In The Huddle
The world of US college sport is both expansive and exciting, and international student-athletes are signing up in their droves for their shot at a scholarship opportunity.
In The Huddle is the creation of Study & Play USA, widely regarded as the GO TO experts in facilitating the best possible outcomes for all stakeholders in this industry: US college coaches and recruiters, local high schools, families of student-athletes and most importantly the student-athletes themselves.
So as you jog on the treadmill, drive to work, school or training, tune in to hear from industry leading experts, US college coaches, parents and student-athletes and learn how to best approach this pathway to maximise your opportunity and set yourself up for your most successful life.
Episodes
67 episodes
EP#71: All 3 of Our Kids Went to College in the US - A Chat with the Fairclough Family from Perth
One tennis player in Los Angeles, one tennis player in Spokane, Washington and one basketballer in Sioux Center, Iowa! Listen in as Chris sits down with the Fairclough family to hear why all three children chose the US college sporting pathway....
EP#70: An Introduction to NCAA Women's Triathlon with NCAA D1 Coach Hannah Loftus from Delaware State
Claire sits down with US College Triathlon Coach Hannah Loftus from NCAA D1 Delaware State to unpack a very exciting emerging sport: NCAA Women's Triathlon. Coach Loftus discusses race format, season flow, recruiting, team tactics, ...
EP#69: Zoom out: The Bigger Picture of Life as a Collegiate Athlete with Clemson Women's Rowing Coach Kelly Kraiss
This episode is all about the bigger picture - no matter who you are or what sport you play, going through the US college recruiting process and then becoming a college athlete allows you to Zoom out and really appreciate your journey. Coach Ke...
EP#68: From Tucson to the Tour: How NCAA D1 College Golf Shapes Champions with Coach Jim Anderson from the University of Arizona
Want the real playbook behind Division 1 College golf recruiting? Chris Bates sits down with University of Arizona Wildcats Head Coach Jim Anderson to get a candid look at NCAA Division 1 golf recruiting. They discuss roster limits, rankings, c...
EP#67: You can love the US college experience and still struggle within it - Victoria Datta from The Hidden Opponent on resources available as an international student athlete
We are thrilled to introduce a new partnership for our Study & Play USA families: The Hidden Opponent! Listen as we sit down with NCAA Division I runner Vicky Datta from The Hidden Opponent to unpack the hidden realities of college sport as...
EP#66: Becoming Undeniable: Identity, Grit & The Blueprint to Success With University of Alabama & Super Bowl Champ Jesse Williams
Two unlikely travel mates and a tour of the American South that turns into a masterclass on what college sport really demands. We bring together Jesse Williams, national champion at Alabama and Super Bowl winner, and Chris Bates, a former Oklah...
EP#65: Chris' reflections of 10 days in America with Jesse Williams
Think you know U.S. college sport from the headlines? Try walking seven campuses in ten days and stepping inside the rooms where performance is built. We share what’s actually changed since COVID and why the pathway for Australian student athle...
EP#64: Hunter Valley rower Sarah Abrams on her life changing NCAA D1 Collegiate Rowing Career at University of Tennessee
What happens when a single Facebook message completely changes your life? For Sarah Abrams, a talented young rower from Australia's Hunter Valley, that message—which she initially suspected was a scam—became the first step on an extraordinary j...
EP#63: From D‑1 Full Ride to Ineligible to NJCAA All American: Angus Alberts' DIY Roller Coaster Journey
Imagine getting DM'd by an American coach, thinking it was a scam, realising it was not a scam, being offered a full ride scholarship, committing to an NCAA D1 program in New York, being weeks away from flying over and then being told: "oh you ...
EP#62: The Brainee Way: Revolutionising SAT Prep for International Student-Athletes
Navigating the path to US college sports can be complex, especially for international student-athletes who must balance intense training schedules with unfamiliar academic requirements like the SAT. Today's conversation is with British-born Woo...
EP#61: Tennis player Tayah Cross' journey from Kinesiology in the US to becoming a practicing physiotherapist in Australia
Chris Bates sits down with former college tennis athlete Tayah Cross, to discuss one of our most requested topics: the process of studying in a US college and then returning back to Australia to practice as a physio. Unlike the direct entry Aus...
