We can't wait to welcome you to Andover College in September! 

We have created this interactive page to give you a sense of what studying Sport including the Football Academy pathway, and Uniformed Protective Services at Andover College is like. Scroll down to have a go at the various fitness challenges and test yourself against our lecturers and other applicants! The leader boards will be regularly updated and the top applicants will win a prize in September!

We would love to see how you get on - please send all videos of yourself completing the challenges to andoverapplicantwelcome@sparsholt.ac.uk with 'Sport, Football Academy & UPS' as the subject heading! 

Check out the pictures of all the trips and extra-curricular activities our students get to experience along with all the help and support we can provide through our experienced Careers and Health & Wellbeing teams. 

The student experience  

At Andover College we believe our students can provide the most reliable source of information for applicants and new starters. Watch the videos below to meet Charlotte and Kallum as they explain their decision to take Sport and UPS at Andover along with their aspirations for the future - we can't wait to see what you achieve at Andover College!  

Uniformed Public Services 

As a UPS student at Andover you will get the opportunity to experience a huge variety of practical fitness challenges, interactive sessions and search and rescue missions! Check out the video below for a whirlwind snap-shot tour produced by your lecturer Ant! 

Ready to get started?!

Our UPS team at Andover have put together a short research task for all applicants to undertake. Download the workbook and research the service of your choice as if you were applying. Make sure to use all the web pages, social media channels and friends/family whether current or past service personnel. 

As a UPS student you will have the opportunity to learn about all the different career options available as a service personnel including, the Police, Armed Forces, and Fire Brigade. These brave individuals are often called on during societies most difficult times. The UPS department has also produced a workbook focusing on the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Take a look and watch the accompanying video answering the questions as you go. 

Sport

Our sport courses combine expert coaching with great facilities to provide you with the best opportunities for a career in this high energy industry. Past students have gone on to study sport related degrees at renowned universities including Bath, Loughborough and Exeter. 

Take a look at this TED talk by David Epstein who provides an interesting discussion around the subject of 'Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?' 

Once you have watched the video test your memory by answering the questions in the Word document to the right - have fun! 

Our Sport lecturers have also put together a variety of fitness challenges for you to try at home - send us your results to be in with a chance of appearing on the leader boards! 

The Cooper Run Challenge 

The Cooper 12-minute run test requires the person being tested to run or walk as far as possible in a 12 minute period. The objective of the test is to measure the maximum distance covered by the individual during the 12-minute period. You might need help from a friend or family member to time yourself or help measure the distance! Please note; this is a strenuous fitness test so please make sure you are always safe and take any precautions as identified by your health care professional and always warm up beforehand. 

This challenge can be completed on an athletic track, on a treadmill (provided you raise the elevation to 1 degree to account for outdoor variants) or outside on a route around your home - just make sure you know the distance, use your phone or a smart watch! 

Once you have completed the challenge you can use this calculator to establish your level - make sure to send us a screen grab of this page along with any accompanying data from smart watches/ fitness trackers if you would like! 

Once completed send your results to andoverapplicantwelcome@sparsholt.ac.uk and enter 'Sport: Andover College' as the subject heading! 

All information available here. 

Football Academy

The well-established and successful Football Academy is an integral part of the Sport Department. Head Coach Ron Bertie, who manages the two college teams also holds the post of Manager/Head Coach at Andover Football Club and is UEFA A and B licensed, making him one of the most qualified coaches in Hampshire college football! 

Alongside your practical training sessions at Andover your lecturers will help to further your academic skills developing a working knowledge in nutrition, biology and the influence of psychology. In order to prepare you for this take a look at the workbook the department has put together about the Skeletal System. Make sure you send us your work! 

Football Focus

As part of the Football Academy you will also develop an understanding of how subjects such as nutrition and psychology affect performance, the barriers individuals face when trying to progress in the sport and what factors are driving the UK football industry. 

To get you thinking along the right lines we would love for you to create a profile on your favourite player or manager and their journey in the game! 

What barriers have they overcome to reach their current level, such as social, economic or demographic? Where did they start? How long have they been playing? Have they been involved in any notable controversies during their career? 

Use these questions to get yourself started but feel free to think outside the box and be as original as possible!

Please email your profiles to us for the opportunity to be featured on this page, our website or social media channels!

Toilet Roll Challenge! 

Sport Lecturer George challenges students and applicants to the Toilet Roll Challenge - test your skills and show us how you get on!

Additional Resources 

Interested in learning more about the various topics you will study in September? Take a look at these additional resources and make sure you let us know how you get on! 

Video catalogue/recommendations:

• Making Public Services Better, Caroline Makepeace - here. 
• Why Is Football The Most Popular Sport ? Here. 
• A Strange History of the Olympics - here. 

Reading recommendations: 

• Football Hooliganism - here. 

The Open University has a variety of free online courses available in an array of different subjects. Take a look at the catalogue to choose your course! Here. 

You could also investigate the courses offered at the EtonX web page; please note these are paid for programmes that your current school may have access to so please check with them and back here regularly for updates.