Making sports science digestible

Sports scientist, consultant, researcher, speaker, writer and mentor. Jo Clubb wears a lot of hats. All in the service of her passion to make sports science digestible.

With more than a decade of work in applied sports science, Jo has worked with top teams including the Buffalo Bills (NFL), Buffalo Sabres (NHL), and Premier League clubs Chelsea FC and Brighton and Hove Albion FC. Her expertise includes monitoring training load, conducting physical profiling and testing, developing athlete management systems, and incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in sport. 

Impact spoke to Jo about her career as an international sports science consultant and advocate for education.

Why did you pursue a career in sports science?

“I’ve always been passionate about understanding science and loved sport. When I first saw a segment about sports science on TV when I was 12 years old, I knew that’s what I wanted to do for a living.”

Why did you choose the Master of High Performance Sport at ACU?

“I was in the first cohort of ACU’s Master of High Performance Sport back in 2014. This new program was an innovative offering to combine full-time work with a part-time master’s in a broad array of sports science topics. I had a role working as a sports scientist at Chelsea Football Club at the time and didn’t want to give that up for full-time study, but also wanted more structure to my own learning and development.”

Tell us about your course.

“Most importantly, the flexibility of the ACU program allowed me to continue my practical work with elite teams while studying. I also had the opportunity to attend a week of in-person lectures in Melbourne. During that time, I widened my professional network and made connections that have since had a massive influence on my career, including faculty members Stu Cormack, David Opar, and Shona Halson. 

“I found the content engaging and directly applicable to my work. There was also great variety in the learning delivery and assessment types. I remember different tasks like having to write a blog, creating case studies and recording a presentation, along with a mixture of individual and group assignments.

“The ACU degree reinforced my ability to critically analyse data and research, as well as how to communicate complex sports science concepts effectively – skills I have relied on working across many teams and sports. Connections I made during that week also largely influenced my future opportunities to work in the US, so you never know where your professional network may lead you.”

What are you doing now?

“Currently, I work as a sports science consultant, having moved into self-employment after more than 12 years in full-time team sport. I’m focused on promoting effective science communication within the sports science community and helping the next generation of practitioners enter and progress in the field with the right tools. I share open access sports science content through my Global Performance Insights blog and YouTube channel.

“My philosophy centres on the translation of complex scientific concepts into actionable insights that athletes and coaches can use to improve performance and reduce injury risk. It’s about bridging the gap between science and practice. I frequently discuss the need for sports science practitioners to act as translators; whether it’s translating research into practice or translating lessons from one environment into another.”

What are the highlights? What are the challenges?

“The highlight of my job is seeing the impact that data-informed insights can have on an athlete’s performance. Being a consultant specifically, provides me with a great deal of variety and autonomy. I now can work with a mixture of teams, practitioners, and sports tech companies all around the world.

“The challenge, however, is keeping up with the rapidly evolving landscape of sports science and technology and ensuring that the advice I provide is balanced between scientific evidence and innovation.” 

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

“I’m proud of the impact I’ve had across multiple sports and countries, especially making the transition from football to ice hockey and American football, where I had to learn new sports from scratch and determine how I can apply scientific principles in those contexts.”

What advice would you give to yourself as a commencing student?

“Stay curious and be open to opportunities outside your comfort zone. The field is broad, and the more adaptable you are, the more valuable you become.”

You are clearly motivated to go above and beyond in education around sports science. Where does that come from?

“It stems from a genuine passion for both learning and helping athletes achieve their potential. The ever-evolving nature of sports science means that there’s always more to discover, and I’m driven by the desire to stay at the forefront of that knowledge. I also think teaching is the best way to check your own understanding of a concept, so providing education for others is hopefully beneficial to the audience as well as myself.”

If you’re interested in developing an international career like Jo’s in high performance sport, learn more about the Master of High Performance Sport at ACU.