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Callum is a sports physiotherapist and strength & conditioning coach who has worked in the elite levels of various sports across Europe and the UK. This has included working for both the Mercedes AMG Petronas and Hass F1 racing teams in the Formula 1 (F1), in professional football with both Reading FC women’s team as well as holding a variety of roles with the English Football Association (The FA). He is now currently working with some of UKs best Olympic and Paralympic athletes and manages a specialised multidisciplinary team at the UK Sports Institute (UKSI). This is a fascinating conversation with someone who originated from Australia and has now gone on to hold prominent roles in the UK sports landscape and continues to add value, not only to the athletes he works with but also the colleagues he now leads, educates and mentors in the industry.

Highlights from the episode…

• We discuss the practical steps Callum took to get his first role at Reading FC Women’s team with no prior football experience.
• Callum shares his time at Reading and dealing with the pressures and challenges of being in a relegation battle.
• His transitioning from football into F1 with the Mercedes racing team and discusses his role as team physiotherapist/performance coach. 
• Is there value in providing performance support not just for the athlete but also for the wider performance support staff?
• Callum shares what are the non-negotiables are for practitioners who are considering working in F1.
• Sport is a “trust-based” industry not a “skill-based” industry. It’s not always the person with the most skills who gets the job, it’s more likely the person who they “trust” most can do the job.
• Callum share one of the most comprehensive and creative methods The FA used during its recruitment process to acquire top talent in the competitive market of English football.
• Having spent 7 years with The FA, he shares what his roles were and how the national team staff and resources are structured throughout the medical/performance departments.
• We chat about balancing a strong relationship with a significant other while pursuing a career in elite sport.
• Career transition and the “CLAMPS” framework. How it can assist in difficult decisions around career opportunities.
• How the UKSI is structured, how it services athlete and Callum’s role as clinic lead rehabilitation.
• Now running a department at the UKSI what extra curricular activities/courses/degrees should one consider to help them effectively run a department in sport.
• “Performance reviews”. How Callum provides feedback to staff.

People mentioned:

• Peter Lion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterlion/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Clare Lion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-lion-464b7789/
• Sam Boylett-Long: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-boylett-long-56b8b855/
• Craig Ranson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-ranson-85a58832/
• Mark Adamoulas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markadamoulas/
• Simon Spencer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-spencer-5b699732/
• Chris Bodman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bodman-9a4ba340/

Callum Repper contact details: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callum-repper/
• X: https://x.com/callumrepper?lang=en

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: [email protected]

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.