what I wanted to do. The course also gives me more flexibility around my training, as I do not have to be in college every day.”
Which skills have you developed during your course?
“One of the biggest changes for me has been becoming more confident, especially when speaking in front of other people. Competing in athletics is different because you do not really think about the audience, whereas standing in front of a class can feel much harder. Last year, Liz and Chris helped me build my confidence gradually by encouraging me to work in groups before speaking in front of larger audiences. Compared with last year, I do not overthink things as much.”
“Learning about nutrition has been particularly useful, as I now have a better understanding of what I should eat between events during a heptathlon. I had never explored it in that much detail before, and it has helped me understand how nutrition and the science behind sport can support my performance.”
Kitty“My advice is to follow your interests and not let other people’s opinions stop you from doing what you want.”
How did College support you during your studies?
“Having a timetable that works around my athletics has made balancing my studies and training much easier. I do my learning from home on Mondays and Tuesdays and come into college for the full day on Thursdays. This gives me more time to train at my home gym and spread my workload across the week.
“Alongside developing my knowledge at college, I have gained coaching experience at Junior Harriers, the athletics club where I first started training. I help coach long jump and javelin, including leading warm-ups and supporting athletes with their run-ups. It’s a great way to gain practical experience while doing something I enjoy.”
What part of the course have you enjoyed the most?
“I have particularly enjoyed sports massage because it is hands-on and gives me the chance to develop practical skills. I also enjoy learning about the body and understanding how it works.
“We are studying sports psychology at the moment, which I think will become one of my favourite areas. I am interested in the mental side of sport and how much it can affect performance. Because I compete myself, I know sport is not just about the physical side. I want to understand more about the mental side and how that knowledge could help other athletes.”
Can you share any challenges you have overcome?
“Balancing assignments with athletics and training can sometimes make it difficult to meet deadlines. When I have a lot of college work to complete alongside training, it can be hard to keep on top of everything.”
“With support from my tutors, I have been able to work through these challenges. Liz has helped me organise my assignments and given me extra time when I have needed it, making it easier to manage my college work alongside athletics.”
Do you have any advice for future students?
“I would say not to worry too much about what other people think. Sometimes, one small negative comment can make you forget all the positive things people have said.
“It is important to focus on what you want for yourself rather than what other people want for you. If you do not enjoy what you are doing, you might not feel fulfilled. My advice is to follow your interests and not let other people’s opinions stop you from doing what you want.”
Kitty“In athletics, I want to keep improving and see how far I can go. One of my other ambitions is to reach the level where I could represent England internationally.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
“I hope I will still be training and competing in athletics while building a career in sports massage. Ideally, I would love to rent a space where I could offer treatments. Rather than going to university, I decided to focus on vocational pathways like the sports massage course to get me started. Using this knowledge, I want to start practising on family members to gain more hands-on experience.
“Taking my massage equipment to athletics competitions would be a great way to combine both interests. In athletics, I want to keep improving and see how far I can go. One of my other ambitions is to reach the level where I could represent England internationally, which I would love to work towards.”
