Educator's Ally’s Post

The Ethical Dilemma of Unpaid Placements at Surrey Sports Park The recent practice of Surrey Sports Park offering full-time, unpaid athletic roles to students instead of allowing them to complete their degrees raises serious ethical concerns. after deleting our comments questioning the policy, we thought it warrants a closer examination. Our investigation into Surrey Sports Park's recruitment practices revealed a troubling disparity: while several full-time sports placements existed, only those in Strength and Conditioning, Student Physiotherapy, Sports Therapy, or Rehabilitation were unpaid. Notably, both the Sport Participation Coordinator and Active Wellbeing Coordinator roles offered fair salaries of £22,323 per annum. This raises a crucial question: why are performance-based courses seemingly undervalued compared to other placements? Is the demanding nature of athletic training deemed less worthy of compensation? Can we truly address systemic issues like unfair compensation without critically reflecting on our own practices? It's time to move beyond pointing fingers and engage in self-reflection. Surrey Sports Park needs to re-evaluate its policy of unpaid placements, particularly within performance-based courses. Students deserve fair compensation for their time and effort, regardless of their area of study. Let's work together to create a system that values all forms of expertise and supports students in achieving their educational goals. Link - https://lnkd.in/euGe2DBN

Following my earlier post about integrating 'Wild Cards' in our Sport Management Principles course with the Gold Coast Titans, I’m excited to share another innovative application of this concept in our Sport Development Systems course next trimester at Griffith University. I have tailored the 'Wild Cards' to challenge our students in a different setting—a community sports club. Here, students work in small groups to design and facilitate a 45-minute workshop on inclusive sports practices. Unlike the strategic presentations for professional sport organisations, these workshops demand hands-on engagement and direct interaction with a hypothetical community sport club, represented by their peers. In this environment, 'Wild Cards' are used to simulate real-life disruptions or challenges that might occur during the preparation or facilitation of community sport clubs activities. Examples include dealing with unexpected resistance from club members, adapting to last-minute changes in club policies, or managing diversity conflicts. Students must select and adapt to one of these cards during their workshop delivery, reflecting afterwards on how these adaptations influenced their approach and outcomes. This method provides a crucial learning opportunity, helping students understand the dynamic nature of managing community sports clubs. It enhances their ability to anticipate and react to changes, fostering critical skills like adaptability, problem-solving, and most importantly, empathy. My philosophy is all about moving assessments away from traditional essays and exams towards activities that mirror real-world experiences. This approach not only builds off theoretical knowledge but also equips our students with practical tools and experiences directly translatable to the sport industry. By preparing and facilitating these dynamic workshops, students add invaluable skills to their CVs and accumulate real experiences they can confidently discuss in job interviews! #SportManagement #LearningTeaching #HigherEducation #SportManagement #InclusivePractice

SHOOT FOR THE MOON … 97% of talents in football academies don’t make it to pro status.  If your kid had the choice between a sports academy or an ‚ordinary‘ school, what would you recommend? … AND LAND AMONG THE STARS. Think about how much your kid has worked to actually be in the position to chose. Well deserved. What an amazing opportunity! Just approach it with the right mindset. A sports academy is the starting point to many possible career paths. Only one of them is becoming a pro. Other paths are a sports scholarship for a well recognised university, bringing the sports skillset into the business environment, leveraging the sports & health know-how for a future career or do something completely different. So, let kids shoot for the moon and give them the space to land among the stars. With Goalz, athletes find out more about their goals in life and how they can leverage  the skills they acquired in their sport for a lifelong career. Stay tuned for more.

