Summary
Jack Hindle shares his experience of becoming an overseas footballer in Malaysia. He discusses the challenges of leaving England and adapting to a new culture and language.
He highlights the differences in football culture and expectations between England and Malaysia. Hindle also talks about the difficulties he faced with the club's management and the impact it had on the team's performance.
He ultimately had to undergo knee surgery and his season was cut short. Jack Hindle reflects on his experience playing football in Malaysia and the challenges he faced after a career-threatening injury.
He discusses the importance of finding a balance between football and personal life, the impact of social media on player exposure, and the need for proactive networking.
Hindle emphasises the significance of building relationships with coaches and teammates, as well as taking advantage of endorsement opportunities.
Despite the difficulties, he is proud of his career and looks forward to continuing to play football in Australia.
Jory Davis, a professional basketball player who has played in nine countries, shares her experiences as an overseas athlete.
She discusses the limited opportunities for female basketball players in the US compared to abroad, the challenges of adapting to a new country and culture, and the lack of support and transparency in contracts and salaries.
Jory emphasises the importance of adaptability, resourcefulness, and the right mindset for a successful career as an overseas athlete. She also highlights the need for better industry support systems and pay transparency.
Jori Davis discusses the challenges international basketball players face, including the lack of a central governing body and the need to navigate different rules and regulations in each country. She highlights the importance of open-mindedness and innovation in adapting to the game's borderless nature.
Davis also shares her experiences playing in different countries, with Italy being her favourite. She discusses the challenges of language barriers and stereotypes, emphasizing the need for communication and understanding.
Davis talks about the difficulties of obtaining visas and managing various aspects of life abroad, leading her to start Weevolve, a digital platform and athlete management ecosystem that helps athletes make better career decisions and access necessary services.
Matt Krog, a lawyer specialising in sports law, discusses the importance of contracts for athletes and the role of a sports lawyer in protecting their interests.
He highlights the need for athletes to be aware of the use of their personal information and image rights, especially when signing overseas contracts.
Krog emphasises the importance of negotiation and dispute resolution procedures in contracts, as well as the need for termination rights and flexibility for athletes.
He also discusses the role of agents and the possibility of terminating agreements with them. The conversation covers various legal aspects related to athlete contracts, including termination rights, sponsorship agreements, and the importance of planning for retirement.
It emphasises the need for athletes to protect their interests and seek legal advice when entering into contracts or starting their own ventures.
The discussion also highlights the role of agents and the importance of building a strong support network.
Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights into the legal considerations that athletes should be aware of throughout their careers.
Bride Kennedy-Hopoate shares her journey as an overseas athlete, from her early days in basketball to her college experience in the US.
She discusses her challenges, including injuries and language barriers, and how she managed to stay motivated and focused. She emphasises the importance of self-care, such as reading, yoga, and being in nature, in maintaining a positive mindset.
She discusses her experiences playing in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, including challenges with contracts and injuries. Kennedy-Hopoate encourages athletes to prioritise their health and make decisions that benefit their long-term careers.
Bride Kennedy-Hopoate also highlights the significance of team culture and relationships in achieving success on and off the court. She shares her overseas basketball experiences and advises young girls aspiring to play professionally. She emphasises the importance of researching, talking to current and former professional athletes, and contacting agents.
Kennedy-Hopoate also highlights the need to read contracts carefully and ensure that important clauses, such as payment terms and living arrangements, are included.
Hoops Abroad: Surviving and Thriving as a Basketball Coach in Foreign Lands with Travis McAvene
Travis McAvene, a basketball coach with extensive experience overseas, shares his journey in coaching. He has coached in several countries, including the Dominican Republic and Taiwan over a 26-year period.
Travis emphasises the importance of networking and taking risks to progress in the coaching industry. He also discusses coaching challenges in foreign countries, such as language barriers and cultural adjustments.
Travis highlights the need for perseverance and sacrifice in pursuing a career in basketball coaching, as the financial rewards may not always be substantial. He encourages players and coaches to be open to opportunities outside of the US and to be willing to adapt to different playing styles and environments.
The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of playing basketball overseas. Coach McAvene emphasises the importance of being aggressive and competitive, as the overseas basketball world is cutthroat and demands high performance. He advises players to educate themselves on the business side of the game and to have a long-term plan for their careers.
Mexico is recommended as a good starting point for players looking to gain experience overseas. Coach McAvene also discusses the significance of finding players who fit his coaching style and have the right attitude and personality to thrive in a foreign country.
