Paige Satchell battling for the ball against the Cook Islands at the 2018 Oceania Football Confederation Women's Nations Cup in New Caledonia.
Bachelor of Sport Management student Paige Satchell, Ngā Puhi, has the world at her feet. The soccer star is moving to Germany in July, to enter the world of professional football, while keeping up her studies at Massey University.
"I have always been interested in working in the sports industry,” Ms Satchell says. “This course also fits into my lifestyle by being fully available online and by doing it via distance, I can make the move to Germany to play, and keep up my studies. By the time my football career is over, I will have my degree."
The 21-year-old from the Three Kings United club in Auckland has signed with SC Sand in the Frauen-Bundesliga in Germany. Ms Satchell is currently in New York with the Football Ferns, ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup which begins in France next month.
Ms Satchell in action for the New Zealand Women’s U-20 football team.
Tackling study and soccer
Currently in her first year, Ms Satchell originally began her studies doing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Sport and Exercise Science, but she soon changed degrees so she could study via distance.
“I currently train and play football full-time as well as study part-time. I’m currently taking two papers, so juggling both study and football can get quite busy at times. Both require a lot of time and attention, but I’ve found by managing my time effectively and using all the support systems available to me, it’s made it easier to do both,” she says.
“It’s definitely achievable to study alongside other commitments. It might take you a bit longer to complete your study, but by being patient and working hard, I believe you can succeed with both goals.”
Ms Satchell, who grew up in Rotorua, moved to Auckland in her final year of secondary school to concentrate on football, finishing school at Orewa College.
She is a member of the Massey University Academy of Sport programme which allows her to access support including on-campus gym membership, sport science services, topical seminars and individually tailored assistance with balancing her study and sporting careers.