Special thanks to Electronic Arts (EA) for releasing College Football 25 amidst my job search. I'm seeking an OC and DC to join the next great college football dynasty. During this game, I've been reminded of key lessons applicable to the job search: - **Patience**: Just like in the game, it's crucial to wait for the right opportunity. Rushing can lead to missed chances. - **Bigger Picture**: Similar to reading defenses in the game, I need to zoom out in my job search. Focusing on one aspect may cause me to miss out on other potential opportunities. - **New Game**: Transitioning to the job search is like navigating a new game. There's a learning curve, but with each step, I grow and progress. And it certainly doesn't help I am not a gamer. Grateful to everyone who has supported me in this journey. #JobSearch #CareerDevelopment #CollegeFootball25 #CareerTransition

Developing Young Athletes: Mentally and Physically | Athletic Training Secrets Revealed Discover the secrets to developing young athletes mentally and physically! Join us as we discuss the importance of holistic development beyond just sports. Get insights into our open-door policy and the unique opportunities we offer, including near 100% job placement. Don't miss out on this game-changing experience! #YouthAthletes #AthleticTraining #MentalWellness #HolisticDevelopment #JobPlacement #SportsEducation #OpenDoorPolicy #SportsTraining #AthleteSuccess #CareerOpportunities

Strength and Conditioning internship available.

For most NCAA athletes, their identity is intricately woven into the fabric of their sport. They spend their college years juggling papers and practice only to face an identity crisis alongside the looming question, "What's next?" at the end of their careers. Fear not, dear NCAA athlete! We've got a unique pathway that provides the perfect solution for navigating post-NCAA life: pursuing graduate studies in the United Kingdom while continuing to play the sport you love (where NCAA restrictions don’t apply). 🏆🎓🇬🇧 In this post, we’ll explore four compelling reasons why playing college sports for British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) in the UK while earning a master’s degree presents a balanced, life-changing, and fulfilling transition from life as an NCAA athlete to life in the workforce. Please share with any current seniors or recent alumni you know who would be interested in this option! And let them know that TeamGLEAS is here to guide them through it. 💜 #ncaa #bucs #collegeathlete #studentathletes #gradschool #studyinuk #studyabroad #studyabroadconsultants #athletedevelopment #afterthegame #teamgleas

Every day, I encounter stories like this—talented graduates struggling to find jobs in their chosen fields. It's clear we need to rethink how we approach education and career planning. It's crucial that we educate our youth on the realities of the job market. What degrees are in demand? Are there opportunities locally? We want our bright, local talent to stay here in Mobile, but they need to be informed to make the right decisions. After all, we can't navigate what we don't understand. Let's recognize the value of transferable skills, knowledge, and past experiences. These can open doors to unexpected opportunities. If anyone has a job opening or knows of opportunities that might align with his skill set, please reach out. Let's work together to keep our talent local!

Navigating Life After Sports: Athletes' Career Transitions As professional athletes focus on their careers, the reality of life after sports often hits in their mid-twenties. We explore the importance of preparing for a second career and how education can support their transition from professional sports to the corporate world. #AthleteLife #CareerTransition #SportsRetirement #LifeAfterSports #ProfessionalGrowth #AthleteMentorship #CareerAdvice #SportsIndustry #AthleteEducation #FutureReady

For most NCAA athletes, their identity is intricately woven into the fabric of their sport. They spend their college years juggling papers and practice only to face an identity crisis alongside the looming question, "What's next?" at the end of their careers. Fear not, dear NCAA athlete! We've got a unique pathway that provides the perfect solution for navigating post-NCAA life: pursuing graduate studies in the United Kingdom while continuing to play the sport you love (where NCAA restrictions don’t apply). 🏆🎓🇬🇧 In this post, we’ll explore four compelling reasons why playing college sports for British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) in the UK while earning a master’s degree presents a balanced, life-changing, and fulfilling transition from life as an NCAA athlete to life in the workforce. Please share with any current seniors or recent alumni you know who would be interested in this option! And let them know that TeamGLEAS is here to guide them through it. 💜 #ncaa #bucs #collegeathlete #studentathletes #gradschool #studyinuk #studyabroad #studyabroadconsultants #athletedevelopment #teamgleas