Complete Conditioning for Lacrosse: Enhance Your Performance on the Field

How can lacrosse players improve their strength and conditioning. What are the key components of a comprehensive lacrosse training program. Why is sport-specific conditioning crucial for lacrosse athletes. How can players tailor their workouts to their individual needs and positions.

The Importance of Strength and Conditioning in Lacrosse

Lacrosse has evolved into a sport that demands peak physical condition from its players. The modern game requires athletes to be bigger, faster, and stronger than ever before. A well-designed strength and conditioning program has become essential for players looking to excel on the field and gain a competitive edge.

Tom Howley, the renowned strength and conditioning coach at Cornell University, emphasizes the critical role of physical preparation in his book “Complete Conditioning for Lacrosse.” With years of experience developing top-tier athletes, Howley provides invaluable insights into creating a comprehensive training regimen tailored specifically for lacrosse players.

Why is sport-specific conditioning crucial for lacrosse athletes?

Sport-specific conditioning is vital because it addresses the unique physical demands of lacrosse. Unlike general fitness programs, a lacrosse-focused approach targets the specific movements, energy systems, and muscle groups most utilized during gameplay. This targeted training translates directly to improved on-field performance, reduced injury risk, and enhanced overall athleticism.

Key Components of a Comprehensive Lacrosse Training Program

A well-rounded lacrosse conditioning program should incorporate several key elements to develop all aspects of an athlete’s physical abilities:

• Strength training
• Speed and agility drills
• Endurance and cardiovascular conditioning
• Flexibility and mobility work
• Position-specific skill development
• Injury prevention exercises

By addressing each of these components, players can build a solid foundation of fitness that directly translates to improved lacrosse performance.

How do these components work together to enhance lacrosse performance?

The various elements of a comprehensive training program synergize to create well-rounded athletes. Strength training builds the power needed for explosive movements and body contact. Speed and agility drills improve quickness and change of direction abilities. Endurance work ensures players can maintain high-intensity efforts throughout a game. Flexibility and mobility exercises enhance range of motion and reduce injury risk. Position-specific training hones the unique skills required for each role on the field.

Tailoring Workouts to Individual Needs and Positions

One of the key principles emphasized in Howley’s approach is the importance of individualizing training programs. No two lacrosse players are exactly alike, and their conditioning routines should reflect their unique strengths, weaknesses, and positional demands.

How can players assess their individual needs?

Howley recommends a detailed individual assessment protocol to identify each player’s strengths and weaknesses. This evaluation may include:

1. Physical tests (e.g., strength, speed, agility, endurance)
2. Biomechanical analysis of sport-specific movements
3. Injury history and risk factor assessment
4. Position-specific skill evaluations
5. Body composition measurements

By conducting a thorough assessment, players and coaches can pinpoint areas for improvement and design targeted training programs to address specific needs.

How do training needs differ by position in lacrosse?

Different positions in lacrosse have unique physical demands that should be reflected in a player’s training program:

• Attackmen: Focus on quick acceleration, change of direction, and upper body strength for shooting and dodging.
• Midfielders: Emphasize endurance, speed over longer distances, and all-around athleticism.
• Defensemen: Prioritize strength, power, and lateral quickness for body positioning and checks.
• Goalies: Concentrate on reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and explosive lower body power.

By tailoring workouts to positional needs, players can maximize their effectiveness on the field and excel in their specific roles.

Structuring Off-Season and In-Season Training Programs

Proper periodization of training is crucial for lacrosse players to peak at the right times and maintain performance throughout the competitive season. Howley’s book provides ready-to-use off-season and in-season programs that can be customized to individual needs.

What are the key differences between off-season and in-season training?

Off-season training typically focuses on building a strong foundation of strength, power, and conditioning. This period allows for higher training volumes and intensities, with an emphasis on overall physical development. In-season training, on the other hand, shifts towards maintenance of fitness levels, injury prevention, and performance optimization. The volume and intensity of workouts are often reduced to account for the physical demands of practices and games.

How should players transition between off-season and in-season training?

The transition between off-season and in-season training should be gradual to avoid overtraining and reduce injury risk. Players should begin to incorporate more sport-specific drills and reduce overall training volume as the competitive season approaches. It’s also important to establish a tapering strategy to ensure players are fresh and at peak performance for important games and tournaments.

