The words "elite" and "excellence" roll off the tongue when applied to the business of professional sport - the modern day extension of the games played centuries ago by the world's forefathers. Those same forefathers may have used sticks and bits of rock to generate some form of physical activity, but the nature of sport has evolved so much, to the extent that sport is no longer solely a leisure activity, but also a multi-million dollar business and a viable, prospective career for promising youngsters to aspire to. There is, however, no point in aspiring to a career of mediocrity, and in the cut-throat world of modern day professional sport, elite performance is the benchmark for success, satisfaction and fulfilling one's potential.
The Stellenbosch Academy of Sport seeks to provide the environment in which to develop and train, in order to attain that 'excellence of performance'. SAS offers an all-encompassing world-class facility, situated in the beautiful South African winelands of Stellenbosch. Facilities and services on-site include indoor and outdoor training fields, a state-of-the-art gym, access to leading sports scientists, doctors, coaches, physiotherapists and biokineticists, cutting-edge conference facilities, comfortable athlete accommodation and performance-nutrition catering.
SAS has a staff compliment of over thirty to service the needs and support resident and visiting teams and athletes. Our client facing team members include:
CEO of SAS
Former corporate change management and performance consultant across numerous industries. Specialised in sport commercialisation since 2002.
Head of Rugby
Former provincial rugby coach. Specialist in rugby player recruitment and development pathways. Responsible for SAS Rugby programmes and initiatives.
Head of Performance Unit
Former professional rugby player locally and abroad. Qualified Physiotherapist and Strength & Conditioning Coach, specialising in providing integrated solutions to aspiring and professional athletes and teams.
Head of Operations
Brings vast experience in catering and general hospitality from the Tsogo Group.
| Jacques Hanekom | Faffa Knoetze (Chairman) | Dr Patho Zondi | Pieter Louw | Marlene Coetzee-George | Rob Benadie (CEO) | Pieter Kotze |
Nestled in the Cape Winelands, in the vibrant sport rich university town of Stellenbosch, the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport is situated in the perfect location in which to train and prepare for your next assignment.
- Walking distance to centre of town, coffee shops and recreational activities
- 1.2km from private hospital and emergency room
- 35km from Cape Town International Airport
- 55km from Newlands Rugby Stadium
- 60km from Cape Town's Table Mountain
Away from the distractions of urban city life, but with enough of a developed infrastructure, the town of Stellenbosch has a culture and history of academic learning and sports excellence.
The Stellenbosch climate sees summers that are dry and warm to hot, with some February and March days rising to over 40°c. Summer is from October to March, with temperatures averaging 22°c to 34°c (60°f to 94°f). Winters are cool, rainy and sometimes quite windy, with daytime temperatures averaging 16°c. Winter temperatures can drop quite significantly and persistent rain does have the potential to disrupt outdoor training. But, with the state-of-the-art indoor grass facility, wet weather is not a deterrent.
SAS is a custom-built high performance facility dedicated to the needs of aspiring and professional athletes and sport teams. Stellenbosch and SAS cater for many sport codes including:
- Aquatic Sports (incl. swimming, water polo)
- Athletics (field and track)
- Cricket
- Cycling (road and mountain)
- Endurance Sports (incl. road running, triathlon)
- Field Hockey
- Football / Soccer
- Golf
- Netball
- Rugby
- Tennis
The SAS gymnasium is a world class, high performance environment that will cater for all your conditioning goals.
The two-level gym has cutting-edge cardiovascular, strength, power and other equipment. Specific training and equipment areas include:
- Ground base hammer system
- Power cages with drop platforms
- Cardio area (bikes, rowers, treadmills, etc)
- Free weights
- Floor / mat area
Our experienced strength and conditioning, rehabilitation and other specialists are available to assist and support all your requirements.
| Markotter Complex (500m walk from SAS) | Coetzenburg (1-2km walk from SAS) |
|---|---|
| Indoor Astroturf Sports Facility | Hockey Fields (Waterbased Astro) |
| Rugby Fields | Athletics Stadium (IAAF Standard) |
| 400m Grass Athletics Track | Tennis Courts |
| Ice Bath | Netball Courts |
| Cricket Fields | Cricket Fields |
| Tennis Courts | Football Fields (Astro & Grass) |
| Hockey Astroturf (hybrid) | Cycling Trails |
| Swimming Pool (50m, 10 lanes) |
Our comprehensive, integrated sports-specific conditioning programmes are designed to understand the needs and demands of elite, high performance athletes and deliver maximum results.
Our Strength & Conditioning coaches have multi-sport experience and work with athletes and teams from the development phase through to the performance, elite arena.
Services include:
- Designing individual athlete training programmes
- Designing periodisation team or squad training programmes
- Performance testing and analysis
- Personalised conditioning sessions
SAS utilises vast experience as well as technologies to enhance performance and outputs. One leading edge technology used is the SpartaTrac system, which collects and analyzes foundational data on an athlete’s force patterns in order to define a personalised Movement Signature across Load, Explode and Drive variables.
