Aaron
Rath

If you're passionate about sport and exercise science, take a page from Aaron's book: look for opportunities, embrace challenges, and never hesitate to reach out to professionals in the field.

Aaron Rath from Watford, soon to be graduate from BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science course at NTU, shares some insights about his journey through university and how important it is to follow your passion.

Aaron's academic path took a significant turn. After a previous attempt in a different field, he realised that his true passion lay in sport science:

Aaron: After dropping out at a previous university doing a different course, I made the realisation I wanted to follow something I was passionate about. I had excelled in secondary education at physical education so I knew it was the next step for me to take. But what’s challenging about that is going back for a second attempt, in a job market which is far more competitive than the last one I attempted which was in construction. The exciting part was I had a drive to learn what I was learning so it made it all so much more exciting!

What makes the course most enjoyable for me is laboratory sessions and being able to collect and then interpret data in its rawest form, which is an exciting way to learn new methods.

We asked Aaron about particular concept from your studies that he finds especially fascinating:

Aaron: Biomechanics will always be an interesting topic in terms of the movement mechanics of the body and their functions.

And what areas of sport science he is most passionate about:

Aaron: I am particularly passioned about strength & conditioning - an aspect where I will look at broadening my knowledge after my undergraduate degree. I will be starting Sport as a strength & conditioning coach this academic year where I will be able to undertake some research on university athletes.

The most challenging module on the course was…

Aaron: It would have been sports psychology - a topic that I particularly did not have much interest in. It is very qualitative and I realised it was not my strongest aspect. I have much greater interest in the body’s mechanics and functions.

Internships and Placements

Aaron interned during the USA Touch Rugby World Cup that was held at NTU and around Nottingham in 2024:

Aaron: I came across the advert one day on my university email as they got in contact with the university to bring some students in. I had already spent eight months on placement as a sport scientist at Watford FC’s academy and thought it would be a great addition to my CV. Furthermore, it would challenge me as I would be leaving the realm of football which I had been so heavily involved in for months.

During this time, he was leading physical performance scenarios and building strong relationships with international players and coaches:

Aaron: The expectations I had were almost like of that on a game day at Watford. The build up to the tournament itself was relaxed, I was given responsibility of leading all physical performance scenarios with the players, working closely with the coach OJ Hawea and chief of operations JD. During the tournament they were long days, but finding yourself building connections with the players really helped the long days go by.

We asked which part of the internship he enjoyed the most:

Aaron: I would say working closely with the players. Despite there being other placement students from the university as well, often the case the S&C coach will build a coach-athlete relationship with the squad. I had found myself early on building a good report with the squad due to being heavily involved in their training preparation and recovery protocols. Throughout the tournament, this only became stronger with a strong cohesive relationship being developed by the end of it.

Aaron's placements significantly broadened his professional network, teaching him how to approach and communicate with industry professionals:

Aaron: I would like to say it improved my diversity as a coach. There certainly was a different environment of pro academy football players in England to grown men from America who play touch rugby. In terms of communication skills, it was certainly easier to communicate to the USA players, but on a technical front, I did have to research the game and the physical requirements of the sport.

But it was not without challenges..

Aaron: My challenge was being told by the coach that I was in charge of the squad, giving me the responsibility to tailor preparation and possibly adjust training GPS metrics if deemed too high. The reward from this though was full gratitude and trust from the squad. They could tell I was confident in what I was doing and were very pleased with my work with them.

Aaron's networking opportunities during his placement significantly broadened his professional connections:

Aaron: My networking has broadened massively from my placement, I now know how to approach people who are already in elite sport and the best way to communicate to them. It will definitely make me more confident in future job interviews and how I conduct myself in my next line of work.

He shares while meeting deadlines at uni may sometimes feel less urgent, the reality of the professional world is starkly different:

Aaron: Meeting in deadlines in an academic sense does not all the time seem so important, often leaving it late. In a real world scenario it is of upmost importance to get what you need done in time otherwise you can be letting someone else down which will cause a domino effect.

Aaron emphasizes the importance of looking out for opportunities and gaining experience, which is critical for future job prospects:

Aaron: Look out for any opportunities that are out there and grab them. They are good fun and as a placement student, you have no pressure as everyone knows you’re there to gain experience. Experience is absolutely critical for getting paid work post-graduation.

As part of the sandwich course, Aaron also took a year-long internship at Watford Football Club Academy for which advert he saw on twitter:

Aaron: I was successful in an application I saw on Twitter about a sports science placement year. After having a zoom call interview, I was given the fortunate news in my success in my application. I held a strong interview talking about my personal skills and experience, and acts of effective safeguarding. I had prepared for this interview by asking the current interns at Watford FC for some advice.

We asked about his main responsibilities in this role:

Aaron: My responsibilities included setting up and leading activation sessions. I set up and collected GPS data from all training and matchday sessions. Monitored and created gym and rehabilitation programs for players and produced reports and feedback on all forms of raw data collection.

One of the most memorable experiences on internship was when he was tasked with leading the U-18s team for three weeks:

Aaron: Due to a staff shortage I was left in charge of leading the U-18s for a three week period by myself. A task that was incredibly challenging. We had an away fixture at Sheffield United where I worked closely on the journey up with the coach at the time, former Manchester United and England premier league winner Tom Cleverly, who is now in charge of the first team. The matchday went well and was congratulated on all my work for the team that day.

His internship at Watford FC enhanced his understanding of the practical application of sports science in professional football.

Aaron: I have a great understanding of the practical application of Sport Science specifically in football which I did not have before my time at Watford FC.

Reflecting on his experience, Aaron believes that every mistake he made only served to bolster his confidence, and he wouldn't change a thing about his journey:

Aaron: I was eager to learn and was not worried about making mistakes, which is ultimately how you are going to learn and improve from your current self. Those experiences only make you more confident and wiser in your approach as an aspiring sports scientist.

Outside of academics, Aaron plays Gaelic Football:

Aaron: I play Gaelic Football, which is a great break away from the studying aspect of university.

He describes Nottingham as…

Exotic, Diverse and Connectable!

After graduation, Aaron plans to pursue a master’s degree, and would like to study abroad in America. Good luck Aaron!

You can follow Aaron on LinkedIn: Aaron Rath