Prepare Like A Pro
2020 was a gloomy year for many AFL staff members, but some innovative business models are leveraging the displaced talent in the industry and creating impactful resources for up and coming footballers.
Prepare like a Pro is one such business. Jack McLean, the founder of Prepare Like a Pro, worked for the prestigious Hawthorn Football club as a Strength and Conditioning coach. When he stood down in the beginning of last year, Jack began working with footballers remotely from around the country. Now Jack employs AFL experienced strength and conditioning coaches to deliver professional-level training to individuals both in person and online. This is an exciting new business model that offers opportunities to many AFL staff members that were affected by COVID, and supports footballers in capturing their dreams of performing at the highest level.
Prepare Like a Pro is a multi-faceted AFL physical preparation service that offers Strength and Conditioning programs, remote and in-person coaching with AFL-standard coaches, educational seminars, and a weekly AFL-specific podcast.
There are two streams for working with Prepare like a Pro as an athlete. Firstly, footballers can engage in 1:1 strength and condition coaching. The coaching at PLP is designed with evidence-based load management principles to ensure each player is maximizing their strength and power without overdoing training
If the player and the selected coach live in close proximity, the athlete can choose to do 1:1 training sessions in person. There are Prepare Like a Pro coaches in most areas in Melbourne and select areas in regional Victoria. Excitingly, new AFL-experienced coaches are joining the Prepare Like a Pro team weekly, so in person training will be Available in most states. 1:1 training can also be conducted remotely via zoom.
Our coaching philosophy is whole-player oriented, and aside from the strength, power, and running coaching, athletes receive training on mindset, sleep, nutrition, and stress management. The 1:1 sessions are perfect for players recovering from injury, training for the draft or are working to improve specific areas of performance. For a more accessible option, Jack provides size, age, and position-specific online programs. These online programs are delivered through an app, so athletes can conveniently take their program to the gym and track their progression. These options make it accessible for all footballers to follow the Prepare Like a Pro training method and add an edge to their game.
Every week Jack McLean hosts live Instagram chats with various professionals in the AFL and strength and conditioning industries. These live chats are then transformed into podcasts and released each week to all podcast platforms. The Instagram live chat engages both parties’ followers and lends itself to a dynamic interview where viewers can write in their questions and have them answered live. On his podcast, Jack has hosted the likes of AFL superstars Tom Mitchell, Josh Dunkley, and Brett Deledio, as well as stalwarts in the strength and conditioning industry such as Dan Baker, Tim Gabbett, Andrew Russell, Ian Mckeown, and Darren Burgess. Each podcast is unique and offers insightful tips and inspiring stories from the most successful individuals in the industry.
Jack runs educational presentations both online and in-person on topics that range from effective coaching, load management, nutrition, sleep, wellness, and communication. Online presentations hosted by Prepare Like a Pro are sold as an online event and run via zoom. Furthermore, Jack has also been contracted to work with school PE and sports programs at various schools in Melbourne including Caulfield Grammar, Brighton Grammar, Haileybury, Albert Park College, and Yavneh College in Melbourne.
Prepare like a Pro is a flexible online business that trains, educates, and connects athletes and AFL-level strength and condition coaches. Head to preparelikeapro.com to learn more about the programs, podcasts or to buy some Prepare Like a Pro merch. Listen and subscribe to Prepare like a Pro podcast on your favorite listening platform, or find us live weekly on IG @preparelikeapro.