Financial education and planning for life after basketball are also highlighted as crucial aspects of the overseas experience.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:24 Coaching Opportunities Overseas
08:31 Networking and Taking Risks
12:01 Challenges and Sacrifices in Overseas Coaching
15:18 Language Barriers and Cultural Differences
22:33 Contract Negotiations and Finances
26:21 Being Aggressive and Competitive in Basketball Overseas
28:05 Navigating the Cut-throat World of Coaching and Playing Overseas
34:06 Financial Education and Planning for a Secure Future
In this podcast episode, I interview Cameron, an Australian footballer who has been playing professionally abroad.
Cameron shares his journey from playing football in Queensland, Australia to becoming a professional athlete in Norway.
He discusses the challenges and rewards of playing overseas, the structure of football leagues in Norway, and the importance of European football for clubs.
Cameron also talks about his role as a mentor to younger players, his work-life balance, and his unique challenges when he first arrived in Norway.
He concludes by offering advice to listeners based on his experiences.
In this episode of the Overseas Athlete Podcast, Alastair, a football manager, shares his unique journey from managing grassroots-level teams to a Premier League Academy team.
Alastair discusses the challenges he faced, such as adapting to a different culture and working with limited resources. Despite these obstacles, he views his time in Cambodia as a valuable learning experience and an opportunity for personal growth.
Alastair emphasises the importance of hard work, sacrifice, and adaptability in pursuing a career in football management.
He is now seeking a new opportunity with a club that shares his vision and provides a clear plan for success.
In this podcast episode, Stefan, a professional football player, shares his journey from local teams in Adelaide to professional leagues in Japan with a journey via Europe.
He discusses the challenges he faced, the importance of resilience, discipline, and self-motivation, and the role of the Australian Institute of Sport in his development.
Stefan also talks about his transition to living independently, his experiences with contract negotiations, and the intensity of training at a professional level.
He emphasises the importance of mental health in football and shares his work on the Inner Games Journals, aimed at helping athletes set goals and develop resilience.
In today's episode, I speak with Mathew Stubbs, a golfer on the World Long Drive Tour.
They discuss Matt's background, how he got into long-drive golf, his training regimen, and his goals in the sport. Matt shares his journey into long-drive golf, his success in amateur events, and his commitment to training.
He also talks about the importance of recovery in his training and the financial aspects of competing in long-drive golf. Matt emphasises the need to attract sponsors and leverage social media to create multiple streams of revenue.
He shares his own success in growing his social media presence and securing sponsorship deals while the long-drive Tour goes from strength to strength.
In this podcast episode, I speak to Hillary, the first female player and the first person from outside Australia to be featured on the show. We discuss Hillary's journey from the United States to Australia, her college experience, and the process of transitioning from college to a professional club.
We also touch on the importance of having an agent and navigating the business side of professional sports. Hilary shares her challenges and successes in Australia, her plans for the future, and the growth of fan attendance in women's sports.
Overall, it is an insightful conversation about Hilary's unique perspective and experiences in the football world.
In this podcast episode, Chris speaks with Patrick about his football career and experiences playing in different countries. Patrick shares that he started playing football in Sydney before joining Blacktown City and the youth team at Sydney FC.
After not making it through to the first team, he went to Thailand for a season before returning to Sydney FC. He then went on loan to Brisbane and later played in India. Currently, he is playing in Korea.
Patrick discusses the challenges and differences he faced in each country and emphasises the importance of playing time and taking risks including unemployment for a year in pursuing a professional football career.
In this episode of the Overseas Athlete Podcast, Chris interviews Matt about his journey from England to Asia and his experiences as a football coach in various countries.
Matt shares his transition from being a semi-professional player in England to becoming a personal trainer and fitness coach in the Middle East. He then moved to Taiwan and got back into coaching, eventually coaching in the top tier of the Premier League in Taiwan, as well as in the Philippines and China.
Matt discusses the advantages of being based in Taiwan and the opportunities for players and coaches in Asia. He also shares cautionary tales and offers advice for those considering a move to Asia.
The episode emphasises the importance of research, networking, and adaptability when pursuing a career in sports abroad.
In this episode of the Overseas Athlete Podcast, Chris interviews Hamilton, a former footballer, about his journey from Darwin to England and his experiences in the world of professional football which also included, Australia, Singapore, and Sweden.
Hamilton shares his challenges growing up in a remote area and his trials with Arsenal and other clubs. He discusses the sacrifices and mental challenges he faced throughout his career and the importance of preparing for life after sports.
Hamilton now coaches a local football team in Berlin and emphasises the importance of having fun in youth football. The conversation also touches on the versatility of players, the role of coaching, and the challenges of dealing with setbacks and negative feedback.
