With the rise of professional sport, and the option for many aspiring future stars of various sports codes, the realisation that a career can be developed from the sporting skills and aptitudes of young individuals have lead to dreams of playing for their favourite teams. This has been highlighted in New Zealand through the continued success, on an international stage, of the netball and football squads; along with the continued world dominance of rugby by the All Blacks. The rise to professionalism and the increasing globalisation of sport has changed the way that sport is viewed and engaged in by talented young athletes. The shift to a more professional work environment, high salaries, and the increased opportunity for young individuals, once they leave school, to seek employment within the commercial sports world.

For those aspiring to becoming elite athletes, trainers or amateurs performing at the highest level of their chosen sport, it is essential that they are trained and educated in an environment and culture that promotes excellence and provides the tools and training they need to achieve these goals. Incorporating an education base around the physiology and performance of the human body is essential for several reasons. Firstly, in the competitive world of sport, any competitive edge that you have can make the difference in a game; and in the future of your career. With the knowledge of how the body works, recuperates and reacts to physical pressure, this may provide the edge you need. Secondly, since the rise of professional sport, there has been some negative media attention drawn to those who do not make the cut; and are struggling to find other career opportunities. With a good educational base, not only will you get an edge over your competition, but if circumstances change or an injury stops you playing sport at the highest level, then the education gained at an academy of sports will enable you to carve out another career; perhaps training or educating the elite athletes of tomorrow.

New Zealand has some of the finest sporting educational facilities to be found, which provide leading edge learning’s in sport science and an ideal environment for training in a range of sports. Developing their sporting potential, their studies are supplemented with individual programme planning, testing and prescription in areas such as exercise physiology, biomechanics and physical training and conditioning. Specialist sporting educational facilities that are modelled on the same systems, sporting ethics and philosophies of the New Zealand Academy of Sport, ensure that the perfect balance of education, individual training and mentoring that will provide them with the platform of success.