CCF Basketball Academy
About us...
Christ’s College are continuing with our long and illustrious Basketball history with our Sixth Form Basketball Academy which was launched in September 2015.
This ground breaking project runs in conjunction with the Barnet Bulldogs Basketball club.
"More than Basketball"
Academics
Pupils selected for the Academy will receive a balance of full time Basketball training, alongside a full A level programme course of study, with mentoring and guidance focused on helping pupils achieve the best A level grades possible.
It is vital to stress that this programme is not solely sports based, but one that aims to help students wishing to further their Basketball development, alongside the pursuit of academic success.
The goal of the programme is: “To produce students who are successful in the classroom and on the Basketball court.”
Pupils will study 3 or 4 full A levels, sitting 3 formal assessments each year, as well as any public examinations they are entered for. Students will also receive fortnightly progress reports in all of their subjects to ensure they remain on track. Pupils falling behind and not meeting their target grades will not be allowed to train until grades improve, to ensure that academics do not suffer as a result of Basketball. Students will sign a contract to show they understand what is expected of them.
Basketball
Students will receive 4 training sessions per week, either a morning (7:00-8:30) or after school (3:30-5:00) practice. Teams will be entered in the English Schools Cup, Barnet League and Barnet Cup competitions, as well as playing exhibition games against a wide range of private and state schools. Students will receive individual player development plans, including strength and conditioning programmes. The school fitness suite will be available for them to use at lunchtimes in order to complete this.
Enrichment
Students will have the opportunity to gain coaching and refereeing qualifications as well as mentor and coach junior players and teams at the school. Students will also receive guidance and mentoring on university and scholarship applications, be it in the UK, USA or Europe.
Head Coach Neville Polson
Head Coach Neville Polson is an experienced and well known coach, both in the UK and USA. He hails from Barnet and went to school in the Borough.
As a player, his accolades included winning the London Youth Games with Barnet, as well as London Junior League titles. He was awarded a full scholarship to Cascade College in Portland, Oregon , USA, where he regularly started games until a serious injury cut short his career.
As a coach, Neville is a level 2 Head Coach and has been Head Coach at the Barnet Bulldogs for the past 10 years. He has worked with Juan Ortega, Coach of the Spanish Basketball team and Dale Brown, former Head Coach of Louisiana State University, 2 coaches who have heavily shaped his coaching philosophy.
Coach Neville believes in the importance of hard work, discipline and team work above all else and has a commitment to developing fundamental skills of Basketball in his players. Coach Neville’s style is designed to bring the best out of all of his players.