SWEET SCIENCE
Boxers can pursue their education through the Diploma in Sporting Excellence at the same time as training
SINCE 2010 the national governing body England Boxing have delivered the successful Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE), a boxing educational programme for 16-18 year olds. The AASE programme, which is soon to be re-branded as the Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DISE), has experienced some amazing successes over the past eight years; Ted Cheeseman, Harvey Horn, Connor Loftus, Carl Fail, Raven Chapman and Jack Bateson to name but a few.
Situated primarily in colleges in Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham, Bolton, Gateshead and Liverpool, the six boxing academies that run the DISE programme offer a variety of educational opportunities including Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Sport as well as A Levels and other qualifications.
“It’s the marriage of academics with boxing that makes this course so engaging. Traditionally, academia and boxing haven’t been synonymous, but the tide is turning and the programme is proud to be a pioneer for coupling education with boxing in Further Education”, says Adam Haniver, DISE/AASE Boxing Coach at Greater Brighton Metropolitan College and England Talent Pathway Coach.
Boxers, aged 16-18 and affiliated to England Boxing clubs, train daily within one of the six academies working towards their personal boxing goals. In their BTEC classes the boxers learn about the fundamentals of sport; biomechanics, psychology, physiology, coaching, sport injuries, gym instructing are but a few areas the boxers learn and develop applied knowledge in.
“We support the clubs in the boxer’s development. They don’t box for the academies as the academies are not boxing clubs. They are extra support to help the boxers through an educational approach to their development coupled with high quality coaching,” Haniver said.
The current professional English titlist Ted Cheeseman is a graduate. His AASE Coach and England Talent Pathway Coach Mark Collings recalls working with Cheeseman, “Everything was about the pursuit of his dreams. He is one of the hardest working boxers I’ve ever seen and to see his recent achievements is both satisfying and completely expected. He’s a product of hard work, great coaching from the famous Fisher club and his willingness to listen and learn.”
AASE graduates have gone on to gain degrees in many academic areas especially sport related. The Brighton Academy coach, Adam Haniver, recalls many successes. “It’s always been one of our main goals, there will always be boxing successes but the point of the course is to also arm them with a back-up route. Many of our graduates have gone on to study degrees in sport science, psychology, sports coaching, strength and conditioning and so on. It’s great to see them go on to great things in whichever arena they choose.”
The AASE program (soon to be DISE) is now recruiting for its regional academies to start in September. If you are 16-18 and would like to take the chance to engage in this opportunity, then please contact them now on adam.haniver@gbmc.ac.uk or 07825 684 196.