In The Huddle

In this episode Chris Bates chats with Robert Walters Associate Director Hamish Winterbourn, about that the characteristics that international student-athletes possess like resilience, time management, team work and discipline make them some of the most recruitable candidates across a wide range of industries.

In this episode, SPUSA Director Alexia sits down with the Director of Play Overseas, Harry Newton to announce their new partnership which will help US graduates obtain graduate opportunities in UK. Together, Harry & Alexia chat with an NCAA track athlete in the USA to see how her sporting interests led to her postgraduate studies in the UK on a netball scholarship. Learn more here:   https://w...

In this episode, Study and Play Director Chris is joined by Australian born UCLA Rugby Coach Harry Bennett. They discuss the power of rugby as a connector and network tool for student-athletes.

WA Softballer Mackayla Denney sits down with Talent Coordinator Claire to discuss her regrets and mindset shifts she had to make in her softball recruiting journey. Filled with "say it louder for the people in the back" moments, Mackayla is a positive & high energy treasure trove of wisdom. This no questions barred podcast dives into the Division 1 or bust mentality, the danger of al...

In this episode, Study and Play Director Alexia is joined by Talent Coordinators Chris and Claire to discuss common mindset barriers they have encountered over 20 years with student-athletes athletes and their families during the US recruiting Coach Communication phase. This is a must listen for all student-athletes across all sports, filled with valuable advice for all ages.

In this episode of ‘In The Huddle’ Director Alexia Bates and current soccer student-athlete Katie Jones discuss her journey from Australian high school student to Sophomore at NAIA women’s soccer program at SOKA College in California.  Together they dissect the differences between soccer in the USA and Australia, Katie’s key factors to finding her right fit, the importance of assistant coaches in...

In this episode, Director Alexia Bates takes you into the world of US College admissions with founder of Internationally Educated and former US admissions officer Debbie Shively. They discuss the differences between admissions here in Australia to the processes in the USA, what admissions officers are looking for and ensuring your college applications are authentically you.  It is worth a listen j...

In this episode, our Director Alexia sits down with Freshman Water Polo player Izzy Lumley to reflect on her first semester in College in the US. They discuss how the recruiting process itself helped prepare Izzy for College, how she was able to find her right fit and advice for students navigating high school and the US College pathway.  A must listen for all prospective student-athletes and thei...

In this episode, Chris is joined by Talent Coordinator Claire Mulligan and USA South Coach of the Year 2021, NCAA Division 3 Women’s Soccer Coach Timmy McCormack.  They discuss what coaches from all sports look for in a recruit, recruiting video tips, great questions for a recruit in any sport to ask a Coach as well as dispelling some critical Division 3 myths along the way. This is a podcast pack...

Philippa Piper has just graduated from 4 years playing Water Polo at an NCAA D2 program.   Alexia catches up with Pip to hear about her time in College from Conference Championships, the recruiting process, competing with the men’s team to be the best academically, working as a student athlete and her plans to stay a fifth year and study her Masters.  She has had a heck of a journey and has made t...

In this episode, Chris sits down with decathlete Jackson Willis who reflects on his first year as a student-athlete in South Dakota, all the way from Orange, in country New South Wales!

Claire is the latest Talent Coordinator to join the SPUSA team! Hear about her journey, her soccer career, and why she is so passionate about the US College pathway for Aussie Student-athletes!

Sean Fyfe is the Founder and Director of Performance Physio Fitness Health He is a leading Sports Physiotherapist, Masters Level Exercise Scientist, Level 2 Strength and Conditioning Coach and Tennis Australia High Performance Tennis Coach.  Sean has worked around the world in many different capacities including at the 2012 London Olympics, on the ATP world tour and as a Physiotherapist for London...

Today’s Guest on In the Huddle comes to us from chilly Indiana. James Hone started his college journey back in 2016 at Franklin College as a prized swimming recruit from Melbourne Australia. He has agreed to join us to reflect on his four - year experience and share his story of transition into the work force since his graduation.

In this episode, our Director Chris Bates sits down with two old friends; two old friends who shared a similar journey through their sport. Years on, they reflect on their junior journey, transitioning through the professional ranks and the college path. All these themes are seen on the pages on Chris’s book ‘Game Changer’ which is broken down in this episode.  This is a must listen episode for pa...

Chris sits down with parents of golfer Harry Phillips, into his second year in college in Illinois. Tune in to hear another great parent perspective!

In this episode, Chris sits down with Australian basketball royalty – Olympian and NBL championship coach Brian Kerle – to discuss where it all started, his coaching philosophy and why his passion for coaching is still as strong as ever today! Brian Kerle has spent a lifetime playing basketball, as well as selecting and nurturing great talent. Brian is still passionate about basketball and dedicat...

In part 2, Rupert’s passion for people, his state and country and for being a good person comes to the fore in an emotion charged reflection of his career as a poet, in media. He reflects on the life changing experiences of performing live in front of some of the worlds’ best athletes, hoping to do their careers justice in verse. How he managed to nail his poem at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli to honour...

Our next guest features across two episodes or more aptly ‘stanzas’.  Rupert McCall openly and at times emotionally shares his story growing up in a sports mad family, onto a brief career a solicitor and onto world fame as Australia’s modern day Banjo Paterson. In Stanza 1 (part 1) Rupert sits down with our director Chris Bates and produces some pockets of gold when discussing the silver linings o...

In this episode, Chris sits down with budding professional golfer Jono Ledger, three years of out of college, based in the US to talk about his progress as a pro as well as share some learnings from his college years.

Mason Cox   is an American professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Playing as a ruckman and key forward, he first played Australian rules football in April 2014 before making his AFL debut two years later in April 2016. Cox had previously played basketball for Oklahoma State University in the Big 12 Conference an...

Chris sits done with Alex Opacic, former college and professional basketballer and founder of Australian based company Athlete2Business, to discuss employability and unique opportunities for US college student-athletes graduates.

Two ladies from Colorado Talking Rugby Opportunities: Our very own Colorado staff member Maria talks with Karen Fong Donoghue , one of our valued partners from Rugger’s Edge in the US. Listen as they discuss the state of the women’s and men’s game, opportunities for young Australians and why working with a reputable company is critical to finding the right fit college.  

Our founders Alexia & Chris provide an update on our current student-athletes heading back to college post COVID, what it means for recruiting and how it hasn’t changed the process or timeline for prospective college goers.

Chris sits down with 2nd Year college student Robbie Baker, whose football journey has taken him from Brisbane to Manchester City Academy onto US College. A great chat about resilience, open mindedness and positivity.