England Netball Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE)

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.

Female hockey player getting ready to strike the ball

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.

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.

Male hockey player running with the ball

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.

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 field. Loughborough College elite sport tutors also provide on-programme support to help athletes improve performance and achieve the qualification.

Male hockey player about to strike the ball

Male hockey players waiting for a corner

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.

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 franchises and regions and ensures athletes experience a range of coaching methods to help develop their on-court game.

Planned DiSE 2023/24 camp dates at Loughborough College are:
October 2023 - 23rd 24th 25th
February 2024 – 19th 20th
July 2024 – 6th 7th

SELECTION

Athletes need to be moving into Y12 at the start of the programme and remain in education for the duration of the 2 year course (not into Higher Education). Athletes can be on a non-sport apprenticeship, again, as long as they are on it for the duration of the 2 year course.

ELIGIBILITY

Performers will need to meet eligibility criteria to be able to participate in the DiSE programme – such as being 16-18 years old and in full time education. Athletes are not allowed to be chosen from private, fee paying schools unless able to provide written evidence of a scholarship, bursary or sponsorship at minimum 50%.

TRAINING & COMPETITION

Training and competition will take place at each NLS Team/region, with athletes required to log their hours on court. Coaches will work with athletes to set specific goals across the season and ensure progress is made during the programme.

1:1 SUPPORT

Includes a range of 1:1 support, such as with coaches, nutritionists and psychologists. Loughborough College elite sport tutors also provide on-programme support to help athletes improve performance and achieve the qualification.

SPECIALISTS

Includes working with a range of sport specific specialists who work within talent pathway programmes. Across the programme guest speakers and industry experts provide advice and guidance for elite athletes moving through the England Netball player pathway.

sports injuries

career planning & finance

lifestyle

nutrition

health & safety

mental skills

anti-doping

behaviours & values

comms & media

technical, tactical & physical skills

PROGRAMME SELECTION PROCESS

The success of the DiSE Netball Programme over recent years has resulted in England Netball being allocated 65 places on DiSE for the 2023-2025 programme. NPL Teams and regions will each be able to nominate 6-10 athletes for consideration. Speak to your Player pathway programme coach to express an interest if you are keen to be considered for this year's intake. Final decisions on selection will be made by England Netball and the fPlayer pathway programme coaches. The application process and selection timescales will vary between NPL Teams and so any questions about this should be directed to your Player pathway programme coach.

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
- Anti-doping advice
- Dual career workshops and UK-US University talks
- 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

ALUMNI

DiSE has a number of notable alumni who have progressed to the England Roses squad and CWG gold medalists. These include:

Contact Details

If you have any questions regarding the England Netball DiSE programme please contact your franchise coach or email Loughborough College programme lead Tom Boxall on tom.boxall@loucoll.ac.uk