Having a Sporting Time at the University of Bath
On Tuesday, Sixth Form students studying academic Physical Education (PE) on the BTEC Sport and A Level PE courses visited the University of Bath to see the outstanding opportunities and facilities on offer.
The University of Bath has been awarded the title of ‘University of the Year’ by ‘The Times’ and ‘The Sunday Times’. Upon entering the Bath University Sports Training Village, students were in awe of the eight indoor tennis courts adjacent to fantastic gym facilities that host a whole range of athletes.
The morning consisted of a tour of the University where students were shown additional indoor facilities such as the indoor athletics track, gym, and swimming pool which has underwater cameras to help analysis of the swimmers’ performance. The framework of the pool was used as the practice pool for the 2012 Olympics. Pupils were also amazed by the University’s other facilities including a skeleton starting track, rugby pitch, astro turf pitches, shooting range and beach volleyball court. On the tour of the pool facilities, Joe Choong – a British modern pentathlete and one of Mr Pitt’s former pupils – was training. Whilst walking around the campus Tom Dean, a British competitive freestyle swimmer, walked past us on his way to training.
Following the sports facilities tour, students visited the Sports Science laboratory to experience physiology in action. Volunteers from the Academic PE group took part in the VO2 max test, dynamic strength training and Wingate test. It was great to see theory from the syllabus in live action, such as the use of breathing apparatus and treadmill for the VO2 max test. Pupils gained an understanding of how the University uses the tests to support athletes’ fitness development and how it can improve their performance.
At lunchtime, pupils met RGS Worcester alumni Ben Gaubert, Ollie Nixon, Josh Oldnall and Matt Tolley who are currently studying at the University of Bath. Following this, pupils got the opportunity to experience a lecture on altitude training. In particular, they learned about the impact of altitude at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games, which was held 2240m above sea level, and how the effect of the thin air on athletic performance became a factor on world records such as Bob Beamon breaking the World Record in the Men’s Long Jump and Jim Hines becoming the first sprinter to break the 10 seconds barrier in the 100 metres.
Our students gained valuable insight into what it is like to study at the University of Bath as well as studying Sport at degree level. They left excited about their own futures ahead.
