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…
Logan Wild was a teenager at Massey High School in Auckland when he came across a clip of American college rugby on Instagram. He had no idea what the pathway involved, no frame of reference for what he was walking into, and no guarantee it would work out. Three years later, he graduated from Mount St. Mary's University in Maryland with a degree and a clear answer: he would do it all again. In…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
In this episode of 'On the Field, ' Amrit and Will discuss the best way to capitalise on your scholarship and the transfer window to rise through the American college system, as well as a look at how things are shaping for Platform in 2025. 🎯 Platform Sports – Your Pathway to a U.S. College Scholarship! 🇺🇸 At Platform Sports, we help student-athletes secure scholarships to play and study at top…
