Brady Yates has been playing cricket for as long as he’s been able to walk. The dream was always to play the sport for his country but when he realised that may not be in his future, he enrolled in a degree in Exercise Science instead. He hasn’t looked back.
“I think every young kid that loves a particular sport aspires to play for the Australian team, but it can’t be a reality for everyone.
I’ve played cricket every summer since I can remember, it was always my favourite sport. But at around 17/18 years old, I realised I wasn’t going to make a career out of it as a professional athlete, so I decided to find another way to make a career out of the sport I loved.
Brady went straight into the Bachelor of Exercise Science from year 12. At the end of third year he did a practical experience placement with Cricket Tasmania, and he now works for Cricket Tasmania as their Game Development Officer on Tasmania’s North West Coast.
“I think the placement during my degree was definitely instrumental in me getting this role. I coach older kids up to 19 years old, promote Milo cricket in schools to encourage more kids to play cricket and I’m involved in the T20 Blast aligned with the Big Bash, which has been so successful in Australia. I also organise a lot of events.
I chose to do some business management electives in my course, which are proving to be really useful now. I’m also regularly applying what I learned in the coaching subjects, particularly in the area of strength and conditioning.
The ultimate job for Brady would be working as a sport science manager, being a member of a high performance team or doing strength and conditioning work with a national sporting team – ideally the Australian Cricket Team.
“This is a long way off, and I’d have to do some additional study, like a masters, but what I’m doing now is a way in to cricket as a career.
My advice to people out there wanting to make a career out of the sport they love is to put themselves out there as much as they can. Create relationships within the industry, make contacts and don’t give up on your passion.
He also advises students who do go down the path of studying exercise science to do practical experience in as many different areas as they can.
“Just because you’re focussed on a career in a particular area, doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from practical experience in different fields.
“I worked in a gym working with everyone from 80-year-old women to fit young males, and did a placement with AFL Tasmania as well as Cricket Tas. I learned so much from working with diverse people. It opens up your scope of practice and you learn a fair bit from that –so don’t just focus on 18-year-old elite athletes, even if you think that is where your career will end up.”
When he finished university Brady spent the summer playing a season of cricket in the UK as an overseas pro.
“This was another really great experience that I learned a lot from – and I got to fulfil the dream of playing cricket overseas.”
Brady is also the club coach for his local cricket club in Tasmania.