Please select your home edition
Edition
B&G Zeus SR AUS

Ground-breaking Diploma in Sporting Excellence returns for 2022

by British Youth Sailing 25 Aug 2022 04:48 AEST
Diploma in Sporting Excellence returns for 2022 © RYA

Are you starting year 12 this September? Are you interested in racing keelboats? Do you want to have a future career in sailing or sports science? Are you looking to go to higher education after your further education?

If you have answered yes to any of the above then this is your chance to apply for our the RYA's Diploma in Sporting Excellence programme.

What is DiSE?

The Diploma in Sporting Excellence is a two-year education programme. It is a unique sporting qualification designed to meet the needs of student-athletes who exhibit the potential to achieve excellence in their sport.

DiSE supports young sailors in the talent system to combine sport and education so that they have the skills, knowledge, and competence to pursue sporting excellence alongside developing the skills and qualifications for a post-sailing career.

The programme provides a comprehensive syllabus to support young sailors to gain an additional qualification (worth 64 UCAS points) and achieve their full potential within the RYA sailing/keelboat pathway. The programme aims to increase the accessibility and diversity of the sailing participation base and talent pathway.

Each year the RYA bids for programme places through Sport England and Department for Education. This year we were successful in securing 12 places in an ever-continuing competitive process with all Olympic and non-Olympic sports.

"We are tremendously proud of the impact and difference this programme has made within the youth classes and keelboat sailors," said Jack Grundy, RYA Performance Manager and DiSE programme lead. "This programme has helped sailors' next steps within the maritime, performance pathway and higher education options. More importantly, it has given them further development in all the small things like nutrition and psychology that help them mature into professional sailors for the future."

Ellie Thomas, a 420 sailor on DiSE, added: "The DiSE programme has been hugely beneficial to my sailing. The training camps have been amazing with some great quality coaching. The theory sessions have helped me to understand what else goes into being successful within sport. The programme has run smoothly due to the great organisation, and it has been great to be a part of it."

Student eligibility

To be eligible for the DiSE programme, a student must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be aged 16 to 18 and starting Year 12 in September 2022, full-time education (or aged 19 to 24 if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan), when they start the programme
  2. Inspire to progress onto the British Keelboat Academy or other future performance programmes
  3. Students should be studying at a state education institute, or if a student attends a fee-paying school, they must be in receipt of one of a 50% scholarship. Please see the application form for further details.
  4. Ideally have a minimum of five GCSEs at a minimum grade of 4 (or above), including Maths and English

Further information

  • We only have 12 places, and these are being run exclusively on a Keelboat programme, in line with Sport England's aims and impact of DiSE. Therefore, the technical and tactical sessions will be on a keelboat with other students who you may not have met before
  • The technical and tactical element (sailing) will usually take place over 8 weekends, with delivery over 18 months
  • The theory will take place at camps and remotely. Access to laptops will be required
  • The programme is more than just sailing, you will be required to complete coursebooks and will have access to 1:2:1 sessions with a Sports Psychologist, Sports Nutritionist, Mentor and Coach sessions which are a part of the Diploma. You will also be required to record all sailing and training hours outside of the programme
  • The programme will commence in late October/early November
  • This form requires your parent/guardian's consent

Application key dates

Please find the application form here. Applications must be submitted by 11.59pm on Sunday September 4. If you have any issues with submitting the form, please email . You will be notified by Friday 9th September 2022 if your application has been successful.

Related Articles

Elliott 5.9: Fun times in Whitianga
The third Elliott 5.9 Travellers Series regatta was held on July 26th and 27th in Whitianga The third Elliott 5.9 Travellers Series regatta was held on July 26th and 27th in Whitianga, bringing a small but highly competitive fleet to the beautiful Mercury Bay. Posted today at 6:18 am
PredictWind launches PredictRain
New app From PredictWind delivers hyper-accurate, short-term rain predictions PredictRain is a groundbreaking standalone app that combines advanced AI modelling with intuitive tools to provide timely and precise rain forecasts for all types of outdoor activities. Posted today at 4:51 am
49er & 49erFX Junior Worlds champions crowned
One final race before the storm kicked in at Øresund The final day of the 2025 Junior World Championship delivered high drama and even higher waves. As wind and rain swept across the Øresund, Race Committees managed to run one final race before safety concerns forced an early end to the competition. Posted today at 4:43 am
Admiral's Cup: Emotional, Rare, Unforgettable
The 2025 Admirals' Cup set the stage for a bold new era in offshore racing Once the pinnacle of international offshore sailing, the return of the Admiral's Cup was a resounding success, setting the stage for a bold new era in offshire racing. Posted on 4 Aug
29er World Championship at Porto Day 2
The breeze never quite showed up but the action didn't stop Day two of the Porto World Championships began with hope—and strategy. With light winds in the forecast, the race committee scheduled an early start in anticipation of a short sea breeze window. Posted on 4 Aug
RS Aero World & Youth Worlds overall
The fine Brittany weather and afternoon sea breezes have provided excellent racing The stage was set for a dramatic final day showdown in Quiberon Bay, France, to decide the titles for the 7th RS Aero Worlds and 4th Youth Worlds. Posted on 4 Aug
RS Feva Worlds at Aix-les-Bains, France Overall
Crowning of our 2025 World Champions As our World Championships drew to a thrilling close on Friday afternoon, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation! Sailors and families were buzzing with excitement as they prepared for their journey home. Posted on 4 Aug
Just another event?
Is Cowes Week still a pinnacle regatta? We've been blessed with incredible sailing so far this summer in the UK (for once) with great breeze much of the time, and some of the best events in the world gracing our shores. But, like with Storm Floris, there are clouds on the horizon... Posted on 4 Aug
Cadet World Championship day 0
Just how long is a piece of string? So here we are, day one of the Cadet Worlds proper. The British Worlds Team have all arrived safely on site after their marathon journeys and tales of Cadets visiting the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower. Posted on 4 Aug
Tenerife Windsurf Grand Slam Day 3
Pierre Mortefon draws first blood after the wind fills in late After a couple of days of waiting for the wind, Day 3 eventually provided the goods to end the wait for some official competition as the Slalom X got under way during the early evening in 15-18 knots of wind. Posted on 4 Aug
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERRolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTER