About

Know The Game’s founder, Paula Ward, is an avid sports fan and a regular participant in an array of social sports. Paula is a registered psychologist with 16 years experience working in human resources, change management and sustainability within the investment banking and professional services sectors. To balance her corporate career with her sporting interests, Paula developed the concept for Know The Game in late 2009 and set about developing it as a business.

At Know The Game, we understand that sport pervades our lives in so many ways. Whether it is at a weekend BBQ, around the water cooler at work or in your lounge room with family and friends, we talk about sport - who is playing, winning or losing, what is fair or not fair and what we should be doing differently. We debate passionately about scores, training, outcomes, ethics and referees. We become experts on all aspects - or at least, so we think.

Depending upon where you grew up or whether you played sport or watched it on TV, you may not be able to easily engage in banter about particular sports and the game. When the conversation inevitably turns to the game of the day it may be bewildering (at best) or isolating (at worst). This is why Know The Game exists.

We offer workshops about sports played in Australia to educate people, without a strong sporting background, about the game. You will learn the fundamentals of the game to enable you to converse with others - in the boardroom, at a client function, over the back fence or at a pub.

You will be able to engage, learn, be included and know the game.

Paula’s Story

I grew up in a family surrounded by sport. As a youngster, I learnt to water ski, figure skate and play tennis. Almost every weekend of my high school life was spent being taxied around by Mum to numerous sporting commitments to play netball, tennis, softball and touch football. I competed in athletics and cross-country, and even played in a ten pin bowling league. I watched my brother play cricket, soccer, tennis and baseball. Plus, every Friday night was spent in front of the TV watching ‘Friday Night Football’ with Dad. My love of sport has carried on to my adult life; I’ve learnt to sail, play golf, snow board and rock climb. I have competed in my first triathlon and ocean swim, learnt to ice climb, participated in the 2009 World Master's Games and, in 2011, the 100km Sydney Coastrek endurance event.

Sport is part of my life. I’m passionate about it - competing, learning new skills, being part of a team, talking about it and watching it. I don’t doubt that my interest in and knowledge of sport has widened my circle of friends, kept me fit and also helped progress my corporate career. Sporting analogies pervade the corporate boardrooms. "Kicking goals", "going around the grounds", "being a team player" and "letting it go through to the keeper" are common phrases in the business world.

Having grown up in a sports-mad family and then worked in the male dominated industries of financial services and investment banking, holding my own in sporting conversations has served me well. It has ensured inclusion and often garnered respect.

I want to share my passion for sport - for you to learn the basics, build your knowledge, meet others and know the game.

Paula Ward
Founder & Director