They end the episode by discussing Tottenham's prospects for the upcoming season and giving advice to aspiring athletes.
In this podcast episode, Chris interviews Stefan, a football player currently playing in the Southern National League in Dunedin, New Zealand. Stefan shares his journey from Windsor, Ontario, Canada to New Zealand, discussing how he dealt with the challenges of COVID-19 and continued to train and pursue his dream of playing at the highest level.
They also talk about the importance of networking, having a support system, and the financial aspects of pursuing a professional football career. Stefan shares his experiences in Australia and New Zealand, highlighting the differences in football culture and the challenges he faces with his Canadian passport when considering opportunities in Europe
In this episode of the Overseas Athlete Podcast, host Chris interviews Kerwin, a coach who shares his experience coaching young athletes in Spain for 10 months in 2023.
Kerwin explains that he decided to explore coaching opportunities abroad due to limited professional prospects for young players in Australia. After searching globally, and first looking at the USA, he decides on Spain. He discusses the challenges and rewards of taking a group of 17 kids to live and train in Europe for an extended period of time.
Kerwin also talks about the daily routine at the academy, the positive experiences of parents who visited, and the opportunities for players to train with professional teams in Spain after successful a successful season.
The episode concludes with a discussion on the cost and process of joining the program.
If you want to find out more about this opportunity, please reach out to Kerwin at:
kerwin.footballcod@gmail.com
In addition to his current role at Spire Academy in Cleveland USA, Sean also shares his experience coaching in Bangladesh. He recounts how he had the opportunity to coach in Bangladesh through a connection he made while networking in the soccer industry. Sean explains that he was recommended for the coaching position by someone he had previously worked with, further highlighting the importance of building a strong network in the industry.
Moving to Bangladesh presented its own set of challenges for Sean as he shared his experience coaching in Bangladesh, dealing with cultural differences, and managing unfit players. His time there was both exciting and rewarding, emphasising the importance of respecting local culture and finding ways to work together
While coaching in Bangladesh, Sean also had to deal with day-to-day challenges that were specific to the country. These challenges ranged from language barriers to cultural differences, which required him to be adaptable and open-minded. Despite these obstacles, Sean found fulfilment in his coaching role and was able to make a positive impact on the players he worked with.
Overall, Sean's experience coaching in Bangladesh provided him with valuable insights into the global soccer industry. It allowed him to broaden his perspective, develop his coaching skills, and build connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through his journey in Bangladesh, Sean learned the importance of networking, adaptability, and perseverance in pursuing a career in soccer coaching.
Coaching at Spire FC provided Sean with a unique experience. He had the opportunity to work with incredibly talented players who were passionate about the sport. Sean emphasises the importance of networking in the soccer industry, as it was through his connections that he discovered and worked with such talented individuals.
In this episode of the Overseas Athlete Podcast, host Chris welcomes guest Cameron Watson, a former professional footballer, to discuss his journey in the sport.
They cover Cam's early days in Melbourne, his time at the Australian Institute of Sport, his experiences playing overseas in Portugal with Porto, a loan move to Holland, his successful return to Australia, and his subsequent moves to India and Indonesia.
They also discuss the importance of full-time football programs like the AIS and the differences in training and game load between Australia and overseas.
Cam emphasises the importance of seeking advice and support when heading overseas to play professional football, including working with external providers like the PFA.
In this podcast episode, Michael Glassock, a professional football player, shares his journey from playing in the NPL in Sydney to playing professionally in Malaysia.
He discusses the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, his successful season with Sydney Olympic, and how he secured an opportunity to play in the Malaysian Super League.
Michael also talks about the adjustments he had to make in Malaysia, including adapting to the training, facilities, and language barrier.
He emphasises the importance of mental health, nutrition, and perseverance in pursuing a career in professional football.
Michael also shares his ambitions to play in the A-League and potentially in Europe in the future.
In this introduction podcast episode, Chris Broadfoot introduces himself as the host of "The Overseas Athlete: A SportsFX Podcast."
The podcast aims to inspire and educate aspiring international athletes who are considering moving abroad to compete and live. Chris, a former professional football player and now founder of SportsFX, will provide insights into the behind-the-scenes stories of athletes who have already made the move.
The podcast will cover off-field matters such as networking, visas, contracts, finance, nutrition, and travel. Chris promises to bring captivating conversations with athletes, agents, coaches, and administrators from different countries and levels of sports.
The podcast aims to be the ultimate playbook for success in the global sports arena.