New Performance Curriculum launched to help sports scholars reach top of their game

Saints Sport at the University of St Andrews has launched a new Performance Curriculum – an online course developed in partnership with sports medics and a professional footballer.

The programme is aimed at supporting the University’s elite performance athletes and sports scholars on the performance sport programme to achieve the highest level in their sport whilst maintaining world class academic standards.

The development of the curriculum was led by Saints Sport’s Ian Gaunt (Deputy Director) and Dr Joan Strang (Performance Sport Coordinator) and aims to position the University of St Andrews as at the forefront of Sports Performance through collaboration with both the wider University and external experts in their field.

Performance athletes at St Andrews have access to top-class facilities and the highest level of technical and tactical coaching, strength and conditioning, and fitness offerings in University sport. The Performance Curriculum will offer student athletes enhanced support in sports medicine, performance lifestyle, sport psychology, nutrition, analytics, and physiology.

The performance athletes have received in-person support and education on the themes of anti-doping, menstrual cycle and performance and nutrition. The first online modules in the new series have been developed in partnership with sports medics Dr Andrew Hall and Dr Ciara Grant and focus on Living an Athletic Lifestyle, Optimising Athletic Health, and Sports Injuries & Injury Prevention.

Dr Andrew Hall, from the School of Medicine, is a SCREDS Clinical Lecturer and Specialty Registrar in Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery. A strong advocate for physical activity and sport, Andrew is pursuing dual-training as a physician in Sport & Exercise Medicine (SEM) and works in elite performance environments as Club Doctor for Heart of Midlothian FC, and as part of the matchday medical teams for Glasgow Warriors and the Scotland Rugby international teams.

Dr Ciara Grant, a professional football player at Hibernian Football Club and Medical Doctor, is currently undertaking a part-time Masters Degree in Sport and Exercise Medicine at the University of Bath around her professional sport commitments. Ciara previously played for Rangers Football Club and Heart of Midlothian Football Club, and held roles as a Clinical Medical Lecturer and Tutor.

Ian Gaunt, Deputy Director of Sport said: “We are really excited about the semester ahead and are delighted to announce the first online module of the Saints Sport Performance Curriculum. The Curriculum forms part of our commitment to supporting high performing athletes at the University of St Andrews and has been developed with the unique needs of our student athletes in mind. The curriculum will be delivered by experts in the field of sports medicine who have gained experience at the highest level of professional sport. The series builds on the workshops delivered during pre-season and provide a practical guidance on enhancing life as a student athlete at St Andrews.”

Dr Andrew Hall said: “Delivering a High Performance lifestyle means optimising training, recovery, and health, as well as preventing time loss through injury and illness. The Performance Curriculum will help our athletes make better choices in order to reach their full potential, and to leave St Andrews with the tools to build success.

“Our aim is to evolve continually to be at the forefront of Performance Medicine. Our interventions are underpinned by state-of-the-art scientific understanding and evidence-based best practice, and informed by our work in collaboration with Dr Ronan Kearney, an elite Sports Medicine Consultant in Dublin.”

Dr Ciara Grant said: “As a former high performance student athlete, I know first-hand the unique challenges students face. Our aim is to help educate student athletes to optimise their health, training, performance and academics during their time at St Andrews. The Performance Curriculum will help prepare students for living a high performance lifestyle now, and in the future.”