Essential Exercises for Lacrosse Conditioning

Howley’s book features 190 exercises specifically selected to enhance lacrosse performance. While the full range of exercises is comprehensive, some key movements are particularly beneficial for lacrosse players:

• Olympic lifts and variations (e.g., power cleans, hang cleans)
• Squats and lunges (focusing on single-leg variations)
• Plyometric exercises (box jumps, depth jumps, lateral bounds)
• Core stability work (planks, rotational exercises, anti-rotation holds)
• Agility drills (shuttle runs, cone drills, change of direction exercises)
• Sprint training (both linear and multi-directional)

How do these exercises translate to on-field performance?

Each of these exercises targets specific physical attributes crucial for lacrosse success. Olympic lifts develop explosive power for shots and checks. Squats and lunges build lower body strength for acceleration and deceleration. Plyometrics enhance the ability to generate quick, powerful movements. Core stability improves balance and rotational power for shooting and passing. Agility drills and sprint training directly translate to the quick, multidirectional movements required during gameplay.

Injury Prevention Strategies for Lacrosse Players

While improving performance is a primary goal of conditioning, injury prevention is equally important for long-term success in lacrosse. Howley’s approach incorporates specific strategies to reduce injury risk and keep players on the field.

What are common injuries in lacrosse and how can they be prevented?

Common lacrosse injuries include knee ligament sprains, shoulder dislocations, ankle sprains, and concussions. Preventative measures include:

• Strengthening exercises for stabilizing muscles around joints
• Proper warm-up and cool-down routines
• Flexibility and mobility work to improve range of motion
• Balance and proprioception training
• Proper technique instruction for sport-specific movements
• Gradual progression of training intensity and volume

By incorporating these elements into a comprehensive conditioning program, players can significantly reduce their risk of both acute and overuse injuries.

Nutrition and Recovery for Optimal Lacrosse Performance

While physical training is crucial, proper nutrition and recovery strategies are equally important for maximizing lacrosse performance. Howley’s approach emphasizes the role of these factors in overall athlete development.

What nutritional considerations are important for lacrosse players?

Lacrosse players should focus on a well-balanced diet that provides adequate energy for training and competition. Key nutritional considerations include:

• Proper hydration before, during, and after activity
• Adequate carbohydrate intake to fuel high-intensity efforts
• Sufficient protein for muscle recovery and growth
• Timing of meals and snacks around training sessions and games
• Strategic use of sports nutrition products (e.g., energy gels, electrolyte drinks) during long tournaments or intense training periods

How can players optimize their recovery between training sessions and games?

Effective recovery strategies are essential for maintaining performance and reducing injury risk. Some key recovery techniques include:

1. Adequate sleep (aiming for 8-10 hours per night for young athletes)
2. Active recovery sessions (light exercise, stretching, yoga)
3. Proper post-exercise nutrition (protein and carbohydrates within 30 minutes of activity)
4. Hydration and electrolyte replacement
5. Use of recovery tools (foam rollers, massage guns, compression garments)
6. Stress management and relaxation techniques

By prioritizing recovery, players can maintain consistent performance throughout a long season and reduce the risk of overtraining and burnout.

Implementing a Successful Lacrosse Conditioning Program

With the wealth of information provided in Howley’s book and the importance of individualized training, implementing a successful lacrosse conditioning program requires careful planning and execution.

How can coaches and players effectively implement a comprehensive conditioning program?

To successfully implement a lacrosse conditioning program, consider the following steps:

1. Conduct thorough individual assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses
2. Set clear, measurable goals for physical development and on-field performance
3. Design periodized training plans that account for the competitive calendar
4. Incorporate a variety of exercises and drills to target all aspects of fitness
5. Regularly monitor progress and adjust the program as needed
6. Educate players on the importance of proper nutrition and recovery
7. Foster a culture of consistent effort and dedication to the training process

By following these guidelines and utilizing the resources provided in “Complete Conditioning for Lacrosse,” coaches and players can develop comprehensive training programs that lead to significant improvements in on-field performance.

As the sport of lacrosse continues to evolve and become more competitive, the importance of proper strength and conditioning cannot be overstated. By implementing a well-designed, sport-specific training program, players can enhance their physical abilities, reduce injury risk, and ultimately excel on the field. Whether you’re a coach, player, or strength and conditioning professional, the principles outlined in Howley’s book provide a roadmap for achieving lacrosse excellence through dedicated and intelligent physical preparation.

Complete Conditioning for Lacrosse (Complete Conditioning for Sports) by Howley, Tom: new (2015)

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Bibliographic Details

Title: Complete Conditioning for Lacrosse (Complete…

Publisher: Human Kinetics, Inc.

