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?
Emidio Pacecca – Performance and Rehabilitation, New England Patriots, NFL.
Emidio (Mids) has been working in the world of high performance sport for over 15 years across Australia, Europe and the USA. He’s worked as Head Physiotherapist for the Western Force (Super Rugby), Medical Service Manager for Carlton FC (AFL) as well as a Medical Coordinator for the AIS at their European Training Centre (ETC) situated just outside Milan in Italy. Currently he works in the Performance and Rehabilitation department of the New England Patriots in the NFL. This was one of my most enjoyable and authentic conversations with someone who has not only worked in some incredible countries but he has also worked across different sports with a diverse range of athlete types which has culminated to working with arguably one of the most famous sporting franchises not just in States but the world.
Highlights from the episode…
- Early in his career, Mids spent close to a year in Italy before spending time in the UK in the NHS system.
- After three years overseas, Mids returned home to Australia where he began his first role in sport with the Perth Football Club as well as buying into his own private practice.
- Mid talks about the importance of cutting his teeth in semi professional sport which has armed him with the skills he still uses to this day.
- We discuss the volatility and transitional nature of sport and how to deal with the comings and goings of players, staff and coaches.
- Mids shares how he acquired a rare role with the AIS in their ETC in Italy.
- We talk about how at the pointy end of sport it’s not your experience or knowledge that gets you the job…it’s something else.
- What its like to work at the ETC in an Olympic cycle.
- After the AIS, Mids moved back to Perth where he spent 4 season with the Western Force and got to work everyday with his brother.
- How Mids was able to transition into a Head Physio role in a sport he was unaccustomed too.
- After initially being rejected twice how Mids moved from Rugby to acquire a role in the AFL with the Carlton FC.
- How Mids balances humility with confidence in an industry that craves certainty
- “If you are a person who always want to be right this may come at the cost of playing it safe.”
- The benefits of tracking your own decision making.
- How an Aussie secured a role in the NFL with one of the world’s biggest sporting organisations.
- What it’s like to work in the NFL, staffing tree, resources, 100+ player squad and the nuances that exist only in the game of NFL.
- We discuss the difference in injury management philosophies between the US and Australia.
- The importance of building rapport with athletes and the challenges that can incur in the NFL.
- How getting my daughters to eat broccoli helped me get athletes to do things that they don’t want to do.
Emidio Pacecca contact details:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emidio-pacecca-79bab335/
People mentioned:
- Johann Bilsborough: https://x.com/jbils1972?lang=en
- Ben Raysmith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-raysmith-22239a2b5/
- Craig Purdum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-purdam-6964293a/
- Aaron Coutts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-coutts-448a0024/
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.
