How did you get into sport?
This is the “How did you get into sport?” podcast where we explore the ins and outs of working in high performance sport.
These are conversations with leaders in the industry about their journey and most importantly how they got to where they are. Working in professional sport is one of the most sought after yet highly competitive industries with limited professional organisations offering opportunities to work at the highest level of their respective sports.
This podcast was created on the back of countless conversations with a diverse range of experienced professionals overly frustrated yet still highly motivated to work in their dream role and asking the question “How did you get to work in professional sport and what did you have to do to get there?” Host Luis Resa is a Sports Physiotherapist who has worked in various elite professional organisation both in Australia and internationally.
In each episode, Luis has deep conversations with Sports Physiotherapist, S&C coaches, Head coaches, High Performance Managers and other leaders in the field of elite sport to discuss what it takes to excel in the world of sport as well as diving deeply into the intricacies of what got their foot in the door of some of the world’s most desirable roles.
Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. In the meantime, enjoy a deep conversation and learn the specific do’s and don’ts of both securing and surpassing expectations in the field of high performance sport.
How did you get into sport?
Simon Rice - Vice President Athlete Care, Philadelphia 76ers, NBA
Simon Rice has built a wealth of knowledge working with such organisations as the AIS, Cricket ACT, ACT Academy of Sport, Volleyball Australia, Hockey Australia and as the Head Physiotherapist for ACT Brumbies (Super Rugby). Simon also uniquely spent 3 years working in the performing arts as a Head Physiotherapist for various musicals on London’s famous West End. This is a fascinating conversation with someone who has been able to successfully transition into various high profile roles with not necessarily having multiple years experience in the specific sport. But time and time again, he's been able to leverage his broad experience and now applies it in one of the most lucrative, demanding and competitive leagues in sport, with the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA.
Highlights from the episode…
- After an early opportunity to work at the AIS in a casual position this cemented his desire to pursue a career in high performance sport.
- Simon explains how having a broad skill base helped him secure his first leadership role with Cricket ACT as Physiotherapist and S&C coordinator.
- How being in a rush to get into professional sport maybe hurting you in the end.
- The benefits of being in environments where you can make the wrong decisions.
- Simon shares what it’s like to work as a head physio on London’s West End.
- He shares a unique injury scenario while working on “Chariots of Fire” that assists him to this day with injuries in the NBA.
- When progressing through sport, worry less about pursuing the next role and focus more on doing the best job in the role you are in. You will eventually get noticed!
- Simon provides some insight on how a person working in Australia can get noticed by clubs in the US.
- “Its not just how good you are at your work…It’s about how good you are to work with”.
- Simon shares how he acquired a role with one of the most successful Super Rugby teams in Australia.
- The surprising difference between working in “Professional Sport” and an “Institution of Sport”
- How Simon has been able to transition into novel roles successfully without necessarily having vast experience in the specific sport he’s entering into.
- Simon gives unprecedented access into the process of how he secured the role with the Philadelphia 76ers, what his role involves and working in the NBA.
- “If you got 5 individual All-star players, how do you bring them together?” This is the question Head Coach Doc Rivers asked in the interview. Simon’s answer is fascinating.
- “What did you think or do 5 years ago, that you would do differently now?” Is a question Simon asks others when learning new skills.
- With a busy 82 game schedule how Simon balances professional and personal life.
- Finally Simon shares a wild story of how technology and injury management merges leading to incredible outcomes for one of NBA greatest players.
Simon Rice contact details:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-rice-a4477595/
People mentioned:
- Peter Blanch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-blanch-50900b106/?originalSubdomain=au
- Phil Coles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-coles-8945803a/
Host: Luis Resa
Contact me on:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
- Email: luis.resa@outlook.com
Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.