Publication Date: 2015

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis:

Today’s lacrosse players are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever before. A focused program of strength, speed, and conditioning has become essential to anyone serious about on-field success. Complete Conditioning for Lacrosse features a comprehensive approach that develops players’ physical abilities as well as the lacrosse-specific skills their positions require.

Renowned Cornell University strength and conditioning coach Tom Howley presents the exercises, drills, and programs he’s relied on to make the Big Red a perennial powerhouse. In Complete Conditioning for Lacrosse you’ll find a detailed individual assessment protocol that will help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Using these results, you’ll work through the ready-to-use off-season and in-season programs by tailoring each workout to individual needs. Featuring 190 exercises, each accompanied by step-by-step instructions, photo sequences, and unparalleled advice on training, this resource is everything you need for raising your game and improving your team.

Whether you are a coach, player, strength and conditioning professional, or athletic trainer, Complete Conditioning for Lacrosse is your guide to excellence on the field and in the training room.

About the Author:

Tom Howley has been the strength and conditioning coach at Cornell University since 1995. He oversees the design and implementation of athletic performance programs for 32 of Cornell’s varsity sports.

From 1991 to 1995, Howley was the assistant director of strength and conditioning at East Carolina University. While there, the Pirates participated in two football bowl games (the 1992 Peach Bowl and the 1995 Liberty Bowl), qualified for the 1994 NCAA baseball regional tournament, and played in the 1993 NCAA basketball tournament.

From 1989 to 1991, Howley was a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach and assistant football coach at Auburn University, where he earned his master’s degree in exercise physiology. During that time Auburn’s football team was the 1989 Southeastern Conference co-champion, 1990 Hall of Fame Bowl champion, and 1991 Peach Bowl champion.

In 1988 Howley earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Tulane University, where he was a three-year letterman and two-year starting offensive lineman on the football team. . As a senior he received the New Orleans Quarterback Club Student-Athlete Award.

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Lacrosse Strength Training (Complete Guide) – Horton Barbell

I’ve been working as a sports performance coach with college athletes for almost twenty years, both as a Strength and Conditioning Coach and as a Sports Scientist. I’ve also been fortunate over that time to work with some of the best minds in Strength and Conditioning for lacrosse.

In this Lacrosse Strength Training Guide, my goal is to provide you with an outline of everything you should be doing both in the off-season and in-season to maximize your performance on the field.

I’m going to discuss when you should start strength training, how many days per week to train, what exercises to focus on and even how to structure your workouts.

First things first, what’s the best age to start strength training?

When Should I Start Strength Training For Lacrosse?

There is a long-held myth by many in the general public that lifting weights will stunt your growth. However, study after study and report after report over the years has completely debunked this myth. The Mayo Clinic even recommends that children as young as 7 or 8 can begin strength training.

In my opinion, youth athletes can begin lifting weights once they have the mental maturity and focus needed to strength train safely. For some athletes, this might be 7 or 8 years old. For others, it might be later.

Can the athlete listen and follow directions? Can the athlete stay focused on a single task? Can the athlete stay engaged throughout a training session?

These are the questions that I would have parents ask themselves about their youth athlete(s). If the answers to all 3 are yes, then you could consider strength training. If not, I would suggest waiting a little bit longer.

What Exercises Should a Youth Athlete Begin With?

Youth athletes, regardless of sport, should stick with the basics. Learning proper technique and form should be the only focus at this age. Exercises like Push-Ups, Pull-Ups, Bodyweight Squats, Lunges and Sit-Ups are all strength training exercises that don’t even require a piece of equipment.

Those simple bodyweight movement patterns will translate over to exercises like Goblet Squats and Dumbbell Bench Press when the athlete is ready.

Again, I can’t emphasize this enough. Technique should be the only priority. Strength will come as a natural byproduct at this age. But, the movements they learn at 7 to 10 years old will carry with them for a lifetime.

Once a lacrosse player reaches high school, we can start to get into more advanced training techniques that I’m going to dive into now.

Off-Season Lacrosse Strength Training

The tips and advice that I’m going to go through now will apply to most lacrosse players from high school and even transitioning into college. But, keep in mind there are always exceptions to all rules and situations.

Days Per Week

High school lacrosse players should be strength training 3 to 4 days per week.

Whether to strength train 3 or 4 days per week really comes down to schedule and personal preferences. One isn’t necessarily “better” than the other.

Personally, I prefer a schedule of lifting 4 days per week, but I know of some very successful college strength programs that lift 3 days per week during certain portions of the off-season and have great success.

The lifts for a 3 day-per-week program tend to be more total body lifts and are slightly longer (each individual workout) than 4 day-per-week schedules that are often more segmented and slightly shorter.

