Helping peak performers perform at their peak

It’s a long way from Victoria to Texas, but for ACU postgraduate student and former elite athlete Alex Calder it’s a journey worth making.

Melbourne born and raised Alex first moved to the United States on a soccer scholarship when he was 18 years old. He was exposed to high performance sports from a player’s point of view. He returned to Australia for undergraduate study before heading back to the USA as a performance coach, mainly with high school and college athletes. Now aged 31, the expat is helping some of world’s best footballers as Head of Sports Science at Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo FC.

Impact spoke to Alex about the pathway from player to performance staff.

Why did you pursue a career in sports science?

“I was an athlete myself and wanted to remain in sport. I became infatuated with the forever-growing world of physiology and wanted to find a way to enhance overall athleticism using a variety of resources and technology. 

“I think that having played the sport at a relatively high level helps me understand the physical demands of the game, from a kinaesthetic standpoint. Also, working with performance coaches as a player helped me understand some of the experiences that our players go through. Conversations with the coaching staff become a lot easier and more valuable if you can speak their language and have a reasonable understanding of their point of view.”

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

“Mainly for it’s great reputation. Also, living overseas, ACU gave me the flexibility to learn the most up-to-date theory while working full-time in elite sport. When I was exploring master’s programs, I was looking for a reputable program that remained cutting edge and provided knowledge that could be practically incorporated into a variety of environments. I narrowed my search down to ACU and immediately signed up and enjoyed the flexibility to enrol for the right number of classes to avoid burning myself out.”

Tell us about your course.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.  I was studying and I was working full-time in an elite sporting environment. I was able to apply everything I was learning to my day-to-day as a practitioner. It was reassuring to have my work challenged and critiqued by some of the best professors in the field. In group activities, I was able to cross-reference my work with other practitioners while working together to help elevate our processes and learn from each other.”

What are you doing now?

“I work closely with our sports performance and medical staff to increase player availability as well as increase performance markers. I use technology to help inform decision-making when it comes to players’ training loads. I also play a role in strength and conditioning and rehabilitation. We have a diverse staff who divide responsibilities accordingly, while working together as a high-performance unit.

What are the highlights? What are the challenges?

“I love working with some of the best soccer players in the world, alongside some of the best practitioners in our field. The main challenge I have overcome in my career is adapting to new environments and staff with different skillsets and methods. Every practitioner, whether it is medical or performance, has had different experiences and exposures. It has been imperative for me to understand the rationale of each member’s approach within our department and provide input to help drive our high-performance unit cohesively in the right direction.”

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

“I am proud of all the success the athletes I have worked with have achieved in their careers. Whether it has been Olympic medals, championship trophies or other accolades, I am proud to have played a very small role in their athletic development. From a personal standpoint, I have been proud to get to my current role in professional sports and work with players that I did (and still do) watch and admire.”

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

“Be patient, work hard, and work well with others. It takes a lot of work and patience to get into professional sports. It is important to learn as much theory as you can, but more importantly, develop knowledge that will help provide solutions for problems.”

Has there been one defining moment that stands out for you?

“Being able to coach Brazilian great Kaká was certainly a memorable period for me. I remember being in Australia as a teenager, waking up at 3am to watch Kaká play in the Champions League final in 2005. Fast forward 10 years, and I am coaching him and playing a small role in his final years as a professional footballer.”

Do you think you are able to make a positive difference because of the work you do?

“I believe that strength coaches, medical personnel, sport scientists and other practitioners have the most face-time with players in an elite sporting environment. I believe we have quite an impact on the individuals we work with, through everything from our coaching methods to our daily body language and behaviour. I believe I make a positive difference to every player I work with due to my consistent behaviour and daily positive attitude in every task I execute.”

What else do you want to achieve in your career?

“Given that our field is forever advancing, I would like to continue to learn about all things performance related and apply everything I can to continue to drive team success. I would also love to be a part of a team that could win the MLS cup.”

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