#250 – From Backyard Documentaries to FIFA and Netflix: The Tim Groundwater

If you want to get support directly from us to remove your repetitive self-doubt, join our FREE community: The Sport Is Life Movement - https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportislifeReady to gain the clarity and direction to move forward with purpose, especially when life throws you a curveball? Join the Game Plan training today. https://www.ianhawkinscoaching.com/gameplanmembershipEpisode Summary:In this episode of Sport Is Life, Ian Hawkins sits down with Tim Groundwater; a world-class sports producer and creative who has worked with FIFA, Netflix, UEFA, and global icons like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Beckham. Tim shares his journey from filming backyard cricket and dog documentaries as a kid to producing some of the biggest sporting content on the planet. The conversation explores his late career pivot, the courage it took to walk away from comfort, and the passion for storytelling that carried him through years of uncertainty before breaking into elite sports televisionTim takes listeners behind the scenes of global productions; from tunnel access at Wembley and fan chaos in Tunisia and Morocco, to deeply human stories like Auckland City’s Club World Cup run and culturally powerful moments such as filming a haka with local communities. Along the way, he unpacks the realities of high-performance creativity; collaboration over ego, obsession with detail, and the discipline required to manage massive projects. This episode is a masterclass in backing yourself, serving the story, and trusting that when you align craft with curiosity, sport can take you places far bigger than you ever imaginedAbout the Guest:Tim GroundwaterProducer, videographer, and Senior Project ManagerProducer, videographer, and senior project manager with 10 years’ experience working with some of the world’s biggest sporting organisations and production companies. I’ve filmed and produced content for FIFA, NETFLIX, UEFA, IMG, TNT Sports, English Cricket and Euroleague Basketball amongst others.Most notably:- I was Series Producer on the Official 2022 FIFA World Cup Preview Series – a 16-episode series that shot in 31 countries and was distributed to all of FIFA’s global broadcast partners.- Producer on the 6-part NETFLIX docuseries ‘Kickoff – Saudi Pro League’. Also Edit Producer on EP1 of that series which was Cristiano Ronaldo’s episode.- With my own company, Green Corn Productions, I exec produced, filmed and edit produced 33 VT’s for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Trophy Tour. I travelled to 35 cities, in 21 countries between January and June of this year.Links:/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/green_corn_productions/Website: www.greencorn.tvAbout the Host:Ian Hawkins is dedicated to showing how sports can transform lives. With extensive experience as an athlete, a coach, PE teacher, community volunteer, and manager at Fox Sports, Ian brings a wealth of knowledge to the podcast. His journey began in his backyard, mentored by his older brother, and has since evolved into coaching elite athletes and business leaders. Ian's commitment to sports and personal development is evident in his roles as a performance coach and active community member. Through "Sport Is Life," Ian shares inspiring stories and valuable lessons to help listeners apply sports principles to all areas of life.Join the 2025 Planning Session here https://www.facebook.com/share/1C6AqzhGeY/Check Me Out On:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ianhawkinscoachingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianhawkinscoachingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportIsLife-IanHawkinsTheme Music Artist:One Day Kings https://www.instagram.com/onedaykings/See https://www.captivate.fm/privacy-policy-for-listeners for privacy information.