Shaun Huygaerts, Fitness & Rehab coach of the first team at Royal Antwerp Football Club, shares with us some delightful information about his career path, insights about his day to day and future goals in the sport industry.
1. How did you get started? How was your experience at UCAM?
I graduated as an MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences and Musculoskeletal Disorders at the University of Antwerp. Afterwards, I came to UCAM to further develop myself in the field of Strength & Conditioning. Therefore, I enrolled in the MSc in High Performance: Strength & Conditioning.
My experience there was excellent. There was a very international environment with professors from all around the world that came to lecture us about various topics related to Strength & Conditioning, they all surely taught me a lot and in general. Also, the classes were a great network opportunity with colleagues from different backgrounds in sports.
2. Why did you choose UCAM? Was there a professor or a class that was special for you?
Graduating from the University of Antwerp, I already had a decent base of knowledge about the human body. However, I felt that I could develop myself a lot more in the field of Sports Science, so I went on to look for a qualitative MSc and UCAM delivered me what I was looking for. There were several classes that were memorable. Personally, I will always remember the passion and experience of Prof Dr Julio Calleja, as it was beautiful to watch and learn from him. Furthermore, Prof Dr Anthony Blazevich impressed me with his broad knowledge in the field of Strength & Conditioning, and Prof Dr JB Morin was really innovative. The class with Prof Dr Jens Bangsbo at La Manga was a unique setting.
3. Where did you do your internship? How was it?
I did my internship at the UCAM basketball academy with Dr Tomás Freitas. It was a great experience in which I learned a lot from an excellent scientist and practitioner like Tomás.
4. Tell us a good anecdote that happened during the masters?
During my time in Murcia, I was living together with a fellow student and good friend in the city center of Murcia. One day we woke up to the sound of people gathering and singing on the streets. When we went on to take a look, to our surprise everyone in the streets was dressed up and partying. Of Course we joined them and it turned out to be “Bando De La Huerta”. We never heard of it, but we had a great time. In general, I think in Spain they sure like to have a good party.
5. What are your current professional goals?
My goals are to keep improving and developing in every area of my job. And hopefully that way will assist the team to have some more successes in the near future. Once you have experienced what it is to win trophies, you’re always on the lookout for the next one.
6. Where do you see yourself in the future? short term and long term?
At the moment, I’m really happy with my role at Royal Antwerp Football Club. We have good accommodation, a great team of players and an excellent atmosphere between staff members. I’m also born and raised in Antwerp, so it really feels like home to me. Short term I see myself staying at the club a few more years and continue to push to get the best out of the team. However, I’m always up for new challenges and If the opportunity is right, I won’t say no to a nice project abroad.
7. What would you recommend to somebody that wants to get to a similar position/place where you are now?
Be genuine. Physiotherapy and S&C are not exact sciences. There are multiple roads to achieve a certain outcome. A good amount of knowledge and confidence is needed and be careful with the small line between confidence and ego.
You’re working with people, so you will need to be able to put your ego aside. Listen to your athletes and fellow staff members. Genuinely listen to how they feel and what they have to say. It’s not always black and white, and you just might learn something from them.
That probably is the best way to keep on developing and to put yourself in a place where you are respected and can build out a career.
8. How is your day to day as a Strength and conditioning coach?
Every day is a bit different, depending on what day of the week we are, in regards to the coming game.
In general: The day starts with a staff meeting. Here we discuss the medical situation of the team, the content of the training(s) and the tasks of the day.
Next up, we go and have breakfast with the staff - usually before the players arrive.
Players are then checking in and any new situations are addressed.
Once the training session is finished, the following starts to get prepared Players are coming into the gym before training for an individual program or a group session. Training on the field starts. At this time, I usually help out with the players that are in rehab. I don’t do manual therapy, that is not my specialty, I only focus on providing the appropriate exercises for them in the gym or on the field. After the morning work, we go get lunch
If there is a second training session, players are coming into the gym for an individual program or a group session. We end the day with a brief staff meeting. Here we discuss how the day went and how the day will probably look like tomorrow.
In summary, the main task at my job, is to design the strength programs (individual and group sessions) and support the physiotherapists with the players in rehab.
Intelligence 