North Notts College Sports Students Explore Careers and Inclusion at Leicester Tigers

Last term, North Notts College Sports students visited Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, the home of Rugby Union club Leicester Tigers, for an exciting opportunity to explore careers in professional sport and learn more about inclusion through sport.

Organised in partnership with Leicester Tigers Foundation, the visit gave students the chance to experience life behind the scenes at a professional sporting club, develop essential employability skills and try a range of inclusive sporting activities.

Splitting into two groups, students took part in a stadium tour and team-building activities before coming together for careers discussions and an afternoon exploring disability and inclusive sport.

Behind the Scenes: Stadium Tour

Students enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, discovering what it takes to operate a professional sporting venue and the wide range of careers involved.

Opened on 10th September 1892, the stadium is located between Aylestone Road and Welford Road, on the southern edge of Leicester city centre. With a capacity of 25,849 and an average attendance of around 16,000 throughout the season, it provided plenty for students to explore.

During the tour, learners discovered how professional clubs generate revenue through sponsorship opportunities, including stadium and stand sponsorship. They also explored the differences between the home and away changing rooms, including the little details designed to give Leicester Tigers a home advantage, and learned about the famous uneven steps players navigate as they run out onto the pitch.

The tour finished with a special opportunity to hold the Premiership trophy and learn more about Leicester Tigers’ successful history, having won 22 major titles.

Team Building: Developing Essential Skills

Students also took part in a practical and engaging team-building session, focusing on teamwork, communication, leadership, problem-solving and confidence – all valuable skills for employment.

Working together, learners were challenged to transport a ball from one end of the Final Whistle Bar to the other using sections of guttering.

However, there was a twist! One team member was blindfolded, another could only use one arm, and another had to wear boxing gloves. These challenges encouraged students to consider different barriers people may experience and the importance of communication, understanding and working together to achieve a shared goal.

Careers in Sport: Q&A with Leicester Tigers

In the Try Line Suite, students had a fantastic opportunity to explore the wide range of careers available within professional sport, with a particular focus on the rugby industry.

They heard from Fraser Goatcher, Director of Women’s Rugby, alongside members of the Leicester Tigers Women’s staff, who shared insights into their roles, career journeys and experiences of working within professional sport.

Students also had the opportunity to meet Leicester Tigers Women’s player Amelie Anstead, gaining a first-hand insight into life as a professional rugby player and what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Exploring Inclusion Through Sport

The afternoon session provided an interactive introduction to inclusive and adapted sport, demonstrating how activities can be modified to enable people with different abilities and needs to participate.

Students had the opportunity to try three different adapted sports:

Wheelchair basketball: Experiencing the skills and teamwork involved in playing basketball from a wheelchair.

Seated volleyball: Learning how the game can be adapted to make volleyball more accessible.

Wheelchair curling: Discovering the techniques, communication and strategy involved in this inclusive sport.

The activities gave students a greater understanding of disability sport and the importance of creating opportunities for everyone to get involved.

Reflecting on the visit, Luke Haddon, Sports Tutor at North Notts College, said:

“It was brilliant to see the students getting involved, stepping outside their comfort zones and learning from people working within the professional sporting environment.

“Experiences like these are a great way to bring classroom learning to life and help our students understand the opportunities available within the sports industry.”

A massive thank you to everyone at Leicester Tigers Foundation for their hospitality, time and for providing our students with such a valuable experience.

Opportunities like this allow our Sports students to develop their practical skills, build confidence and gain a better understanding of the many career pathways available within the sporting industry.

Interested in a career in sport?

Start your journey at North Notts College and discover our range of Sport courses, where you can develop the knowledge, skills and experience to take your next steps towards a career in the industry.