Frank Pyke
Encyclopedia
Frank Sherman Pyke was an Australian sports scientist
, educator, author, Australian rules football
er and sports administrator. He played 130 games for in the Western Australian National Football League
(WANFL), and later served as a professor at a number of universities in Australia, Canada and the United States. He also served as the inaugural executive director of the Victorian Institute of Sport
(VIS), where he pioneered the Athlete Career and Education (ACE) program.
, Western Australia
, on 1 December 1941, Pyke played schoolboy cricket and football and was also a noted athlete, winning state championships in running, long jump and high jump. He represented Western Australia at the 1956 National Schoolboys' Championships held in Launceston
. He made his debut for Armadale in the South Suburban Football League at the age of 15. Falling into the Perth Football Club
's recruitment zone
, Pyke made his senior debut for the club in round one of the 1959 season, at the age of 17. Playing originally as a half-forward flanker, and later as an onballer, Pyke became a regular in the Perth side, and finished third in the Sandover Medal
in 1962 and second in 1963, behind Ray Sorrell
. He played in the club's 1966 premiership win over , playing as a loose man in defence during part of the game. Pyke also opened the bowling for the Perth Cricket Club in the WACA district cricket
competition. Outside of sports, he worked as a physical education teacher at Belmont Senior High School
.
. He graduated with a Ph.D.
in exercise physiology and human performance, and later taught at Illinois State University
in Normal
, Illinois
, and Dalhousie University
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
. Pyke returned to Western Australia in 1972, where he accepted a position as a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Western Australia
(UWA), and resumed his football career with Perth. While at UWA he was involved with the rehabilitation of fast bowler Dennis Lillee
, who Pyke had previously taught at Belmont Senior High School. He is credited by some with "saving [Lillee]'s cricket career" and "[giving Lillee] back his fire".
Pyke later served as the inaugural Head of the Centre for Sports Studies at the University of Canberra
, Head of the Department of Human Movement and Sports Science at the University of Wollongong
and Professor and Head of the Department of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland
. He also held adjunct professor status at Deakin University
, the University of Ballarat
and UWA. Pyke was appointed the inaugural Executive Director of the Victorian Institute of Sport
(VIS) in 1990, a position which he held until 2006. During his tenure at the VIS, he developed a number of programs, including the Athlete Career and Education (ACE), which has been credited as "the program nationally for elite athletes". He was awarded an Australian Sports Medal
in 2000, life membership of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 2002 and was made a member of the Sports Australia Hall of Fame in 2003. He was awarded the 2010 Mobley International Distinguished Alumni Award by Indiana University. Pyke was diagnosed with motor neurone disease
midway through 2011, and died in November 2011.
, who played football for Glenelg and cricket for South Australia, and Don Pyke
, who played football for and the West Coast Eagles
.
Sports science
Sport science is a discipline that studies the application of scientific principles and techniques with the aim of improving sporting performance...
, educator, author, Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and sports administrator. He played 130 games for in the Western Australian National Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WANFL), and later served as a professor at a number of universities in Australia, Canada and the United States. He also served as the inaugural executive director of the Victorian Institute of Sport
Victorian Institute of Sport
The Victorian Institute of Sport is the government-funded sporting institute of the Australian state of Victoria. It runs a number of programs for sports training. The headquarters are located in Melbourne. The inaugural executive director of the institute was Frank Pyke....
(VIS), where he pioneered the Athlete Career and Education (ACE) program.
Early life and football career
Born in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, on 1 December 1941, Pyke played schoolboy cricket and football and was also a noted athlete, winning state championships in running, long jump and high jump. He represented Western Australia at the 1956 National Schoolboys' Championships held in Launceston
Launceston
Launceston may refer to:* Launceston, Tasmania, Australia** Launceston Airport, in Launceston, Tasmania* Launceston, Cornwall, United Kingdom**Launceston , a former parliamentary constituency based around Launceston in Cornwall...
. He made his debut for Armadale in the South Suburban Football League at the age of 15. Falling into the Perth Football Club
Perth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
's recruitment zone
Zoning (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, zoning refers to a system whereby a given area, either region or lower-level football league, is reserved exclusively for one club....
, Pyke made his senior debut for the club in round one of the 1959 season, at the age of 17. Playing originally as a half-forward flanker, and later as an onballer, Pyke became a regular in the Perth side, and finished third in the Sandover Medal
Sandover Medal
The Sandover Medal is an Australian rules football award, given annually since 1921 to the fairest and best player in the West Australian Football League...
in 1962 and second in 1963, behind Ray Sorrell
Ray Sorrell
Ray Sorrell is a former Australian rules footballer who played with East Fremantle and South Fremantle in the WANFL.A centreman, Sorrell achieved many accolades during his time at East Fremantle. He was a dual Sandover Medal winner, finishing equal first with Neville Beard in 1961 and then winning...