Ultimately, you just need to decide which lifting schedule fits your overall schedule better.

Phase I – Early Off-Season/Post Season

What should your lacrosse strength training program be focusing on? Well, in my opinion, it depends on the time of the year.

The first phase is the first few weeks directly after the season. Players need a couple of weeks either completely off or with minimal work to help recover both mentally and physically from the grueling lacrosse season.

Active recovery workouts that include activities like foam rolling, stretching, range of motion exercises and pre-hab type movements should be the most prevalent during this time period.

Phase II – Off-Season

When the season wraps up in late spring*, the next soccer season is months away, so conditioning doesn’t need to be a priority at this time. This makes spring and summer a great time to develop strength.

*When your season ends may be different depending on your level/league, but the same overall principles will still apply.

The strength training program should reflect that.

Overall volume (sets and reps) can be higher to help promote strength and hypertrophy. You’re basically building a new foundation for each athlete that they’ll be able to utilize throughout the off-season and going into the next year.

Coach’s Note: Off-season goals will be dependent on the individual and/or team as well. For example, a men’s freshman lacrosse player who needs to add 15 pounds of muscle and barely squats 100 pounds should have different training priorities than a senior who is at his desired bodyweight and squats twice his bodyweight. These are just general guidelines.

Phase III – Late Off-Season/Pre-Season

Phase III, or the Pre-Season phase, is typically 6 to 8 weeks from the official start of camp.

Strength training priorities shift as the off-season progresses. Now, with the season getting closer, conditioning will play a larger part in our overall strength and conditioning plan.

In the weight room, the strength training plan will also shift. The strength and hypertrophy focus of the early off-season will shift to a focus on power. The sets of six to ten reps (on the big compound movements) will be few and far between and sets of 3, 2 and even singles will play a much larger role.

In-Season Soccer Lacrosse Training

One of the biggest mistakes a lacrosse player can make is to stop strength training once the season starts. This is due to multiple factors.

First and foremost, reducing your risk of injury is one of the primary benefits of strength training. However, you can start to lose strength after only a couple of weeks of not training. Strength training during the season will keep your strength levels up and lower your risk of injury.

Second, championships are won at the end of the season, not at the beginning. Not strength training during the season means you will be at your weakest of the entire year when it’s time to play for a ring.

Finally, strength training during the season will help you get a jump start on your next off-season. Instead of spending months just getting back the strength you lost, you’ll be able to start making new gains immediately. Over the course of a 4-year career (or longer including high school and college), the difference this can make is staggering.

Days Per Week

How many days a week you should train in-season depends on the game schedule and the amount of playing time you’re getting on gameday.

Schedule

Lacrosse can have a somewhat chaotic and inconsistent schedule. Depending on the level you’re playing, the games per week and the days on which you’re playing can vary – sometimes wildly.

It’s important to look at the schedule and plan out ahead of time when you’re going to workout (and how).

A break in the schedule might mean you can get two or even three days of training in. Playing 3 games in 8 days? Your workouts might only consist of an active recovery session or two.

Playing Time

If you’re starting or playing significant minutes off the bench, then your priority should obviously be on maximizing your performance each and every game.

However, if you’re not seeing minutes on the field or even redshirting, then I would strongly suggest continuing to emphasize your physical development.

I like to have at least one extra lifting session with this group of players per week so that they can continue to improve even though they’re missing out on those game minutes.

In-Season Priorities

During the season, our strength training priorities shift again. Our time in the weight room is more limited during the season, especially with the players playing significant minutes.

We want to maximize that time with mobility work and knee, ankle and shoulder work to help keep joints healthy and functioning well. But, we will also use that time to continue developing strength. We want to maintain (or even gain) strength during the season.

We do this by lowering the overall volume but maintaining the intensity (percentages used) of what would be typical of the off-season.

So, for example, instead of 5 sets of 5 reps for Back Squat at 75%, we may do 4 sets of 3 reps at 75%. This allows us to keep our strength but reduce the amount of ‘wear and tear’ on the body.

What are the Best Exercises for Lacrosse Players?

I like to think about exercise selection broken down into four different categories:

• Olympic Lifts for Power Development
• Compound Lifts for Strength Development
• Supplemental Lifts for Hypertrophy
• Core Work for Core Strength and Stability

Now, Olympic Lifts do not work just power development and Compound movements do not just work strength development – it’s simply their main emphasis.

