We are thrilled to introduce a new partnership for our Study & Play USA families: The Hidden Opponent! Listen as we sit down with NCAA Division I runner Vicky Datta from The Hidden Opponent to unpack the hidden realities of college sport as an international and the power of a community that says 'it’s okay not to be okay'.

German athlete Vicky explains how The Hidden Opponent is breaking stigma with practical action: campus captains, mental health game days, and resources that make support easy to find.

She shares candid stories about moving from Germany to the United States, adjusting to new training loads and gym work, and navigating the business side of American college athletics where results can impact coaching jobs. Her playbook is clear and compassionate: communicate early, ask for help, and keep your identity bigger than your performance.

Claire and Vicky cover:

• American athletes generally come into college knowing what to expect vs internationals not always knowing
• A lot of your American teammates may not know what you don't know
• Victoria's experience with being injured for 6 months and how she dealt with that mentally and physically
• College can be an amazing experience but also hard at the same time - both things can coexist
• Speaking up can be hard, but it is so important to speak up if you need help
• The importance of familiarising yourself with the gym before heading over to college for the first time
  
  

Vicky's biggest takeaway lands with heart: sport is a business, but your self-worth is not. When injuries occur or homesickness hits, stay connected to your team, lean on counselling, and let team community carry you through the hard bits. The Hidden Opponent’s expanding international chapter proves that vulnerability travels; when others share openly, you don’t have to. If this conversation helps you or someone you love, subscribe, share it with a teammate or parent, and leave a review so more athletes can find the support they deserve.

Vicky Datta Instagram: @victoriadatta_

The Hidden Opponent - The Founder's Ted Talk:
youtube.com/watch/?vSdk7pLpblls

Two unlikely travel mates and a tour of the American South that turns into a masterclass on what college sport really demands. We bring together Jesse Williams, national champion at Alabama and Super Bowl winner, and Chris Bates, a former Oklahoma State tennis player and founder of Study & Play USA, to map the modern pathway for Australian student athletes.

Across locker rooms and alumni halls, we test the myths. Is JUCO a step down or a launch pad? Does NIL change everything or just turn up the noise? Jesse cuts through with lived experience: be undeniable. Best players play, but the best people last. He shares how JUCO forged resilience, why Alabama’s culture still shapes his life, and how alumni support in the U.S. feels like coming home. We talk about the transfer portal, social media pressure, and the simple truth that winning cultures value character as much as speed and strength.

If you’re an Aussie eyeing the U.S., this is your blueprint. We break down why data-driven combines matter, how to build a credible athletic and academic profile, and why the right mindset beats hype every time. You’ll hear the line that stopped a future first-rounder in his tracks: bridge the gap between who you think you are and who you really are. It’s tough-love mentorship delivered with clarity, purpose, and a clear call to action—give yourself twelve months to build the missing 10 percent.

Subscribe for more stories, practical steps, and honest insight on U.S. college sport. If this helped sharpen your plan, share it with a mate who needs a push and leave a review to help others find the pathway.

Think you know U.S. college sport from the headlines? Try walking seven campuses in ten days and stepping inside the rooms where performance is built. We share what’s actually changed since COVID and why the pathway for Australian student athletes is more compelling than ever.

From the moment we arrived, the pattern was unmistakable: proximity drives progress. Training centres, rehab, academic support, and fueling stations sit within a short walk of the dorms. That convenience isn’t just nice to have; it hardwires better habits. We unpack how facilities have levelled up across divisions, why nutrition stations are everywhere, and how live data in gyms and tennis centres is turning PBs and workload into daily decisions. The vibe is alive, the systems are mature, and the focus is clear: help athletes improve faster.

Coaches told us their appetite for internationals is growing, with Australians high on the list. The reason is athletes who travel far tend to value the opportunity and stick the process. We explain how to stand out: start early, build your baseline before you go, and use film, results, and academics to widen your options. We also cut through media noise: the “student athlete bubble” is real, and day-to-day life is more about class, training, and team travel than politics or headlines.

NIL is reshaping incentives, especially where American football’s economic engine is strongest. We take you behind the scenes at places like USC, Clemson, Georgia, and Alabama to show how game-day scale funds world-class support across sports. Even if your sport is smaller, understanding NIL, compliance, and personal brand can open real doors. It all adds up to a simple truth: if you prepare well before you land, the system is ready to accelerate you.

What happens when a single Facebook message completely changes your life? For Sarah Abrams, a talented young rower from Australia's Hunter Valley, that message—which she initially suspected was a scam—became the first step on an extraordinary journey across the Pacific to NCAA Division I rowing.

Alexia sits down with Sarah as she shares the raw, unfiltered story of her transformation from a high school athlete who "didn't even know what a conference was" to an accomplished collegiate rower at the University of Tennessee. With disarming honesty and infectious enthusiasm, she recounts the whirlwind decision to accept a January intake offer that had her boarding a plane in late December, fighting back tears as she left everything familiar behind. Those early months tested her resilience as she navigated intense training camps, academic pressures, and profound homesickness—yet the community she found among teammates and coaches became her lifeline.

Sarah debunks the myth that pursuing American collegiate athletics means sacrificing opportunities to represent your home country, sharing how she successfully made the Australian national team while competing for Tennessee. The emotion in Sarah's voice is palpable as she describes putting on the green and gold: "There's a kangaroo on my back!"