EP#60: Beyond Warm Weather: Finding Your True Fit in College Swimming with NCAA D1 Coach George Eglesfield
Coach George Eglesfield from NCAA D1 California State University at Bakersfield shares his journey from international student-athlete to recruiting coordinator and assistant coach, providing valuable insights for swimmers considering the US col...
EP#59: The World of East Coast Ivy League Water Polo with Brown University's Recruiting Coordinator Petar Momcilovic
Today’s episode explores the intricate world of Ivy League water polo recruitment, featuring insights from Coach Petar Momcilovic of Brown University. Listeners will get to hear Coach Momcilovic discuss the much talked about Junior Olympics, th...
EP#58: NPL Does Not Automatically Mean NCAA D1 with Indian Hills Men's Soccer Coach Zac Newton
Prepare yourself for an eye-opening journey through the world of collegiate soccer with our special guest, Coach Zach Newton from Indian Hills Community College. Hailing from Australia, Coach Newton's path from player to coach is nothing short ...
EP#57: Take Division Out of It with Junior College Softball Coach Erin Sharpe at Northeast CC in Nebraska
Unlock the secrets of junior college softball recruitment with our expert guest, Coach Erin Sharpe from Northeast Community College in Nebraska. Gain insights into what truly matters in the eyes of a college coach: it's not just about stats but...
EP#56: Junior College Tennis Beyond the Stereotypes with Jones College Coach Brooks Buffington
Continuing with our junior college podcast series, Chris Bates sits down with Coach Brooks Buffington, the newly crowned 2024 National Women's Junior College Coach of the Year at Jones College in Mississippi, to uncover the truth behind the oft...
EP#55: The Customer vs The Explorer: College Recruitment with Cloud County Community College Track/XC Coach Drew Mahin
This podcast episode dives deep into one of our most frequently requested topics: Junior College, also known as JUCO or NJCAA. Coach Drew Mahin from Cloud County describes the recruitment process in a way for everybody to understa...
EP#54: Fuelling student-athletes for performance both at home and College with Sports Dietitian Lyss Koenan.
How do you balance athletics and academics while ensuring proper nutrition?In this episode, Director Alexia Bates sits down with Sports Dietician Lyss Koenan to discuss nutritional choices for high school and college aged athletes. Alex...
EP#53: Unpacking Junior College Basketball with Dodge City Community College Women's Basketball Coach Landon Steele
In this episode, Claire sits down with Junior College Division 1 Women's Basketball coach Landon Steele, from Dodge City Community College. They discuss a wide range of topics from what Coach Steele looks for in a recruit, why he enjoys recruit...
EP#52: From Golf Recruit To Recruiting Mentor: Introducing Our New Team Member, Jarrod Mann
What if you could navigate the challenges of being a student-athlete in a foreign country while chasing your dreams of professional sports? Meet Jarrod Mann, our newest team member and recruiting mentor at Study and Play USA! Jarro...
EP#51: Bridging High School and US Pathways: The Geelong College’s Approach To Connecting Sport & Academics
Ever wondered how student-athletes juggle academic excellence with top-tier sports performance? Join us in this inspiring episode where we sit down with Nathan Brown, the Director of Sport and Performance Pathways, and Adrian Blades, the Head o...
EP#50 More than just running with NCAA Division 1 Women's Track/XC Coaches at St Mary's College of California
Prepare to be propelled into the dynamic world of college athletics as we sit down with Marty Kinsey and Mark Kaiser from St. Mary's College of California. Discover the enduring bond between Australian athletes and St. Mary's sports programs, a...
EP#49 Mastering the Game: Navigating College Sports Eligibility for International Student-Athletes
Embark on a journey into the heart of the college sports world as Chris and Alexia Bates from Study and Play USA join us to dissect the academic eligibility maze for international student-athletes. This episode is not merely a conversation; it'...
EP#47: Preparing Athletically for the Rigours of College Sport with Stewart Briggs, former US College Strength & Conditioning Guru and Founder of Acceleration Australia
In this episode, our director Chris Bates sits down with Stewart Briggs, who started Acceleration Australia in 2000, after working as a strength and conditioning coach across NCAA D1 as well as the NBA. Tune in to gain a WEALTH of knowledge fro...
EP#46: Maximise Your Summer!
In this super short episode, Chris discusses the sometimes unknown life changing opportunities available to student – athletes to set themselves up for a successful sporting and post sporting career. Chris provides some tips for maximising your...