Turning a passion for sport into teaching career

The Hawke’s Bay local is now putting that philosophy into practice as a physical education teacher at Hastings Boys’ High School, while continuing to pursue his own sporting ambitions at the highest level.

After completing a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, Mr Percy-Fysh completed a Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (Secondary) at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University in 2025.

Alongside his undergraduate study, Mr Percy-Fysh built up seven years of football and futsal coaching experience and spent five years working in after-school care and holiday programmes.

He says there was no single moment when he decided to become a teacher.

“It was more a collection of experiences that made it a no-brainer that my career would involve helping young people grow in confidence, learn new skills and back themselves.”

Choosing to study by distance through Massey meant he could take the next step towards becoming a teacher without leaving behind the life he had established in Hawke’s Bay.

“I had mates who had studied by distance through Massey and spoke really positively about it, so that gave me confidence going in. Being able to complete my teaching qualification while staying in Hawke’s Bay was a massive drawcard.

“I didn’t feel like I had to put the rest of my life on hold to take the next step in my career.”

Distance study allowed him to remain close to family and friends, continue working and maintain his involvement in futsal and coaching.

Mr Percy-Fysh says the combination of online sessions, lectures and independent study provided structure, while giving him the freedom to organise his study around those commitments.

“You still had to be disciplined and get the work done, but I could make it fit around my commitments.

“Staying at home also helped me save money and keep an awesome support network around me. I didn’t have to move cities or start fresh with coaching, which meant I could keep building on relationships and opportunities I already had in Hawke’s Bay.”

Mr Percy-Fysh says his rōpū leader Ryan Southey provided valuable support throughout his studies.

“He was always there for an honest but calming conversation. It makes me laugh thinking about how we could all be getting nervous or flustered about an assignment, and Ryan would be completely calm.

“That was something I could feed off, and his approach suited me really well. He helped make things feel manageable.”

While he enjoyed the coursework and lectures, Mr Percy-Fysh says he particularly thrived during his professional experience placements, where he could put his learning into practice and build connections with ākonga.

His first placement took him to Hastings Boys’ High School. The experience ultimately led him back to the school as a teacher after graduating.

“Placements give you a valuable taste of teaching. You get to practise planning, managing a class and building relationships, with someone there to offer feedback and help you improve.”

Now nearing the end of his first year in the classroom, Mr Percy-Fysh draws on lessons from his Massey studies.

One of the most important has been establishing clear expectations and routines while building strong relationships with his students.

“Knowing your subject is only part of teaching. You need to know your learners too. Building relationships, explaining things clearly and being willing to change your approach can make a massive difference to whether a student gets involved.”

His teaching career has developed alongside success on the futsal court.

Mr Percy-Fysh made his Futsal Whites debut during a tour of Thailand in 2025, before representing Aotearoa New Zealand at the FISU World University Championship in Poland in 2026.

“Growing up, I was kicking a ball around the garden with my brothers, pretending to play for New Zealand. To go from that to actually wearing the fern as an international player, yeah, it doesn’t get much better than that, does it?”

He says his experiences as a player, coach and teacher increasingly complement each other.

“Sport has taught me that people need different things to perform at their best. Some need a quiet conversation, some need a clear challenge and others need encouragement to have a go. That carries straight into teaching.

“Teaching has also improved my coaching tremendously because I now see it through a different lens.”

Mr Percy-Fysh says the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing his ākonga develop.

“Seeing a student grow in confidence, give something a go or feel comfortable enough to ask for help makes the busy days worthwhile. I want to build relationships that give them the best chance to succeed.

“Now that I’m in the profession, I love being able to teach, keep pursuing my sporting goals and contribute to my community. It’s busy, but it suits who I am. I can definitely see myself in teaching for the long haul.”