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?
Scott Epsley - 7 years as Sports Physical Therapist with Division 1 NCAA College Athletes.
Scott Epsley is a sports physical therapist who has spent close to a decade working with Division 1 NCAA athletes at Georgetown University, USA, but this is only scratching the surface. With over 25 years experience in the industry Scott has also worked with the Brisbane Bullets (NBL), Australian Indycar driver Will Power and spent over 4 years with the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) where he became the organisations Medical Director. In this episode Scott shares his unique journey filled with lots of sacrifice and equally as much courage, leaving his private practice in a small country town in Australia to moving to Washington DC, USA where he has gone onto work with a diverse range of talented athletes and as a staff member of one of the biggest sporting teams in the world.
Highlights from the episode…
- How Scott got his first opportunity in professional sport by shopping at a sports memorabilia store.
- Scott decided to open his own physio clinic in a country town and the unique lessons he gained from this period.
- How Scott got involved in Indycar racing as Will Power’s personal physio that led to him moving from rural Australia to the US.
- If you are looking to work in the US Scott shares the registration process for physios to practice in the states.
- After finally being registered to practice in the US Scott share how he obtained a role with Georgetown University, Washington DC.
- Scott provides a glimpse into what it’s like to work in the college system, servicing 700+ NCAA Division 1 athletes, the remuneration, resources available, the staffing structure, the sports catered for, the day to day responsibilities etc.
- Scott has a unique skill-set in the use of Sonography in complex injury management and talks about the value it brings to his clinical practice and where the interest began.
- Scott shares how he eventually secured a role in the NBA and the move from Washington DC to Philadelphia to join the 76ers.
- Although Scott has worked with some of the best athletes in the world he also shares some of the “costs” to working in professional sport.
- With Athletic Therapist often being utilised in sport in the US, what is the role of Physical Therapists in the NBA?
- The challenges of working in the NBA and running a performance/medical department of a multi-million sporting organisation.
- Scott has now migrated into an external consulting role working directly with athletes of major teams and having uniquely been embedded in organisations and now as an external consultant, Scott shares what his learnt in both situations to inevitably maximise positive outcomes for all parties involved.
Scott Epsley contact details:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottepsley/
- X: https://twitter.com/scottepsley?lang=en
People mentioned:
- David Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-t-martin-9794994/details/experience/
- Brett Brown: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Brown
- Lorretta O’Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loretta-o-sullivan-pippia-10116931/details/experience/
- Will Power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Power
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.
