University of Wolverhampton degree students are getting ahead of the game after partnering with a leading analysis company. Students on Coaching degree courses in the Institute of Sport based at the University’s Walsall Campus, have teamed up with Hudl – a leading sports technology company that works with teams, athletes and sports professionals.

Founded in Nebraska in the USA, Hudl offers products that empower more than 150,000 global sports teams at every level, from grassroots to professional organisations including Premier League Clubs and the National Basketball Association, to capture sports performance with video, analytics and data as well as providing recruitment and professional consultation services.

Students have been capturing football performance and other activities as part of their module learning, filming games of football at Sandwell College, Walsall FC Academy, West Bromwich Albion Foundation Elite College Teams and local clubs such as New Park Village.

The partnership focuses on employability and pathways of working as well as supporting clubs and teams.

Neil Harding, Head of Coaching at Walsall FC Academy, said: “Having students from the University of Wolverhampton that can use Hudl Analysis to support the Academy and coach development is really helpful for our work. Working together is important to our partnership and long may it continue.” Rus Smith, Football Coaching and Performance Course Lead at the University, said: “The more our students can gain live learning with real industry experience for coaching people and teams, the better we can aid the pathway of future careers.

“In coaching the use of analysis is an ever growing trend that will aid employability for our graduates for years to come. Working with Hudl gives us real quality and credibility that offers an industry standard kite-mark of quality in analysis. These club and partner links and pathways are embedded into the Football Coaching and Performance Degree and this most certainly enables continued progression with careers for the future of coaching.”

University of Wolverhampton graduates are working alongside various University teams, Birmingham City Women’s Regional Talent Club, West Bromwich Albion Women’s FC and Foundation teams and use Hudl Analysis in their roles.

Connah Chalmers, a Football Coaching and Performance Degree graduate, Alumni Mentor and an analyst at Birmingham City RTC, said: “As a Football Coaching Student, the alumni mentoring scheme helped and inspired me and it’s great to give back now. I enjoy the opportunity to share my experience and industry insight in analysis with current students, encouraging and helping them to prepare for their future careers.”

Anthony Collins, a Football Coaching and Performance Degree graduate who now works at West Bromwich Albion Football Club, said: “Professional partnerships like the one with Hudl and local football clubs, coupled with the industry insight of lecturers like Russ, have equipped me with both knowledge and skills to further my career.

“Without a doubt, my University experience has ensured that I secured my dream job in sports coaching at a professional level at West Bromwich Albion RTC.”

Anyone interested in studying Sport at the University should register for one of the next virtual Open Days in 2021.