. He played in the club's 1966 premiership win over , playing as a loose man in defence during part of the game. Pyke also opened the bowling for the Perth Cricket Club in the WACA district cricket
Western Australian Grade Cricket
Grade Cricket in Western Australia refers to the semi-professional cricket league played at a level below the first-class Western Warriors and colts teams. The competition is administered by the Western Australian Cricket Association...
competition. Outside of sports, he worked as a physical education teacher at Belmont Senior High School
Belmont City College
Belmont City College is a comprehensive public high school located in Belmont, east of Perth, Western Australia...
.
Education career
In December 1966, Pyke left Perth with his wife, Janet, to study sports science at Indiana UniversityIndiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. He graduated with a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in exercise physiology and human performance, and later taught at Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
in Normal
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Pyke returned to Western Australia in 1972, where he accepted a position as a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
(UWA), and resumed his football career with Perth. While at UWA he was involved with the rehabilitation of fast bowler Dennis Lillee
Dennis Lillee
Dennis Keith Lillee, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer rated as the "outstanding fast bowler of his generation"...
, who Pyke had previously taught at Belmont Senior High School. He is credited by some with "saving [Lillee]'s cricket career" and "[giving Lillee] back his fire".
Pyke later served as the inaugural Head of the Centre for Sports Studies at the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
, Head of the Department of Human Movement and Sports Science at the University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong
The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
and Professor and Head of the Department of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
. He also held adjunct professor status at Deakin University
Deakin University
Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
, the University of Ballarat
University of Ballarat
The University of Ballarat is a dual-sector university in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. It was formed by the passage of an Act of the Victorian Parliament in 1994, from the Ballarat College of Advanced Education...
and UWA. Pyke was appointed the inaugural Executive Director of the Victorian Institute of Sport
Victorian Institute of Sport
The Victorian Institute of Sport is the government-funded sporting institute of the Australian state of Victoria. It runs a number of programs for sports training. The headquarters are located in Melbourne. The inaugural executive director of the institute was Frank Pyke....
(VIS) in 1990, a position which he held until 2006. During his tenure at the VIS, he developed a number of programs, including the Athlete Career and Education (ACE), which has been credited as "the program nationally for elite athletes". He was awarded an Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
in 2000, life membership of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 2002 and was made a member of the Sports Australia Hall of Fame in 2003. He was awarded the 2010 Mobley International Distinguished Alumni Award by Indiana University. Pyke was diagnosed with motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
midway through 2011, and died in November 2011.
Personal life
Pyke had three children with his wife Janet: Stephen, JamesJames Pyke (cricketer)
James Kendrick Pyke is a former Australian sportsman who represented South Australia in Sheffield Shield cricket and also played Australian rules football at a high level...
, who played football for Glenelg and cricket for South Australia, and Don Pyke
Don Pyke
Donald Lachlan Pyke is a former Australian rules football player, administrator and coach. He played for in the West Australian Football League and in the Australian Football League , and later served as senior coach at Claremont and assistant coach at...
, who played football for and the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
.
Publications
Pyke has authored, co-authored and edited a number of books and articles, mainly on sports science and medicine:Books
- Football: the scientific way (1975; with Ross SmithRoss G. SmithRoss G. Smith is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League .Smith played with St Kilda as a courageous rover. He won the Brownlow Medal in 1967 and captained Victoria at the 1972 Perth Carnival...
) - The grid system for skill practice in Australian football (1977; with Lawrence Woodman)
- Running man: a multidisciplinary introduction to physical education (1977; as co-editor with Geoffrey Watson)
- Focus on running : an introduction to human movement (1978; as co-editor with Geoffrey Watson)
- Physiological considerations during exercise in hot climates (1981)
- Towards better coaching: the art and science of sports coaching (1981; as editor)
- Sport in the heat (1985)
- Training for sports and fitness (1990; with Brent Rushall)
- Better coaching: advanced coach's manual (1991; as editor)
- Gold rush: a decade of success (2000)
- Champions in sport and life: the Victorian Institute of Sport, 1990–2005 (2006)
- Champions in sport and life: and the companies that make it happen (2006)
- Cutting edge cricket (2010; with Ken Davis)
- Going for gold: champions from the West (2010)
Articles
- Mallett, C. J. and Pyke, F. S. (1 January 2008). Coaching the best. Sports Coach, 30 1: 6-8.
- Pyke, F. S. (1966) The effect of selected preliminary activities on certain maximal performances. University of Western AustraliaUniversity of Western AustraliaThe University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
(thesis). - Pyke, F. S. (14–19 January 1979). The physical educator and physical fitness. 12th Conference of the Australian Council for Health Physical Education and Recreation.
- Pyke, F. S. (2007). Science in Australian sport: its origins and challenges. Sport Health, vol. 25, no. 2, Winter 2007, pp. 26–27.