Square One Cricket Academy

The Square One Cricket Academy enables students to combine their degree studies with top class cricket training – with 60 free, fully funded places on offer each year open to women and men.

The academy is exclusively designed for ambitious players enrolled on a University of Brighton course who want to train, compete and develop within one of the UK’s most innovative cricket environments. Players are able to combine elite coaching, high-performance conditioning balanced with their academic studies so that they progress on the field, in their degree and as a person.

Scholarship places are gained through a trial process. Any University of Brighton student aspiring to be an elite cricketer can apply to take part in the trial. 

The assessment will be based on performance level and potential. And we'll also take into consideration training behaviours such as intent, coachability, consistency and how well players apply information under pressure. This assessment will be undertaken by Cricket specialists at Square One either in person or based on video footage and through discussion with current coaches.

Apply to join the trial

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Where education and cricket flourish together

Sixty free, fully funded cricket academy places are available each year.

What’s included?

Each academy student will receive 15–20 hours per week of high-performance cricket training alongside academic study for one year. We’ll help you set goals and work on a development plan. 

  • Elite coaching – two two‑hour sessions each week focusing on technical, tactical and game-based training.
  • Strength, speed, conditioning and athletic development.
  • Performance seminars – mindset, nutrition, recovery, leadership and habits.
  • A professional training environment with like‑minded players.
  • Personalised schedules built around your academic timetable.

Who is involved?

Players will be coached by world‑class staff including:

  • James Tredwell, England T20 World Cup winner
  • Mark Robinson OBE, World Cup‑winning head coach
  • Rob Ferley, former Kent and Nottinghamshire CCC and Square One Co‑Founder.

What if I’m not offered an academy scholarship?

You’ll still be able to take part. All trialists who aren’t offered an academy place will still receive:

  • free off‑peak Square One membership
  • daily access to the state‑of‑the‑art cricket centre
  • a world‑class training environment to keep developing
  • preferential rates for 1:1 coaching and performance services.

Female player at bowling practice

three players at cricket practice in net 3

Facilities on campus

The centre is based at the University of Brighton’s Falmer campus in our new Brighton Sport and Heath Complex.

Facilities at the centre include:

  • nine-lane indoor cricket nets with full 18-metre run ups
  • ball tracking technology
  • advanced bowling machines
  • two indoor cricket courts.

At around 2,200 square metres, Square One Cricket Academy is larger than both Lord’s Indoor Cricket Centre and the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough University – and is the second biggest in the world.

, a partnership between the university and Brighton Students’ Union, is also based at Falmer.  

batting-solo

Female player at batting practice

 

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female players swap ends in nets
Cricketer practices batting in lane
Tawanda Muyeye and Rob Ferley discuss tactics in the nets
group practice in nets
Group cricket practice from the batter's point of view
cricket players listen to coach

The Square One approach

The Square One Academy offers more than coaching – it is a complete performance system, built around how people learn best.

Using SPARK’s integrated mapping and simulation technology, players train with:

  • instant feedback
  • clear performance data
  • training that bridges the gap between practice and match play.

Square One logo

Apply for our scholarship day

Be part of a new kind of cricket education.

If you want to combine academic excellence with athletic ambition, this is your chance to experience the Square One Academy environment first-hand. Train with our coaches, tour the facilities, and discover how our degree pathways and SPARK system can unlock your potential.

Opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Brighton Boost

Funding and support to help make things just that little bit easier throughout your time here.

Sport scholarships

Helping students to develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level.