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The Diploma in Sporting Excellence programme, governed by Sport England, is delivered to performance athletes selected by their National Sporting Governing Body to enter their Player Pathway in order to help them progress on their journey towards reaching their athletic potential.
Athletes will complete the bespoke Level 3 Diploma in Sporting Excellence qualification by developing the most appropriate knowledge, skills and behaviours to compete at the highest level.
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Not only does the programme help athletes to progress within the player pathway but it will also help athletes to develop an extensive range of wider, transferable skills to help them balance the unique challenges around their sporting, social and academic demands. This can greatly assist athletes in progressing to higher education or employment, either within sport or an alternative career pathway.
In addition, the Diploma in Sporting Excellence carries 64 UCAS points to help performers with their ongoing progression in to Higher Education, allowing them to continue on a dual career pathway.
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Loughborough College work with England Netball, ensuring the DiSE programme is specifically adapted to the needs of the athletes and their player pathway. This bespoke delivery model for England Netball performers is provided to enable them to develop both on and off the court. Loughborough College Elite Sport Team also provide on-programme support to help athletes improve performance and achieve the qualification.
There are an extensive range of topics and units the DiSE programme will cover specifically aimed at the performance and wider life skills required of an elite athlete. Across the programme guest speakers and industry experts provide advice and guidance for elite athletes moving through the England Netball player pathway.
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Athletes will study and train at national camps held at Loughborough College across the first year of their DISE qualification. These 3 camps allow athletes to meet selected performers from other pathway clubs and ensures athletes experience a range of coaching methods to help develop their on-court game.
Planned DiSE 2026/27 camp dates at Loughborough College are:
Camp 1: Wednesday 28th October, Thursday 29th and Friday 30th October 2026
Camp 2: Thursday 18th February & Friday 19th February 2027
Camp 3: Saturday 3rd July & Sunday 4th July 2027
sports injuries
Career Planning and Managing Money
Being Organised
Eating for Success
health & safety
Athlete Mindset
Clean Sport
behaviours & values
Mental Health
The Talent Pathway and Safeguarding
Dealing with the Media
technical, tactical & physical skills
Programme Selection Process
The continued success of the DiSE Netball Programme has resulted in England Netball being allocated 65 places for the 26-28 programme.
Following the end of the Pathway Club U17 & U19 trial window at the end of September, Pathway Clubs will have a 2 week period to nominate eligible athletes for consideration for the DiSE programme. Each Pathway Club will be able to nominate approximately 8–12 athletes.
England Netball will review all nominations and allocate the available DiSE places. Athletes will be informed of the outcome ahead of the first DiSE camp, which takes place during the October half-term.
Athletes who are interested in being considered for DiSE are strongly encouraged to express their interest directly to their Pathway Club Lead, so they can be considered for the nomination process.
Please note that nomination by a Pathway Club does not guarantee a place on the programme. Final allocation of all DiSE places is determined by England Netball.
programme experience
Loughborough College are one of the leading elite sport college providers in the country, with a strong pedigree of educating the next generation of Olympic athletes across an ever growing range of sports. As part of the DiSE programme performers have access to:
- Appropriately qualified industry experts in nutrition and psychology that have worked with a range of elite athletes and National Sporting Governing Bodies
- Industry experienced assessors who have industry experience either performing at a high level national or working in elite sport
- Training sessions from England Netball approved coaches
- Residential training camps or delivery days with your fellow athletes
- Athlete support in areas such as:
- Lifestyle awareness
- Social media conduct
- Management of injury
- Clean Sport
- Dual career workshops
- Additional workshops, such as kitchen skills sessions
Loughborough College, rated 'outstanding' at the last Ofsted inspection, for education and learning and world renowned for sporting excellence have been partnered with England Netball to deliver the DiSE qualification. Tutors and assessors on DiSE come from a range of backgrounds, however most come from an elite sporting pathway so are able to offer invaluable education, support and real-life examples on what it takes to be a performance athlete.
As part of being an athlete on DiSE, you are automatically enrolled as a Loughborough College student and as such you are able to access college services such as mental health and wellbeing, financial support, careers and employability and LGBTQIA+ support, please see here for more details: Student Services | Loughborough College
ALUMNIDiSE has a number of notable alumni who have progressed to the England Roses squad and CWG gold medalists. These include:
Eleanor Caldwell | Helen Housby | Fran Williams | Natalie Metcalf | Imogen Allison | Funmi Fadoju
Contact DetailsIf you have any questions regarding the England Netball DiSE programme please contact your Pathway Club Coach or email Loughborough College programme lead Rachel Laxton on rachel.laxton@loucoll.ac.uk