Coach’s Tip: Regardless of how “good” an exercise is, you should only do exercises that you are technically proficient at. This goes for both coaches and players. If you don’t know how to do an exercise, don’t try to coach it and don’t try to do it. There are always alternatives for ANY exercise. There is no need to get yourself hurt trying to do an exercise you don’t know how to do.

Olympic Lifts

I am a big proponent of the Olympic lifts for lacrosse players. Olympic Lifts include the lifts themselves and all their variations. Power Clean, Hang Clean, Hang Snatch, Clean Pulls, Push Presses and Power Jerks are just some of the Olympic movements I like to include in my programming.

Each has its own proper teaching progression. I start simple and continue to add more complexity as players progress. This allows us to minimize the amount of time spent coaching and maximizing the amount of time spent training.

For example, when freshmen first arrive on campus, we do not start with a full Clean right away. Instead, we start with a Trap Bar Deadlift and a Front Squat. Those movements lay the foundation for being able to properly setup and pull weight from the floor and receive the bar in a front rack position.

After a few weeks, I’ll introduce a Hang Power Snatch and a Clean Pull. A lacrosse player in my program won’t do a full Clean (starting from the floor and catching in a full Front Squat) until after a full year in the program.

And, by the way, you can get plenty strong doing exercises like Trap Bar Deadlifts and Front Squats – they’re definitely not just for learning technique. This brings me to the second type of exercise that should be a part of your lacrosse strength training, Compound Lifts.

Compound Lifts

Compound Lifts are exercises that involve multiple joints and multiple muscle groups. These are exercises like Squats, Deadlifts, Pull-Ups and Bench Press.

If you’re serious about developing strength then Compound Lifts should be a staple in your strength training program. However, no different than Olympic Lifts, you should only do exercises that you know how to do correctly. Trying to Deadlift heavy weight with poor technique is a recipe for injury.

Olympic Lifts and Compound Lifts should take up around 80% (or more) of the time spent in the weight room. These are the exercises that are going to give you the most “bang for your buck”. These are also the exercises that look like actual athletic movements that are performed on a lacrosse field.

If you’re spending most of your time in the weight room over in the dumbbell area doing curls and flexing in the mirror, trust me, you’re getting outworked.

Supplemental Lifts

These are your single-joint exercises. Lateral Raises, Dumbbell Curls and Tricep Extensions fall into this category. Don’t get me wrong, some of these exercises are the most fun to do, but they should be exactly what their name says – supplemental.

A few sets of Supplemental Lifts are a good way to help develop extra hypertrophy at the end of a workout.

Core Work for Lacrosse

Photo Credit (Srdjan Randjelovic / shutterstock.com)

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. I think (maybe I’m wrong, who knows) all of us know at this point that having a strong core is important.

Just don’t get bogged down doing Crunches every day and checking the box for Core Work. Training your core comes in many different forms.

Weighted exercises like Weighted Sit-ups and Cable Crunches can build strength by adding extra resistance. Exercises like Planks and Stir The Pot will emphasize and improve core stability. Many medicine ball exercises like Side Throws can add rotational core work as well as develop power.

Hopefully, you get the point I’m trying to make. Challenging your core in different ways is vastly superior to laying on your back and doing bodyweight core exercises every day.

What Order Should Exercises Go In?

Properly organizing your workouts is a big component of maximizing the effectiveness of every set and every rep. Exercises should be ordered in pretty much the same order I just put them in – Olympic Lifts, Compound Lifts, Supplemental Lifts and then Core Work.

In general, exercise order should follow two main rules:

• Fast Movements –> Slow Movements
• Multi-Joint Movements –> Single Joint Movements

Explosive exercises should be done toward the beginning of the workout when the body, particularly the CNS (Central Nervous System), is fresh. This will ensure that you get the most out of these power-developing movements.

Doing these types of lifts while fresh will also help to reduce injury. Fatigue can be the enemy of technique, so doing the most technical lifts while freshest only makes sense.

After your power movements should be the Compound Multi-Joint exercises. Exercises like Back Squats and Bench Press need multiple muscle groups firing at full strength to get the most out of each movement. Smoking your triceps at the beginning of a workout will create a weak link in your Bench Press, therefore reducing its effectiveness.

Final Thoughts

Simply showing up in the weight room and working hard will only get you so far. Yes, you’ll be one step ahead of the players that just show up and check a box and two steps ahead of the players that don’t show up at all.

However, to really get an advantage over your top competition, you should be trying to maximize your training every day. Choosing the right days to train, selecting the right exercises with the correct amount of sets and reps and organizing it all together.

