M5 SportsPath – A new global athlete education initiative

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Updated: March 17, 2016

BRISBANE-based firm M5 Management has developed an innovative on-line athlete education program – M5 SportsPath.

Designed for athletes aged 14-21 the program educates and supports aspiring talent across all individual and team sports.

Due to launch on March 23, the program fills a critical need in the athlete management industry globally and in Australia.

Unlike the current situation where only exceptional athletes are identified, signed and receive elite coaching and management expertise, M5 SportsPath is accessible to any emerging athlete and, importantly, their parents and coaches.

M5 is led by one of Australia’s most experienced commercial sport specialists Philip Stoneman.

With over 20 years’ international experience in media and commercial sport, Philip has a vast knowledge base in mentoring and supporting both elite and emerging athletes.

The experienced M5 team has a deep understanding of the needs of athletes at all levels; their skill set includes talent management, sports marketing, sponsorship negotiation, exercise physiology, nutrition, sport psychology, logistics and first-hand experience as parents of elite athletes.

M5 work with some of Australia’s elite athletes who have successfully made the transition to professional sportsperson.

The program was created after Stoneman recognised the crucial need for further education and self-awareness within the early stages of an athlete’s journey.

A major emphasis of the program is personal brand development and how successful athletes behave and conduct themselves in a 24/7 environment, including use of social media.

“There are many stars in sport, but those that make it to superstar status are not always the ones that get the best results in the sporting arena. They are the athletes that have a genuine affinity and respect for the Australian audience and show the characteristics and attributes that the general public can relate to positively. SportsPath educates and guides athletes in this direction” Stoneman explained.

To date, Stoneman says, this service has been inadequately filled by other athlete management firms and sporting federations who often have limited resources.

Stoneman has seen countless instances where SportsPath could assist young athletes, including when Libby Callister, parent of one of Australia’s elite young surfers Lucy Callister approached M5 regarding representation in 2014.

“We contacted M5 as we knew of their reputation in working with young and transitioning athletes. Lucy’s career was starting to kick off and we were suddenly pushed out of our comfort zone when we had to deal with contracts, event promoters, preparing sponsorship documents and the general business side of Lucy’s sport,” Callister said.

When Phil advised us about the M5 plan to offer an online education program for elite athletes, we agreed that this resource fills a vital need.

“I highly recommend that parents educate themselves as much as possible so they have the right knowledge to make the best long term decisions for their child’s sporting career.”

M5 SportsPath covers four core areas of essential knowledge for professional sportspeople:
1. How the business of sport and sponsorship work
2. Defining personal brand values and developing athlete profile content
3. Shared goal setting with support teams (parents, coaches, teachers)
4. How an aspiring/emerging sportsperson should conduct themselves (social media and general behaviour guidelines)

Subscribers to M5 SportsPath receive:
• Personal web page with secure login
• Development of personal brand profile – understanding personality type, values, attributes, use of imagery in building your brand
• Goal setting – access to performance database and profile
• Social media strategy (including guidelines)
• Basic biography content development
• Monthly newsletter covering variety of commercial sport topics highly relevant to junior athletes

The program subscription is AUD $195 per year. Athletes can subscribe to the program via the M5 management website – http://www.m5management.com.au/membership-signup.html