Page 17 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • April 2012 17
US scholarships could be the way for talented sportsmen and women

With the sky high prices of obtaining higher education in Britain, and chronic underfunding for young people with sporting talent, a former
Swindon Town youth player living in California says that more parents and children should consider applying for sports scholarships in the USA.
Nick Dodd, 27, in Newport Beach. levels of attainment required; Nick is willing to help with any
who lived in Shaw Recently he started • build a strong educational/sports questions parents and pupils have.
and attended Ridge- working with the CV, including video footage of you Mail him at: [email protected]
way School, is now LA Galaxy youth playing/performing; Get an idea of what to expect in
based in Los Ange- academy. • contact the head coach at the US higher education at: www.
les, having secured He also rubs university you’re interested in, and justlanded.com/english/USA/
a soccer scholarship shoulders with film be persistent; USA-Guide/Education/Higher-
in North Carolina and TV personali- • complete the academic assess- Education
under British coach ties as a player with ment SAT or ACT test; this can • Some readers will know Nick’s
Dave Sexton, son Vinnie Jones’ Holly- be taken at different locations in older brother Richard who attended
of the former Chel- wood All-Star Foot- Britain; The Ridgeway School. He is also in
sea coach. After two ball Club. California and lives in San Diego
years, playing in the Nick thinks play- • attend sports showcases held by where he is a technical recruiter for
Mid-Atlantic District ing sport in America colleges around the country. Wireless Industries.
for Junior Universities, when his should be considered by young
team reached the national champi- people with ability. “You can’t un-
onship, he transferred to California derestimate the size of university
State University at Fullerton. level competition across all sports.
“We played in the Big West Colleges here are on the look out for
Conference and travelled all over talented young people to strengthen
the US to play,” said Nick. “One of their teams and boost their league English, Mathematics and Science
the perks for playing at CSUF was, positions. Winning a scholarship is Fully qualified teachers
during Spring season, we played a way to fund your education and
against the Major League Soccer continue to develop your sporting Accelerated GCSE programme
teams based in Los Angeles - Chivas abilities.” 11+ training and preparation
USA and LA Galaxy, famous for If this is a path you want to in- Free assessment and first lesson
David Beckham. vestigate Nick suggests:
Boost your child’s confidence
Nick graduated in 2010 with • you and your parents start
a BA in Communications, Public researching and planning early.
Relations and now plays semi- Universities expect certain levels of
professionally and coaches the academic ability even if you want Childcare
NEW
men’s team at Hope International to pursue a sporting career; vouchers
University in Fullerton and is boys • check individual university web accepted
academy coach for Newport Mesa sites for academic programmes and

Facilities For Hire

At Lydiard Park Academy, we have facilities for hire,
7 days a week, at very competitive rates, including:

• Two sports halls suitable for:
• Indoor football
• Netball
• Basketball
• Badmiton
• Indoor cricket nets practice
• Children’s parties (with eating area)
• Meetings (seating for up to 500 people)
• All weather cricket pitch*
• Mirrored dance studio *
• Astro turf*
• Grass football pitches*
* Outdoor changing rooms available free of charge
• Conference room
• Fitness suite with CV and weights equipment
• Classrooms with interactive white board
A 10% discount for bookings of 4 weeks or more will be
given (subject to availability)
Contact Tracy Williams on (01793) 874224
for details and/or to make a booking

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