If it all seems like a lot to manage, I understand. It’s the same feeling I get when I look under the hood of my car. I know the engine makes the car go, but if you asked me to point out the manifold I’d be in trouble.

My suggestion would be to find a quality strength and conditioning coach and/or program to help guide you through this process.

Finally, if you need a strength and conditioning program, I have them available in my shop. They are the same types of programs that I use when training lacrosse athletes myself.

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Wycombe Abbey Private School – Boarding Schools in the UK

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Founded

1896

Programs

GCSE, A-level

Age

11-18 years

Accommodation 90 003

Residence

Wycombe Abbey is the UK’s top girls’ boarding school. It was founded in 1896 by Frances Dove, who actively fought for equal opportunities for girls in the Victorian era. Wycombe Abbey is famous for its high academic performance, which is primarily based on the girls’ love of learning.

The school ranks at the top of the rankings every year, and the final exam scores are always among the best in the UK. Girls perform in different disciplines, achieving excellent results in exams. The results of the GCSE and A-Level courses in 2018 were outstanding, 95.2% of all students on the GCSE course received A * -A grades. On the A-Level course, 84. 3% received A * -A grades.

Students are provided with unlimited opportunities on the grounds of the school, located on 170 acres of green areas, which are saturated with the tranquility of rural life. Nearby is the city of High Wycombe, where girls go on weekends to go to the movies, go shopping and take a break from classes. From the school you can easily get to London, and the path to Heathrow Airport is only 30 minutes.

The secret of the school’s success lies in the fact that the girls live near the school and are in constant interaction both with each other and with the school staff. School policy is aimed at stimulating and inspiring girls during the school day, allowing them to reveal their talents and abilities. In the school community, each of the students is perceived as an individual.

The school has about 650 students.

Director (as of 2023)

Joe Duncan, Education – University of St. Andrews, MA in English Literature; University of Cambridge (postgraduate certificate with the right to conduct teaching activities).

Famous high school graduates

• Penelope Fitzgerald, poetess, writer (“Bookshop”, “Blue Flower”).

• Sally Phillips, theater, film and television actress (“Bridget Jones’s Diary” films, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”).

• Sonya Walger, television actress (TV series Lost, Remember What Will Be).

• Lady Nicholas Windsor, member of the British Royal Family.

Key factors

• Wycombe Abbey is an outstanding school by any criteria, including high academic performance. The school has a long tradition of academic excellence and is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top schools in examinations.

• The school has an impressive sports reputation. In 2015/2016, the school achieved 16 national finals in eight different sports, as well as international, regional and local success. Since 2017, it has been ranked in the top 10 independent schools in the UK for sports by School Sport Magazine, ranking eighth overall and being the third best school for girls nationwide.

• Students enter the world’s leading universities with the highest passing scores. Among them: universities Oxbridge, Russell Group, prestigious schools of art, theater and music, Harvard University, Stanford, Princeton, etc.

• The school organizes an internship for its students. Every girl in the school is a member of Futurewise, which offers a variety of courses spanning professions from law and medicine to journalism and media.

Facilities

The school has a functional Davis sports complex, which includes: an indoor 25-meter swimming pool with 6 lanes, water polo rooms, a multi-purpose sports hall, a climbing wall, a dance studio, a fitness center, 4 courts for playing squash, fencing hall.

The school also has five lacrosse courts, an athletics track, three English lapta fields, a full-fledged football field, indoor and outdoor netball courts, and 20 tennis courts.

The school has its own center for the visual arts, which includes a student theater, as well as a special center for the study of modern foreign languages.

Program

GCSE

A two-year general secondary education certificate program. Mandatory for studying 6 subjects, 4 subjects are studied by choice.

A-level

A two-year university preparation program. Students choose 4 or 5 subjects for in-depth study. The school has support in English for girls for whom English is not their first language; this includes IELTS and IGCSE tuition for students who join the Sixth Form without a GCSE English qualification.
More about the A-level program

Accommodation

The school has a separate comfortable house for girls aged 11: thanks to living here, they can get used to the academic environment of the new school, to life away from home and relatives, quickly adapt and make new friends . The remaining 9 houses are intended for students aged 12-17: each accommodates 45 people, the residents are divided according to age.

Sports

Pupils are given the opportunity to try out various sports with a specialized trainer. Every year, trips are organized for female students to a tennis tournament in Florida. Among the available sports are rock climbing, basketball, badminton, water polo, horseback riding, golf, judo, karate, kickboxing, pilates, squash, fencing, tennis, rowing, lacrosse. The school lacrosse team is recognized as one of the best in the UK.

