On the Field Podcast

Platform Sports

On the Field by Platform Sports is your ultimate guide to navigating the college sports recruitment journey. Designed to empower athletes and their families, this podcast delivers everything you need to succeed—one episode at a time. From breaking down sport-specific strategies to addressing student athlete's biggest concerns, On the Field brings together industry experts, athletes, and firsthand stories to provide actionable insights, answer key questions, and uncover life-changing opportunities. Tune in and take the next step towards your college sports dreams!

  1. 4d ago

    The Coach on the Other Side of the Desk: What a Division II National Championship Coach Actually Looks for When He Recruits

    The Coach on the Other Side of the Desk: What Franklin Pierce's Diego Thielen Looks for in International Recruits Most content about the U.S. college recruitment process is written from the outside. This one is not. Diego Thielen is the head coach of Franklin Pierce University's men's soccer programme in Rindge, New Hampshire, a Division II programme that has won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023. He receives around 180 emails in a single week during peak recruitment periods. He has never once offered a scholarship after a single call. And he can tell within the first few interactions whether it is the athlete or the parents running the process. In our latest podcast episode, Diego breaks down exactly what goes through a coach's mind during recruitment. Why character comes before ability in how he evaluates every single recruit. What a red flag actually looks like from his side of the conversation. Why the best programmes are not looking for the most talented player available, they are looking for the right one. And what a genuine in-season week at a national championship programme demands from a student-athlete, academically and athletically. If you are a footballer considering the U.S. college pathway, or a parent trying to understand what coaches are actually looking for, this is the conversation that gives you the view from the other side of the desk. If you want guidance on your U.S. or UK college pathway, book a free consultation with our team: https://www.platformsportsmanagement.com/consultation

    The Coach on the Other Side of the Desk: What a Division II National Championship Coach Actually Looks for When He Recruits

  2. Jun 10

    You Never Know Who Is Watching. Jo Dawkins Learned That Before He Even Knew What College Soccer Was.

    What happens when a seventeen-year-old from Auckland ends up at one of the largest universities in the United States, competing in a tough Division I conference, without ever having planned for it? Jo Dawkins, the man behind Auckland United's player development programme and a former Division I college footballer at FIU, joins Amrit to talk through his journey, the reality of balancing academics and elite sport, the professional pathway that followed, and the advice he gives every family that asks him where to start. https://www.platformsportsmanagement.com/

    You Never Know Who Is Watching. Jo Dawkins Learned That Before He Even Knew What College Soccer Was.

  3. 12/09/2025

    “I Almost Stayed Quiet”: How College Tennis Changed Jay Harrison’s Path

    Jay grew up in New Plymouth, New Zealand, where he was a three-time high school champion. His first coach was Amrit Rai’s father, so the idea of U.S. college tennis was not a distant rumour. It was on court with him from the beginning. Today, Jay is part of the team at Platform Sports. He spends his time helping other athletes do what he did: leave home, back themselves, and turn a New Zealand or Australian junior career into a U.S. college opportunity. This conversation is not a highlight reel. It is about the reality behind the photos. The pressure, the doubt, the networks that keep you standing, and why Jay still tells shy, home-loving athletes to go.

    “I Almost Stayed Quiet”: How College Tennis Changed Jay Harrison’s Path

  4. 11/11/2025

    Sleep First, Load Smart: What We Learned From Senior Physio Chris Hitchens

    Senior physiotherapist Chris Hitchens shares a practical recovery blueprint for student-athletes, focusing on sleep, nutrition, hydration, and how to balance load for long-term performance. Ready to build your U.S. college pathway with the right support around you? Book a Platform Sports consult or listen to the full episode now.

    Sleep First, Load Smart: What We Learned From Senior Physio Chris Hitchens

  5. 07/04/2025

    Keep It Real Talk Tracks Ep 2: How U.S. College Football Shaped Two Future Pros – Austin & Leah

    In Episode 2 of Keep It Real, we sit down with Austin Ludwig and Leah Bermudez; two standout captains from Gannon University who’ve turned their U.S. college football journeys into real-world pro opportunities. From Brisbane Roar to Souths United, Austin and Leah unpack the realities of college sport: performance pressure, culture shocks, what made their program successful, and why leadership starts off the field. They get candid about the transition home, life after graduation, and how their time at Gannon shaped who they are today, not just as athletes, but as people.

    Keep It Real Talk Tracks Ep 2: How U.S. College Football Shaped Two Future Pros – Austin & Leah

  6. 06/11/2025

    Keep it Real Talk Tracks EP 1: From D1 Grit to Global Goals – The Journey of Jordan & Mack

    In this debut episode of our new Keep It Real talk track, Josh sits down with two familiar faces; Jordan Acevedo and Mackenzie Roach. From 76-game college careers at Niagara University to unexpected football adventures in Australia, these two D1 athletes share the highs, the heartbreaks, and everything in between. They reflect on injuries, leadership, navigating setbacks, and what it really takes to thrive in and beyond college sports. Raw, unfiltered, and full of real-life lessons; this episode is what Keep It Real is all about.

    Keep it Real Talk Tracks EP 1: From D1 Grit to Global Goals – The Journey of Jordan & Mack

  7. 05/13/2025

    Unlocking Peak Performance: The Mindset Behind Great Athletes

    In this episode of On the Field, we sit down with high-performance mindset coach David Neithe—who has worked with Olympic athletes, national teams, and some of the top student-athletes in New Zealand. David breaks down what it really takes to perform under pressure, the role fear plays in sport, and why the best moments in your career often happen when you stop worrying about the outcome. He shares practical mental tools for athletes (and parents) to build calm, resilience, and clarity—especially when the stakes are high. If you're an athlete chasing your next level or a parent supporting that journey, this episode is for you. Listen now on Spotify and discover how David Neithe helps athletes build fearless, focused mindsets when it matters most.

  8. 03/25/2025

    Pro Agent Insights: Tay Hawker on College Recruitment, NIL, and Pro Agents

    From College Rugby to FIFA Agent – Tay Hawker on NIL, Branding & Making It Pro In this episode, we sit down with Tay Hawker—a certified pro agent and key figure at Halo Sports, one of the world’s leading pro sports agencies. Tay shares his journey from college rugby in the U.S. to managing elite athletes worldwide—breaking down what it really takes to go pro in today’s sports landscape. Whether you're an athlete, parent, or coach, this episode is packed with real-world insights from someone who’s lived it—and is now helping others make it. Want to know if you qualify for a U.S. college scholarship? Get a free academic & athletic assessment from our experts today. https://www.platformsportsmanagement.com/consultation

See All (108)

About

On the Field by Platform Sports is your ultimate guide to navigating the college sports recruitment journey. Designed to empower athletes and their families, this podcast delivers everything you need to succeed—one episode at a time. From breaking down sport-specific strategies to addressing student athlete's biggest concerns, On the Field brings together industry experts, athletes, and firsthand stories to provide actionable insights, answer key questions, and uncover life-changing opportunities. Tune in and take the next step towards your college sports dreams!

Information

  • Creator
    Platform Sports
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Platform Sports
  • Show Website
    On the Field Podcast