If Your Dream is to be a Sports Physio, should you do it for Free?
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It was my dream, as it was for many of my Physio comrades to one day be on the pitch side for a great team. Once I was qualified, I noticed a lot of my colleagues getting jobs working for sports teams on evenings and weekends after their full time work within the NHS. At the time I may have even been a little jealous that they felt that they had the confidence to pursue their dreams. That feeling soon stopped when I found out that many of them were not getting paid. Zero, zilch, nothing, not a penny.
My friends were using their free time to work for free, providing a service to well established sports clubs that could afford to pay, but didn’t. I noticed that many clubs would rely on the good will and eagerness of newly qualified physios to keep their players fit and match ready.
Horrified, I made a vow (I often make vows to myself when I’m horrified by a situation- is this just me?) that I would never lend my hard earned skills as a Physiotherapist for free. Here are my reasons why:
If Your Dream is to be a Sports Physio, should you do it for Free?
1. You are more than qualified.
2. You can learn on the job.
3. The work is not easy.
4. Do not diminish your worth.
5. When is it ok to work for free?
1. You are more than qualified.
“But, I’m not qualified enough to charge” You have your BSc/MSc in Physiotherapy. That means you have spent time and effort studying and you have a certificate to prove it!
It is likely you have also been working in the public or private sector since you graduated. Although the skills you have developed may not be an identical match to working in sport, what makes Physiotherapists great is that we draw upon our unique experience and are able to apply it to the problem in front of us.
2. You can learn on the job.
You would be a fool to think you can walk into a sports role and know exactly what you are doing from the first whistle. If I expected that from you on the first day of your day job as a newly qualified physiotherapist you would think I was being totally unreasonable. So why are you treating yourself this way?
As with any new role, you must learn the culture of the workplace, how things get done and what is expected of you.
In my experience, it took a full season to grow into my role. My confidence and knowledge grew each year after.
3. The work is not easy.
Being a Physiotherapist in sport is no walk in the park. It is not easy and therefore you need to be compensated for your time, effort and expertise.
You can expect long, unsociable hours, you have to fit your treatment sessions in around eating, sleeping and toilet breaks. You are often the primary carer/first aider, last minute trips to the shops for ice and various medications are all part of the job.
You can also rack up a lot of miles traveling too, on the team bus if you are lucky but some teams do not provide you with travel and accommodation.
4. Do not diminish your worth.
By accepting to work for free, you are essentially telling your employer that the work you do is of no value, anyone could do what you do and your time is also worth nothing.
We all know that is wholly untrue.
Sometimes, players are only on the pitch due to the skills and hard work of a Physio; that includes both complex communication and practical skills.
5. When is it ok to work for free?
One time where you shouldn’t expect payment is when you have sought out an opportunity to shadow someone whilst they work at training, a game or an event, where you are using it for your own interest or development.
If you are doing some work for a charity event, they may require you to waive your usual fees but this depends entirely on the event and the role of Physio in it.
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Ultimately, working in sport is a rewarding job and yes many Physios enjoy it so much they would do it for free.
I was so fortunate that the experience I have had working in sport was with a team that had a strong, inclusive culture and valued each member of the team and the role that they played. I would love everyone to experience this.
My aim of this post was to instill you with confidence that you are a highly skilled professional, not just anyone could do your role. As a Physio working in sport you are a vital cog in the machine and you should be paid fairly for the work you do.
If you are pursuing a career in Sport and want some ideas on how to explain your value to your future (or current) employer you should…
Read this blog post: 5 tips when negotiating a Physiotherapy Salary.
Let me know your opinion in the comments below:
Do you agree Physios should always be paid to work in sport? Or do you have a different opinion? Write in the comment section below. All healthy and respectful discussion is welcome!
About the Blogger:
Hi, I’m Rebekah.
I’m a Physiotherapist with a passion to support others to get to where they want to be. I love to organise and plan which, comes in handy for my mission to empower others to achieve their Physiotherapy career goals.