Extracurricular activities

Optional extracurricular activities include: various academic societies, visual arts, photography, various dance groups, ballet, drama, music and participation in various orchestras and groups, and many others.

Weekly social events such as DVD nights, birthday parties and smoothies are held in the houses. Each house also has many fun activities such as a “Holiday at Home” or family outings to movies, restaurants and boat trips throughout the semester.

There is a lot of competition between houses. The girls learn to work as a team, overcome differences, develop resilience, and ultimately deepen friendships. For every girl there is competition for the house, whether it is a sports competition at the end of each term, a music competition, a debating competition, etc.

Weekend activities include activities such as zumba classes, spa days, trips to Thorpe Park the Warner Bros and Harry Potter film studios, skiing in the Snow Zone, shopping in London, singing in Oxford and orienteering in the countryside.

Cost, 2022-2023

£14,700 per semester.
There are 3 semesters in the academic year.

Included in the price

Additional charge

• Registration fee – £350

• Deposit – £14,700

• Extra lessons

• Air travel

• Transfers to/from airport

• Visa

• Educational company services

• Selection of a guardian, which is a requirement of the British school

Paradise Education London Services and Fees

How to Choose a School

About Secondary Education in the UK

Ampleforth College Private School – Boarding Schools in the UK

Ampleforth College (Ampleforth College) – a private boarding school, one of the leading Catholic boarding schools in the world. The school is located in one of the areas of North Yorkshire, outstanding for its natural beauty, in the village of Ampleforth (Ampleforth) in the north of England, about 4.5 hours drive from London. Ampleforth College is a thriving educational institution, and the close relationship between monastery and school provides an education that goes beyond high standards of learning to provide boys and girls with a spiritual guide for life.

Ampleforth college was founded in 1802 by Benedictine monks from Ampleforth Abbey. It was originally a school for boys. The first pensions opened their doors in 1926. And in 1929, the school acquired Gilling Castle, located nearby, in which they opened Gilling Castle Prep, which later merged with another preparatory school and was named St. Martin’s Ampleforth for kids ages 3-13. In 2002, the first girls were admitted to the school, and the school completely switched to co-education.

The school has about 600 students in total.

Director (as of 2023)

Robin Dyer, Education – Durham University, Degree in Political Science. Robin is a former professional athlete (cricketer).

Famous graduates of the school

• Rupert James Hector Everett, English actor and writer. He starred in the films: “Best Friend’s Wedding”, “Shakespeare in Love”, “Inspector Gadget”, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, “Stardust”.
• Colonel Sir Archibald David Stirling, British Army officer, mountaineer and founder of the Special Air Service.
• Lord Fellows, English actor, writer, film director and screenwriter, member of the House of Lords. He wrote the screenplay for Gosford Park, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2002.
• Anthony Gormley, British sculptor.
• James Norton, English actor (British TV series Happy Valley, Grantchester, War & Peace).

Key factors

• Ampleforth college works with the following professional academic institutions:
• HMC (The Headmasters’ & Headmistresses’ Conference) – a professional association of heads of leading independent schools in the world;
• CISC (Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference) – Conference of Catholic Independent Schools;
• ISC (The Independent Schools Council) – The Council of Independent Schools, brings together seven associations of independent schools, their leaders, treasurers and governors.
• The college accepts children of all denominations and religions. The official religion at the school is Catholicism. All students must study religious studies, attend divine services twice a week and take part in morning and evening prayers. Parents considering this school should specifically clarify school rules and requirements.
• Academically, the school regularly demonstrates high results, every year consistently getting into the top 150-200 of the best private schools in the UK.
• Every year, at least 90% of graduates go to universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
• The purpose of the school is to educate children spiritually, morally and intellectually. The school strives to instill in every student a desire to achieve excellence in learning, sports and self-development.

Equipment

Luxurious area of ​​809 hectares allows not only to successfully learn English, but also to play sports, dance, badminton, volleyball, orienteering, swimming. Thanks to its fantastic location and excellent conditions, Ampleforth College offers a wide range of interesting activities to all students. There are ten boarding houses on the school grounds, each of which is managed by employees who live with their families. Whatever the house where your son or daughter is placed, they will be under the care of an experienced teacher, supported by a whole team.

About 70 students of all ages live in each house in a friendly atmosphere. The school has six outdoor courts and one full indoor netball court. The all-weather outdoor courts allow all teams to play at the same time and also allows the school to host tournaments. The college has a 25-meter indoor swimming pool.

