The Story Behind Back in Play

Back in Play was founded by Stephen Mittell, a lifelong supporter and active member of local sporting clubs. Having spent decades in community sport, Stephen saw firsthand the challenges that grassroots clubs face, including limited resources, volunteer-run committees and the constant struggle to keep players fit, healthy and ready to play.

Over time, he noticed the same pattern across clubs and competitions. Talented players capable of playing senior level were missing opportunities, not because of skill or commitment, but due to recurring injuries, inconsistent rehab and gaps in communication between players, physios and coaches.

Although many injury management and rehab processes already existed, few were designed with the realities of Australian grassroots sport in mind. Most systems were built for elite or professional environments, which made them difficult for local clubs to adapt or afford. Many community clubs lacked the access, resources or structure to apply these processes effectively. Players were often without the guidance or understanding to manage their own recovery and conditioning, returning too soon and finding themselves sidelined again.

Back in Play was created to help close that gap.

The platform brings together proven principles of injury management and communication in one simple, accessible system designed for community sport. It gives clubs, physios and players the tools to track recovery, share updates and build better understanding, with the goal of helping players return safely and perform at their best.

Back in Play is not about reinventing the wheel. It is about making effective processes more accessible at the community sport level, and helping the clubs that form the heart of Australian sport to thrive.