Mick inspires incredible coaching outcomes

With decades of coaching and sports education experience in Aussie Rules Football, working with clubs in Sydney and Victoria as a recruiter and a coach, Mick is now setting TAFE Queensland's Academy of Sport for success.

"Part of my job is mentoring our foundation educators to become teachers who can apply their sporting knowledge and experience in the classroom and the training field," said Mick.

"Right now, I have a former All Black and an international football coach from Brazil, with a wealth of experience, whom I'm teaching how the classroom experience works as they train to become teachers."

With a double degree in Bachelor of Human Movement and a Bachelor of Education in secondary education, Mick is a qualified PE teacher who also completed a Master's in Strength and Conditioning before turning his passion for playing AFL into his coaching profession.

“My career has been based around identifying talent and then helping that talent achieve its maximum potential within their sport, and now I’m helping former sportspeople become the best teachers they can be,” he explained.

"I'm giving them the practical skills they need to teach our students to conduct coaching sessions using sport-specific framework, tactics, and strategies as they give them insights into professional sports."

TAFE Queensland's Academy of Sport TAFE at School program, year 10, 11, or 12 students train in various sports while undertaking a Certificate II in Sport Coaching (SIS20321).

Students learn how to provide equipment for activities, participate in conditioning training for sport, conduct coaching sessions with foundation-level participants, and assist supervisors in preparing, executing, monitoring and evaluating activity sessions.

In partnership with sporting organisations and clubs across Queensland, students gain practical skills, industry knowledge, and hands-on experience to pursue a career in the sports industry. 

This immersive learning experience is for passionate sporting enthusiasts looking to build a career as a sports industry professional.

Students undertake sports-specific training in an immersive athlete development environment that combines theory and hands-on delivery to advance their learning.

"Students learn through a mixture of theory and practice. In the classroom, we'll discuss the principles around being a better coach, why the athletes are there and what you can do to make them better," Mick continued.

"Then we go out onto the field and translate that onto field sessions. So, part of the assessment is they deliver three coaching sessions with their peers, get them to coach each other and run drills for half an hour to give them a real-world experience."

This combination of theory and practical training gives them the skills to conduct entry-level coaching sessions in community-based sports clubs and organisations.

The program fits in with students existing high school studies, replacing one of their senior schooling subjects, which also contributes to their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

 "In 2024, we'll have over 20 sports programs across various sports, including basketball, netball, soccer, Aussie Rules, Rugby Union and rugby league, and gymnastics."

"Sports organisations need young coaches, which is what we create, so we're helping the next generation of coaches prepare to join the workforce. We also have the Brisbane Olympics coming, so these students have many opportunities in sport."

Within the course, students are introduced to all elements of their chosen sport, developing their skills and knowledge of the game while learning transferable skills to set them up for life.

"I've coached since I was 21, and I still coach today with the Brisbane Lions Academy, and I’m also the head of AFL sport at Ambrose Tracy College because it's so enjoyable.

“Knowing how to engage people to learn is one of the most transferable skills anyone needs. It all boils down to communication and engagement skills relevant to every aspect of life and every industry," concluded Mick.