Severn Stars to launch new Nova Academy

Severn Stars, a joint netball franchise between the University of Gloucestershire and the University of Worcester, has announced it will be working with Redmaids’ High School to launch a new training academy to develop young netball talent in the South West area.

The school, based in Bristol, will host a Severn Stars Under-17 Nova Academy in partnership with Stars.

Severn Stars Executive Director and co-founder, Mick Donovan, said: “We are delighted at the addition of Redmaids’ High School, which continues to build upon the expansion of talented players in the Stars’ Nova Academy programme.

“Under the leadership of Severn Stars Under-21 Coach Kellie Hull, we know that the addition of Redmaids’ High School Nova Academy will help maintain and increase the level of success that the Nova Academy programme has had in the last four years.”

Severn Stars currently runs Nova Academies for Under-17s in educational centres across the West Midlands and South West region, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire. The aim is to engage with the surrounding area and develop a pool of young talent.

Each education centre that hosts a Nova Academy, provides talented Under-17 players with weekly training sessions, strength and conditioning programmes and provision, high-level technical training, as well as sports therapy and off-court support.

Players attending the Nova Academies will be working towards competing in the Severn Stars Under 17 National Performance League team and, beyond that, the Under-19, Under-21 and professional side.

They have the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice when the Nova Academies compete against each other with monthly matchplay sessions.

The season usually culminates in the Supernova Tournament in May. As part of the programme, the players receive Severn Stars training kit, a training journal and a ticket to a Severn Stars home game.

Kellie Hull, a Netball Coach at the School and current Severn Stars Under 21 NPL Coach, will be the Head Coach for the new Redmaids’ High School Nova Academy.

“I am looking forward to working with the top athletes in the area,” she said. “I am really excited to work with a different age group within the Severn Stars pathway and help develop their skills and support them both on and off the court.”

Director of Sport Claire Maggs added: “We are delighted to become one of only 10 academies in the region. It is an outstanding achievement for the school and we are very fortunate to have an excellent player and coach in our PE department who is already part of the Severn Stars set up as co-head coach for the Under-21 side.

“This is a great opportunity for young, talented netball players to come onto our Westbury site to experience our fantastic facilities and coaching expertise.”

Redmaids’ High School has a proud reputation of high-quality sporting provision and expertise from both coaches and teaching staff across multiple sports.

With netball being one of the main two sports at the school, they have had success with their Under-16 and Under-14 making regional school finals. With current redevelopments taking place of a community sports campus, Redmaids’ will have another sports site, The Lawns, to further enhance their sporting provision.

For further information on how to attend trials for the Severn Stars Nova Academy programme 2021/22, visit www.severnstars.co.uk.