Alexia and Sarah also cover an aspect of Sarah's journey often overlooked in the media despite its significant impact: the transition back to your home country after US college graduation. After four years of independence, intense training, and immersion in American culture, Sarah speaks about returning to her childhood bedroom and adjusting to life without her established college support network. She dives into the importance of self-compassion during this transition, allowing oneself to feel the full range of emotions that come with such a significant life change.

Whether you're a listener considering a US rowing scholarship, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about different US college sporting pathways, Sarah's journey offers valuable wisdom about embracing opportunities, trusting the process, and discovering capabilities you never knew you possessed. Listen now to understand why this self-proclaimed "hype woman" believes this experience—challenges and all—was unequivocally "the best thing I've ever done."

Loving this podcast? Leave us a review and send us any guests & topics you want us to cover via email at hello@studyandplayusa.com.au

Imagine getting DM'd by an American coach, thinking it was a scam, realising it was not a scam, being offered a full ride scholarship, committing to an NCAA D1 program in New York, being weeks away from flying over and then being told: "oh you are not eligible to compete in NCAA D1."

This was Angus Alberts' story, an Australian National champion shot putter from Lara, Victoria who went through the college recruitment process on his own. What seemed like a dream opportunity for Angus quickly unravelled. This setback could have ended Angus' American dreams altogether. Instead, it became the first chapter in an even more remarkable journey. With guidance from Study & Play USA, Angus discovered the junior college pathway—initially reluctant but ultimately the perfect fit for his athletic and academic development. Now at Iowa Central Community College, he's thriving both on and off the field, having earned All-American status in outdoor shot put during his freshman year.

Angus and Kelly sit down with Claire to discuss the surprise and confusion when they were told Angus was not eligible for NCAA D1. Surely the coach who had promised a full scholarship would have known from Angus' report cards that he was a few core courses short of the required 16 for NCAA D1?

For aspiring college athletes facing obstacles, Angus offers a powerful perspective: "People will see how you bounce back... I pride myself heavily on it." His journey from disappointment to achievement demonstrates that setbacks often lead to better pathways when met with perseverance.

Navigating the path to US college sports can be complex, especially for international student-athletes who must balance intense training schedules with unfamiliar academic requirements like the SAT. Today's conversation is with British-born Woody Sandhu, founder of Brainee and former US collegiate rower at Florida Tech.

Woody shares his remarkable story of going from a complete novice in rowing to earning a collegiate scholarship in just months. After being identified through a UK talent program and achieving an impressive sub 6:20 on his first-ever 2K erg test, he found himself scrambling to understand the US college recruitment process while juggling training and academics. His experiences highlight the unique challenges international student-athletes face – usually facing a disadvantage compared to their US counterparts when studying for the SAT.

What makes Woody's perspective particularly valuable is how he transformed his challenges into solutions through founding Brainee, an SAT prep platform specifically designed for time-poor student-athletes. Unlike traditional prep methods that cater to American students with years of familiarity with standardised testing, Brainee employs AI tutoring, personalised analytics, and athlete-friendly strategies that recognise the unique constraints athletes face. The platform identifies specific weaknesses, predicts potential point gains from mastering particular topics, and even offers shortened diagnostic tests for those with limited time.

We’re thrilled to join forces with Brainee to supercharge the SAT journeys of our international student-athletes! This partnership means smarter prep, tailored support, and even greater results ahead!

Chris Bates sits down with former college tennis athlete Tayah Cross, to discuss one of our most requested topics: the process of studying in a US college and then returning back to Australia to practice as a physio. Unlike the direct entry Australian model, Tayah's journey took her from an undergraduate kinesiology degree with a minor in French from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, to a Doctor of Physiotherapy at Bond University, culminating in a prestigious clinical placement at Stanford University where she worked with collegiate athletes—coming full circle in her educational journey.

Tayah discusses the varying classes she originally took in her freshman and sophomore year and how the flexible US college system supported her to try different courses before landing on kinesiology. She also reflects on how her experience as a college athlete has enabled her to become a fantastic physio, relating her own life experiences to many athletes she treats in her professional world.

Coach George Eglesfield from NCAA D1 California State University at Bakersfield shares his journey from international student-athlete to recruiting coordinator and assistant coach, providing valuable insights for swimmers considering the US college route. His personal experience swimming at the University of Wyoming combined with his current coaching perspective offers a comprehensive view of collegiate swimming opportunities.

In this episode, Coach George shares the things the would focus on if he was a high school aged international swimming recruit, as well as tips he has for athletes getting ready to start their swimming journey this upcoming August. The infamous online platform Swim Cloud is also discussed, where Coach George emphasises the value in utilising this website when a swimmer is starting out their US college recruitment journey.

Claire asks Coach George her favourite question about red flags and green flags in college recruiting, and also delves into the prevalent priority she sees with Australian swimmers: wanting a warm climate college in Florida or California. Coach George provides his insight as to why climate considerations should be secondary to swimming program quality, academics, and scholarship opportunities.

The episode ends with Coach George discussing how the modern college swimming world is increasingly intense - times from 10 years ago would not be competitive today.

Enjoying what you are learning from In the Huddle? Leave us a review and message us on Instagram for more Podcast topic requests!

*At the time of recording, Coach Eglesfield was coaching at Cal State Bakersfield. He has since left to coach at a different D1 university.