The Physiotherapy Practice and Biokinetics Practice consult with private clients as well as contracted sport teams. Our services include:
- physiotherapy
- anti-gravity treadmill
- grucox bicycles
- cybex machine
- speed and other testing equipment
- sports massages
- strapping
- eye-hand, foot and body co-ordination equipment and software
- physiotherapy equipment and materials
- rugby equipment
Our focus is on integrating our treatment and rehabilitation interventions into the athletes’ training programme. There are three full-time physiotherapists and two biokineticists on-site, working closely with leading health professionals and sport medicine practitioners.
We pride ourselves on our rehabilitation skills and track record – focusing on safe, research-based, accelerated protocols.
With SAS situated in the world-renowned rugby-rich town of Stellenbosch, and our shareholders invested in professional rugby franchises both locally and abroad, we are well positioned to provide quality programmes within this sport code.
SAS employs and consults with a number of professional rugby personnel in order to deliver short-term and longer term programmes aimed primarily at developing the next generation of rugby players, coaches and administrators.
One such programme launched in January 2017 is the SAS Rugby Institute (SASRI) - a 5-month high performance resident programme for 17-20 year old aspiring young professionals. This programme is uniquely designed to upskill and develop the player across many aspects required to be a successful rugby professional and is attended by players from many different countries.
For more information on SASRI or other current programmes available to both local and international markets, please email info@sastraining.co.za.
There is a 62-room sports accommodation facility at SAS, which is professionally co-managed by the internationally recognised Tsogo Sun Hotel Group.
The facility comes with secure private parking, which is access controlled. Within the accommodation facility, each room offers two extra-long single beds, en-suite bathroom, equipped kitchenette, wireless internet access, twin workstations and TV with all South African channels, including DSTV (satellite).
All rooms are serviced daily, and on the ground floor there is a private garden with a recovery swimming pool as well as athlete relaxation areas. Meeting rooms are available for management and team meetings, equipped with AV facilities for video analysis. SAS also offers permanent offices to longer-term clients.
The SAS restaurant serves nutritional meals to our resident and visiting teams and athletes.
Only the highest quality products are used. All meals are freshly prepared and flavoured with herbs from our own organic herb garden. No preservatives, colourants or sauces are used.
We have an experienced and creative culinary team, headed up by an Executive Chef.
Although we have a five-week menu cycle with standardised recipes, we are flexible and can cater for your individualised catering and nutritional requirements.
We also provide banqueting for conferences, functions and events at SAS.
SAS is equipped for conferences and functions, from small intimate meetings to large gatherings, on half day or full day packages, as well as accommodation for delegates. SAS has successfully hosted local and international training programmes and functions, providing:
- The boardroom seats at least 16 and has separate access with coffee bar
- The conference areas can be separated or opened up and leads onto an external balcony
- The facility is ideal for team meetings, press conferences, etc
Enhancing eye-hand, foot and body co-ordination works to improve response skills. EyeGym is a high tech online software programme devised by visual skills scientist and leader in the field of visual performance training Dr. Sherylle Calder. EyeGym works under the pretense that when players see more, they can assess the situation much quicker, exercise their options, and ultimately make better decisions.
Having both eyes move, align and focus as a team enhances an athlete’s ability to interpret and understand the potential visual information that is available. Through its revolutionary programme, EyeGym seeks to do just that – improve visual co-ordination and response skills. Dr. Calder has worked with numerous sports teams and athletes, including:
- 2007 Springbok World Cup rugby winners
- 2003 England World Cup rugby winners
- Golfers Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Robert Karlsson amongst others
- Leading Formula 1 team
- Various international football teams
- International field hockey
- Davis Cup tennis players
- Proteas cricket team
SAS has a strategic partnership with the international medical group MEDICLINIC, providing resident and visiting athletes with preferential access to the hospital and its specialists.
In addition, one of the worlds leading knee surgeons, Dr SPIKE ERASMUS as well as general practitioner, Dr HERMAN KOTZE have consulting rooms at SAS providing further quality on-site medical support.
ENDUROCAD
Olympian Elana Meyer provides support to SAS athletic and endurance programmes through her on-site Endurance Academy at SAS.
BMT
Neighbouring business providing specialist support services to cyclists and triathletes visiting SAS.
SWINGFIT
Golf Academy providing specialist services to resident and visiting golfers
Springbok Sevens Men & Women
W.P. Rugby Institute
Stellenbosch Football Club
Neil Powell (Springbok Sevens Rugby Head Coach)
Western Cape, South Africa, 7600
PO Box 456, Stellenbosch
Western Cape, South Africa, 7599
t +27 (0) 21 861 7800
f +27 (0) 86 580 9805
e info@sastraining.co.za
Western Cape, South Africa, 7600
Western Cape, South Africa, 7599
f +27 (0) 86 580 9805
e info@sastraining.co.za
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