Skills Active, in partnership with a number of governing bodies of sport, industry experts and other partnership organisations developed the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) framework. Skills Active is the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning established by employers in Sport and Recreation, Health and Fitness. The AASE programme is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The LSC are responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.
AASE is a Government funded initiative that has been designed to meet the needs of young people (aged 16-18) who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main career goal, whilst continuing with their education. Notionally taking two years to complete, the AASE framework will provide, for the first time, a structured national training and development route across all sports for talented young athletes, many of whom may go to represent their country on the world stage.
The apprenticeship is the first to offer elite and potentially elite athletes to achieve proper recognition of the skills, knowledge and understanding they are developing/gaining in their quest for excellence.
AASE Framework
The AASE programme is a two-year programme and consists of three components:
NVQ Level 3 Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (Sports Specific)
This qualification recognises excellence in a specific sport. The NVQ is made up of 8 sport specific units: To gain the full NVQ all eight mandatory units must be achieved. The NVQ Level 3 is delivered by the England Talent Team. This qualification is awarded by Edexcel. The NVQ will be delivered at training, competitions, AASE Workshops/Camps and Online.
This NVQ is specifically designed for elite athletes to help them achieve success within their sport and hopefully achieve a World Class status. The NVQ is rewarding and beneficial to all those selected to come onto the programme.
The NVQ is all about being an elite athlete and it is broken into 8 units that cover important factors of an elite athlete’s life.
- Plan, apply and evaluate your technical skills to achieve excellence in sports performance
- Plan, apply and evaluate your tactical skills to achieve excellence in sports performance
- Plan, apply and evaluate your physical capability to achieve excellence in sports performance
- Plan, apply and evaluate the attitudes and mental skills needed to achieve excellence in sports performance
- Plan and manage your lifestyle to achieve excellence in your sport
- Plan and manage your sporting career
- Communicate and work effectively with other people whilst seeking to achieve excellence in your sport
- Maintain the health and safety of self and others whilst achieving excellence in your sport.
Technical Certificate
Made up of a minimum of 780 guided learning hours in academic, professional qualifications.
Athletes must complete A choice or mix of AS/A-Levels, BTEC Sport Awards, GCSE’s, Coaching Qualifications or any other sporting professional qualification undertaken at school/college or appropriate body. Funding for UKCC Level 2 in Coaching (all sports) is available for all AASE athletes and RLSS Pool Lifeguard Qualification up to £210. If there are other qualifications you wish to undertake that you think might be eligible for funding please contact the AASE Programme Manager. In addition to this, we will monitor your attendance and progress with your academic qualifications by liaising directly with your school/college whilst you are on the AASE Programme. For a list of technical certificates please go to the Resources section and download the tech cert list.
Key Skills
Application of Number Level 2 and Communication Level 2. Athletes will do these at school or college built into their normal academic timetable. Athletes who have achieved Grade C or above in GCSE English and Maths will be exempt from this component.
The overall apprenticeship will be awarded by Skills Active after all 3 components have been completed.
Employers and Universities such as Loughborough, Bath, Manchester Metropolitan and Leeds Metropolitan have signed up to recognise the AASE programme when considering individuals for places on courses. Many other universities will have an AASE recognition scheme within the next two years.
View video on AASE and Swimming (2m 51s, flashplayer required to view)
You will find more on AASE on www.britishswimming.org and www.skillsactive.com
Athletes eligible for the AASE Programme 2009 will be invited to attend the AASE Open Day 13 September 2009 Heritage Motor Conference Centre, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ.
AASE Induction for all new athletes 2009 will take place 26th and 27th September 2009 Heritage Motor Conference Centre, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ.
All athletes wishing to join the AASE programme in 2009 must return their eligibility form by the 6 August 2009 to Lucy Allsop 35 Granby Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3DU.