Saints Athlete Performance ProgrammeBuilding the athlete

At the Saints Athlete Performance Programme (SAPP), we believe sport and strength & conditioning play distinct but complementary roles in athlete development. Sport remains the priority, providing athletes with the opportunity to develop technical skills, tactical understanding, and competitive experience. However, participation in sport alone does not always develop the physical qualities needed to meet the increasing demands of modern training and competition.

Our role is to develop the athlete behind the sport, building the physical foundations that enable young athletes to perform, progress, and remain resilient throughout their sporting journey. Through evidence-based strength and conditioning coaching and integrated sport science support, we help athletes develop the qualities that underpin long-term performance and health.

• Technical skill
• Tactical understanding
• Competition experience

Strength & Conditioning Develops

• Strength and power
• Movement quality
• Robustness and resilience
• Athletic foundations

What Athletes DevelopBuilding the Foundations for Performance

Our programme focuses on the key physical qualities that support success across all sports and stages of development.

Develop the ability to produce force effectively and meet the physical demands of training and competition. Greater strength and power provide the foundation for athletic performance and support healthy growth and development.

Movement Quality

Improve coordination, balance, movement skills, and overall athletic capability. Developing movement competency helps athletes move more efficiently, perform more effectively, and build broader athletic foundations.

Increase resilience to the demands of training and competition. By improving physical preparation and movement quality, athletes are better equipped to tolerate workload, reduce injury risk, and maintain performance under fatigue.

Long-Term Athletic Development

Support physical development appropriate to an athlete’s age, stage of growth, and sporting goals. Through progressive coaching, sport science monitoring, and individualised planning, we help athletes build the foundations for sustained success both now and in the future.

Programme Features

Why Choose Saints Athlete Performance Programme?

• Qualified Strength & Conditioning coaches
• University of St Andrews high-performance environment
• Research and evidence-based coaching
• Open to all sports
• Individual athlete-centred approach
• Progressive age-appropriate development
• Sport science support and monitoring
• Long-term athlete development focus

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this only for elite athletes?
  

  No. The programme is designed for young athletes of all abilities. Whether the goal is participation, performance, injury resilience, or long-term development, training is adapted to the individual athlete’s needs and goals.

• Will strength training stunt my child’s growth?
  

  No. When appropriately designed and supervised, youth strength training has not been shown to negatively affect growth or development. Indeed, it can support healthy bone development and physical health.

• Why does my child do exercises that don’t look related to their sport?
  

  Because S&C is general physical preparation, designed to build the athletic qualities that underpin performance and resilience. Many athletes therefore perform similar exercises, regardless of sport, with training adapted to their individual needs and goals.

• Why monitor growth and maturation?
  

  Athletes of the same age can differ significantly in their stage of physical development. Monitoring growth and maturation helps ensure training is appropriate for the individual and allows us to better understand performance, development, and injury risk.

• What age can athletes start?
  

  The programme is for athletes aged 12-18. Although younger athletes may be considered, this needs discussed with coaches before enrolment. Athletes must demonstrate they can follow instructions and behave appropriately for the environment to ensure safety for all participants.

• Will strength training make my child bulky?
  

  No. This is due to youth athletes generally not possessing the capacity for large increases in muscle mass alongside the training focus remaining on strength, power, movement quality, and resilience to support athletic performance.