Questions parents ask

HDperformance Academy is a term-time football education day: a full school day, every week of term, that combines football coaching, strength and conditioning, and classroom learning about the game. Alongside the football, children build confidence, teamwork, resilience and kindness. It's led by our coaches and mentors, who have been through the academy pathway themselves.

Any boy or girl aged 8–15 who loves football, or wants to. It suits home-educated children and children whose school agrees a weekly day with us. It also works well for children who thrive with active, hands-on learning.

Ages 8 to 15. On the day, children work in small groups matched by stage rather than strict age, so everyone is challenged at the right level. For younger children, our coaching sessions start from age 5.

Term time, Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, at our flagship centre at Club Doncaster Sports Village, Doncaster, and at new locations as they open. Each child is placed on one day a week, based on their age and ability.

If your child attends school, the day needs your headteacher's agreement. We'll give you and the school everything needed to consider it, including the curriculum, safeguarding policies and how we report progress. The classroom sessions build communication, numeracy and analysis through football, so the day adds to their education. Home-educated children can join directly.

There are three strands:

• Pitch sessions: ball mastery, dribbling, passing, first touch, finishing.
• Strength & conditioning: speed, agility, strength, mobility, injury prevention.
• Classroom: tactics, formations, match analysis, performance data, and how professional football works.

Each month follows a Learn, Develop, Apply, Review cycle.

No. There are no auditions. Every child is welcome, whatever their level, and coaching is pitched to where each child is now.

Fees and full details are in our prospectus. Request your copy using the form on the Academy page.

Children work in small groups with a high coach-to-player ratio, so everyone gets real attention.

We keep small groups with a high coach-to-player ratio, and there are never fewer than two adults on site.

Arrival at 9:00, then:

• a wellbeing check-in
• a football session
• strength & conditioning
• lunch
• a classroom session
• small-sided games and challenges
• prizes before home time at 3:00

Through teamwork, rotating captaincy, weekly prizes, presenting their work in the classroom, and setting and hitting their own goals. They spend every week with coaches who expect effort and celebrate kindness.

Yes, every week. Sessions are age-appropriate: movement, coordination and agility for the younger age groups, building to speed, power and functional strength for older ones. They include testing, so progress is tracked.

Please bring:

• football boots for grass and astro trainers for 4G
• shin pads
• weather-appropriate training kit
• a named water bottle

We provide all balls, training equipment and classroom materials, and every child receives an Academy kit pack.

A healthy packed lunch, snacks for the morning break, and plenty of water. Please tell us about any allergies when you register. We operate a nut-free policy.

• Every adult holds an enhanced DBS check and current safeguarding training.
• We have a named Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• A paediatric first aider is on site all day.
• Children are signed in and out, and collected only by named adults.
• Guest speakers are always supervised.
• Full terms are provided on registration.

Tell us when you register. We hold medical, allergy and emergency-contact details for every child, and a paediatric first aider is on site all day. If your child has additional needs, talk to us. We'll work with you on the best way to support them.

• Weekly updates.
• Progress testing every month, recorded in their Player Passport.
• A termly report and certificate.
• You can contact the coach directly at any time.

Fill in the form on the Academy page to register your interest or request a prospectus. We'll be in touch to arrange a free taster day and talk through the next steps.