Leeds Rhinos’ breakthrough star Grace Short is making strides both on and off the field, as she balances her rugby league career with a sports coaching apprenticeship at Bradford Bulls. The 19-year-old, who made her debut for the Rhinos this summer after rising through the under-19s, is part of a programme by the Coach Core Foundation, a charity established as a legacy of the 2012 Olympics.
Through her apprenticeship, Short coaches in local schools, gaining hands-on experience that she hopes will lead to a full-time role upon graduation next year. With aspirations of becoming a PE teacher, she values the practical training over the university route, appreciating the real-world skills and lack of debt it offers.
Her journey highlights not just her potential as an athlete but also her commitment to nurturing future generations of rugby league players.
Grace Short, the Leeds Rhinos rising star, is not only making an impact in rugby but also finding joy in her new role as a sports coach through her apprenticeship with Bradford Bulls. Reflecting on her experience so far, she said, “Although I’m not long into the apprenticeship, I’m already loving coaching children, teaching them new physical and mental skills. We coach a whole range of different drills and activities in sessions, and it’s brilliant to see them enjoying it and wanting to come back and play. It’s helping them get active but also introducing them to rugby league.”
Her ambition aligns with the broader goals of the Coach Core Foundation, which has supported over 1,000 young people since 2012. With plans to deliver 500 new apprenticeships over the next three years, including in Yorkshire, the charity is urging the government to invest more in sports apprenticeships as a way to tackle youth unemployment. Chief Executive Gary Laybourne emphasized the need for greater focus on the sports and physical activity sector, which currently accounts for less than 1% of apprenticeships, despite its potential to engage young people and provide career opportunities, especially for those from marginalized backgrounds.
Laybourne added, “Sport offers a unique chance to tackle long-term youth unemployment, drive economic growth, and provide life-changing opportunities for young people who need them most.”
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