Sport star achieves on and off field
Mon 02 April 2007
Lucy Killip, Journalism
An exceptional level of commitment is needed to succeed in both the classroom and on the sports field in competitive modern society.
Dale Mallet of Buderim is one man who believes he has the determination required to achieve such a seemingly unattainable goal.
Mallet first realised his passion for volleyball when he began playing early in high school.
He was selected to compete at a national level at only 13 years of age, and in his first year of competitive volleyball.
Mallet was chosen to play for the under 17 Australian school boys team to compete in a one-off series in New Zealand when he was 16.
He has represented Queensland and Australia multiple times since and won most valuable player at last year’s university games.
It seems Mallet, 22, is attempting the near impossible by committing himself to twice weekly training sessions in Brisbane, part-time employment and full-time study.
After completing a degree in sport and exercise science at the University of the Sunshine Coast Mallet is now studying to become a physical education teacher.
The necessity to pay the bills means Mallet also works up to 30 hours per week at the Nambour RSL.
“It has always been a struggle for me to continue my studies as well as pursue my passion for sport,” Mallet said.
The expense that comes with serious sporting competition is high and has been a hurdle for Mallet.
“The registration alone for indoor volleyball competitions is in excess of $300, not including uniforms and other expenses,” he said.
“I have to work to pay for my volleyball fees but that cuts into the time I have for training and studying for uni.”
Mallet admits he suffers from a lack of sleep due to his busy schedule.
Winning a $3000 Reed Property Group sporting scholarship at the start of his tertiary education eased the financial burden of his volleyball career but he still struggles to get by.
Mallet is looking forward to becoming a secondary school physical education teacher as this will mean he has weekends free for training.
Part-time employment around university study sees many students working on their weekends with Mallet being no exception.
“It raises the question of whether young people with the required financial backing to go all the way are at an advantage to those who have to work hard in a job, study full time and try to reach an elite level of sporting competitiveness on top of everything else,” Mallet said.
Mallet believes young sporting talent may be going to waste as the pressures of contemporary society become too great and youths are forced to choose between excelling academically or physically.
Although it’s a long hard road to success in the sporting arena Mallet believes passion has pushed him to achieve, and it continues to drive him as he embarks on a professional volleyball career.
Image(s) designed by Lucy Killip