2020 has forced us all to be agile and to find new ways in both supporting each other and working together. This was exemplified when Perth Glory FC made the trip to NSW to complete the A-League season in Sydney, which left them needing a performance hub to ensure that both their athletes and coaching staff remained in peak condition to complete the season. Through industry connections and for the betterment of the sport, Perth Glory FC found what they were looking for in a performance hub with the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE).
ACPE is Australia’s leading provider of specialist bachelor’s degrees in the related disciplines of sport, fitness, health, dance, and physical education. For over 100 years, ACPE has assisted both individuals and organisations across Australia by combining its passion for sport and education. With state-of-the-art facilities, it was a natural fit and easy decision for Perth Glory FC to call ACPE home during their stay in NSW.
Michael McKnight, Partnership Manager ACPE, was delighted to welcome Perth Glory FC to Sydney Olympic Park; “It is exciting for ACPE that we can once again demonstrate our ability to support professional teams in their development. This has been a terrific learning opportunity for our students and one that I am sure they will remember.”
Jay Ellis, Sport Performance Lecturer ACPE, said that having Perth Glory FC on campus has been of real value to ACPE students “It has been wonderful to have a high-performance team like Perth Glory FC on site using ACPE’s facilities. It was a great opportunity for our young S&C students to learn firsthand from the head of strength and conditioning on not only why he prescribed certain exercises but more importantly how we interacted with the athletes during the session.” Specifically, Jay added that “By being able to watch an elite team go about their business within a strength and conditioning environment will provide huge benefits for ACPE students, the insight provided by Perth Glory will allow us to understand their structures and provide quality content for our students.”
From a student level, Teigan Saunders, Health Science Student at ACPE, shared her excitement about being involved with a team of Perth Glory FC’s calibre “I loved the professional atmosphere and seeing how the athletes just get in and get it done. Seeing how they train and understanding why they do it and what they do definitely contributed towards my learning. The level of focus and drive is noticeable and admirable. Underneath being athletes, it’s good to see them have a laugh and a joke around as well as having a genuine conversation with you.” When asked about how motivating it is to experience what life is like in the high-performance environment, Teigan added “It was quite motivating seeing the athletes in their set environment. It gives you this kind of rush or drive to want to do better and be better. The professional environment pushes you to strive and go forward even though you may not be ready for that. It constantly opens new doors and definitely opens your eyes as to what’s out there and what you can achieve. It certainly has for me.”