Program

Year 9

The school strives to provide a comprehensive curriculum for its students. AT 9In the classroom, the student can try a wide range of subjects from the curriculum. The school believes that in this way students will be better prepared for an informed choice of subjects when studying on the GCSE and A-Level programs. Upon admission, each student of the 9th year of study is allocated to the initial courses of German, Italian or Spanish. Some students may have a reduced academic schedule due to special learning needs or music classes, as well as supplementary English (EAL) lessons.

GSCE

General Certificate Program. Mandatory for studying 6 subjects, 4 subjects are studied by choice.

A-level

A two-year university preparation program. Students choose 4 or 5 subjects for in-depth study. All students take a course in Christian theology.
More about the A-level program

Accommodation

Ampleforth college has eight houses for boys:

Cuthbert’s (Saint Cuthbert) is Ampleforth’s oldest boarding house, operating since 1926. Students in the first year sleep in residences of six people, the next two years in double rooms, and while studying in high school, they live in single rooms with private bathrooms.

St Thomas’ House (House of St. Thomas) was founded in 1946 to the north of the campus, within the National Park. The house was expanded in the early 1980s and accommodates 53 students.

St. Dunstan’s (Saint Dantin) was founded in 1935 and moved from the original school buildings to Nevill House in the late 1970s. There are currently over 60 boys at St Dunstan’s.

St. Edward’s & St. Wilfrid’s (St Edward’s and St Wilfrid’s House) was opened as a purpose built home in 2001 when St Wilfrid’s and St Edward’s houses merged. First year students sleep in rooms of six, for the next two years in double rooms and in the senior school in single rooms with bathrooms.

St. Hugh’s (House of St. Hugh) was founded in 1956 by Father Benedict Webb. This house moved to specially equipped boarding houses in 2004.

St. Hugh’s has views of the playing fields and Ampleforth Valley. Accommodation in a boarding house in quadruple rooms for the first year, and then in double and triple rooms with a bathroom and single bedrooms for high school students.

St. John’s (House of St. John) was founded in 1957 and is located in one of the old buildings of the college, recently restored. The house can accommodate 65 first-year boys in rooms of six; the second and third years – in double rooms, which have separate bathrooms; high school students live in their own rooms, many of which have bathrooms.

Oswald’s (St. Oswald’s House) is located in the heart of the school overlooking the valley. There are 62 boys living in St. Oswald. The house was founded in 1926 and is one of four original boarding houses in Ampleforth. St. Oswald’s House began functioning in the central part of the school, but was moved in 1973 to a purpose-built Nevill House. Boarding accommodation is provided in rooms of six for the first three years, and then in single rooms for high school students.

Three houses for girls:

St. Aidan’s (St. Aidan) Founded as one of four original houses in 1926, St Aidan’s became the home of the first girls in Ampleforth. This modern building, completed in 2002, is located to the east of the university campus. The final stage of the development of the house was in 2010 when the house was extended to provide additional space.

Bede’s (St. Bede) is one of the four oldest houses in Ampleforth, located on Aumit Hill. The first girls moved into the carefully restored building in 2006. The house can accommodate over 60 girls. First year students are housed in rooms of four, then they all live in single rooms, many of which have bathrooms.

Margaret’s (St. Margaret’s House) was established in 2004 and is located on the south side of campus overlooking the valley and playing fields. The house can accommodate 70 girls. In the first year, girls live in rooms of four, girls in the second and third years are accommodated in double rooms with private bathrooms, and girls in the senior school have their own single rooms with bathrooms.

Sports

Ampleforth provides a sports program that benefits students of all ages and abilities. Sports activities are compulsory. Sports to choose from: rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, squash, swimming, tennis, badminton, golf, basketball, fencing, athletics, football, cross-country running, lacrosse, horseback riding. Students compete for the school at the national level in rugby competition.

Sports such as football, tennis and golf students can practice with a professional coach for 5 hours a week for an additional fee.

Additional activities

In addition to sports, students are optionally invited to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Cup program (community work, sports, expeditions) and engage in military sports training. It is possible to pass the Red Cross first aid exams.

Ampleforth has over 35 clubs such as science, karate, bridge, public speaking, chess, Red Cross, photography, golf.

Weekend life at Ampleforth College is as busy as it is during the week: clubs, events, sports, offering a variety of opportunities to discover the talents of students.

Organizes a program of outreach activities that take place on weekends. Some of them give students the opportunity to try something new, others simply offer the opportunity to have fun by interacting with peers from other houses.

More than 30% of students play musical instruments. The school has many musical groups, including an orchestra, bands, ensembles of strings and wind instruments.

Sculpture and photography can be studied at the school.