Alumni Profile: Ella Sandever

Ella Sandever recently completed the Masters in Sports Rehabilitation and Therapy course at HSU Bournemouth. She now works at Poole Town Football Club in a full-time role as a Sports Therapist, following the placement she undertook as part of the course.

Ella has always been interested in supporting people with injuries, and the process of helping people, and this led her to study the Sports Rehabilitation and Therapy role following her undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science. Ella tells us more about her experience and shares some advice about placements.

Highlights of the Course

“I liked that there was a small cohort so we were able to get a lot of one to one time with the course lecturers. It meant we felt comfortable asking any questions.

“I feel like the course covered all bases with the different unit options, the placement aspect and then learning all the fundamentals as well. We got to choose which units we wanted to do and that meant I could focus on the aspects that I wanted to.

“One of my favourite units was treatment modalities. I also really enjoyed the rehabilitation unit, which is based around learning what exercises treat which injury. There was a cardiac unit too, which really helped me to get to where I am now.”

Gaining Experience on Placement

“We do 400 hours on placement as part of the course, which can be split across different places.

“My first placement was at Brockenhurst Football Club. I was then part of the pop-up clinic that Health Sciences University ran in the local town. We ran different classes for the locals, kids and elderly there. It was nice to work with the different students from the university during this.

“I did a placement at Bournemouth Heart Club as well. As I studied the cardiac unit, I met the supervisor as she came into the university and gave a few talks. I asked to do some hours over the summer, and I really enjoyed it. This was something completely different to the football club placements as there they are exercising to stay alive.

“I felt like I had access to support when I was on placement. The Placement Supervisor at Health Sciences University, Billy, would check in and make sure things were going well. My supervisors on placement would also send feedback to him.

“I also completed a few hours at Wimborne Football Club, as Billy worked there, so I was given the opportunity to go along and give post-training massages to the players.

“He also helped me to get a placement at Poole Town Football Club, where I have been since June.

“My supervisor at Poole Town Football Club, Harry, has really helped me with everything. He has allowed me to do the hands-on type of stuff.”

Transitioning from Placement Student to Working Full-Time

“In October, the manager of Poole Town Football Club said to me that after I had completed my 400 hours of placement, he wanted to keep me on and go from there.

“The director of the club also said I had been an asset to the club and wanted to keep me on, which was amazing to hear.

“I started full-time in December. The transition has been easy as I am doing the same things, and I feel settled now. My confidence has grown a lot.

“The players have been encouraging me and supporting me. Not all of them would have had experience with a female sports therapist before but the players are open with me whilst maintaining being professional and I feel like we are friends now.”

Working at Poole Town Football Club

“During the preseason, I spent time getting to know everyone and getting used to supporting players at their level, as they were the highest league I have yet to work with. The level of care and professionalism was a step up as they are a semi-professional team.

“I shadowed my supervisor, Harry, for quite a while and as time went on, he let me take the lead a little bit at a time. He allowed me to take the warmup before the first game of the season and I now take the warmups during training sessions and on matchdays.

“Pregame is all about managing the injuries that players might currently have. It can be anything from taping, strapping, or massaging to allow the players to feel ready for the game.

“We also liaise with the opposing teams’ physiotherapists and let them know our emergency action plans.

“During the game, I watch and keep an eye on everything going on, including the other team, as I need to be there to help.

“Postgame is about treating any injuries that might have come up during the game and sorting things like getting ice or giving massages. I keep note of any injuries and ask the players later on about them to see if they are still struggling.”

Training Between Matches

“We typically train on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Similar to match day, we see players before training, and I will take the warmup. The players who are injured will do a rehabilitation programme which I help take them through. The players also might come up and say they want a certain treatment, which I will give them.

“I have learnt a lot about how football works and the business side of things including how a football club runs.

“The players at Poole Town Football Club have jobs outside of playing football so if someone gets injured there can be big implications. I’ve learnt that it’s not just about treating the player but the human being. It is not just football.”

Advice for Placement Students

“For people looking at placements, start looking and reaching out as soon as you can. Make as many contacts as you can. If you know you are going home for the summer, start looking for placements that you can do there. I’d also say to not limit yourself to one type of placement and try different types of things.

“The highlight of my placements has to be the friends and people that I have met along the way.”

Ambitions for the Future

“As well as working at Poole Town Football Club, I also run a massage business from home. I want to continue to grow this and eventually add in the therapy side of things.

“I want to build my confidence in working with younger football teams. They don’t all have experience with physiotherapists, so it’s making them feel comfortable with it.

“I’d also like to do a qualification with Bournemouth Heart Club called the BACPR course which will allow me to teach and do assessments with cardiac patients.

“I would like to stay working with Poole Town Football Club for a long time.”

You can find out more about the Sports Rehabilitation and Therapy course here.