What Does It Take to Deliver High Performance in Sport? Industry Leaders Share Insights at ICMS

Behind every successful sporting team is an extensive network of professionals managing athlete preparation, facilities, logistics and commercial partnerships. ICMS students gained an inside look at these operations during a masterclass featuring two experienced leaders in professional sport. 

The recent masterclass, High Performance From Both Sides – the Facility That Enables It and the Team That Uses It, brought together Dr B-J Mather, Director of Performance at the NSW Waratahs, and Brooke Reid, a sports partnerships and events leader. 

Facilitated by ICMS Lecturer and Discipline Lead (Sports) Darren Coughland at the Northern Beaches Campus, the discussion explored sporting performance, facility management, major event delivery and commercial partnerships, giving students practical insights into careers in the sports industry. 

High Performance Starts Long Before Game Day

For Dr Mather, who has worked across professional rugby programmes in England, Australia and Fiji, high performance is about achieving consistent results. 

He discussed his involvement with Fiji Rugby ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the men’s rugby sevens team secured a silver medal. 

According to Dr Mather, two important factors contributed to the team’s performance: changes to the coaching structure and a carefully planned preparation programme. 

The programme considered training loads, venues and athlete preparation, providing a structure that could accommodate unexpected changes. 

“If you’ve got a plan, you can adapt. If you haven’t got a plan, then everything’s adaption, and it just becomes a mess,” he said. 

Dr Mather also identified four principles he considers essential to successful high-performance environments: clarity, honesty, innovation and personalisation. 

He explained that these principles apply regardless of the resources available, pointing to Fiji’s international success despite limitations in some of its training facilities. 

Behind the Scenes of the World’s Biggest Sporting Events

Brooke Reid offered students another perspective on high performance, drawing on her experience delivering major international sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. 

For Reid, success depends on anticipating challenges and having systems in place to address them. 

“High performance to me means not that nothing goes wrong, but we’re ready for when something does go wrong, and we can fix it before anyone realises,” she said. 

Using Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar as an example, Reid explained how effective venue design allows athletes, broadcasters, sponsors and spectators to move through a facility efficiently, with each group having different requirements. 

She also discussed the logistical challenges of international tournaments, including transporting teams between cities, managing flight schedules and maintaining consistent standards across venues. 

These operational details can directly affect sporting performance, particularly when athletes need predictable routines and adequate recovery time. 

For students considering careers in sports and event management, her examples highlighted the importance of communication, risk management and understanding the needs of different stakeholders. 

Balancing Commercial Success and Athlete Performance

Another focus of the masterclass was the relationship between commercial partnerships and athlete welfare. 

Reid explained how commercial obligations involving the CommBank Matildas must be carefully negotiated around training schedules, match preparation and recovery. 

While sponsorship provides essential funding for professional sport, athlete availability cannot be unlimited. 

Dr Mather reinforced the importance of recognising the physical impact of activities that might appear relatively minor, such as sponsor appearances and community events. 

Even time spent standing or participating in promotional activities can affect an athlete’s recovery and preparation. 

Both speakers emphasised the importance of cooperation between commercial teams, event organisers and high-performance staff. 

Supporting the Future of Women’s Sport

The discussion also addressed the commercial growth of women’s sport and the infrastructure needed to support continued participation. 

Reid highlighted the importance of investing in safe facilities, appropriate coaching and opportunities for women to contribute to decision-making across the sporting industry. 

Dr Mather agreed that sustainable high performance begins with grassroots participation, including accessible facilities and welcoming sporting environments. 

Both speakers emphasised that investment in women’s sport must consider the specific needs of female athletes rather than simply adapting existing men’s programmes. 

Career Advice for the Next Generation of Sports Professionals

For ICMS students, some of the most valuable insights came when the conversation turned to building a career in sport. 

Reid explained that her career had taken her through high-performance sport, event management, advertising and commercial partnerships, with skills gained in one area proving valuable in another. 

She encouraged students to take opportunities, build professional relationships and remain open to different career pathways. 

Reid also mentioned her experience working with young people from ICMS through internships, highlighting the value of gaining practical industry experience while studying. 

Dr Mather offered students three pieces of advice: be committed, be lucky and be ready. 

He explained that while opportunities can sometimes depend on being in the right place at the right time, preparation determines whether someone can make the most of them. 

“If you are lucky, you need to make sure you’ve got all the skills, you’ve done your preparation, and you can grab your opportunity  when it comes along,” he said. 

Both speakers also addressed the importance of work-life balance, acknowledging the demanding schedules associated with professional sport and major events. 

Dr Mather welcomed a growing willingness among younger professionals to establish healthier boundaries, while Reid noted that excessive working hours can compromise the quality of event delivery. 

Industry Insights That Connect Learning With Careers

The masterclass gave ICMS students insight into the professional decisions, operational challenges and commercial considerations involved in delivering high-performance sport. 

Through real-world examples and career advice, students gained a clearer understanding of the opportunities available across sports management, event operations, commercial partnerships and athlete performance. 

The session reflected ICMS’s focus on industry-connected learning, giving students access to experienced professionals and practical insights into careers in the sporting industry.