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Queensland Reds coach visits University
Queensland Reds rugby union coach Eddie Jones has encouraged University of the Sunshine Coast sport science students to take an active role in securing the future of professional sport.
The motivational speaker and former Wallabies coach visited the University today and inspected its new Centre for Healthy Activities, Sport and Exercise (CHASE) laboratories and the soon-to-be-completed $10 million indoor sports stadium.
After his tour of the USC facilities, Mr Jones spoke to Bachelor of Science (Sport and Exercise) students about “The role of sport science in the preparation of a high performance rugby team”.
Mr Jones, who was under intense media scrutiny after rumours that he might resign as the Queensland coach, spoke frankly to the students about the impact they could make on professional sport.
“The most successful sport scientists are the ones who can apply what they've learnt at university, in practical terms within a team environment, and know how to communicate to the players,” he said.
“The bottom line in order to get the funding, a coach needs to be able to demonstrate to the club CEO that hiring a sport scientist will win more games for the club.”
Mr Jones said the greatest threat to the future of professional sport was the lack of skill acquisition.
"Kids these days don't go to the park after school and practise their football or cricket,” he said. “When they make it to professional level, so much of a coach's time is spent working on the basics.”
USC sport scientist Dr Mark Sayers, who has previously worked as a biomechanist for the Wallabies when Mr Jones was coach, said he was delighted by Mr Jones' guest lecture.
"He not only shared his wisdom with the students, but he emphasised the need to be able to communicate the science to coaches and players," Dr Sayers said. "And he made it clear that passion is the key."
He said it was valuable for the Sport and Exercise Science students to meet a potential employer who happily outlined what he and other coaches would expect from them.
After speaking to the students, Mr Jones addressed a University Foundation luncheon on the topic of “Developing a sense of team”.