Sports Science

Its something that every coach and every athlete of every sport is searching for... the EDGE. That one training tip, equipment improvement, mental preparation or tactical insight that will tip the game towards them. The body of knowledge that exists today in each sport is assumed, with each competitor expected to at least be aware of the history, beliefs and traditions of their individual sport. But, if each team is starting with the same set of information then the team that takes the next step by applying new research and ideas will capture the edge. To me, that is what sport science is all…

Athletes, both professional and amateur, as well as the general public are convinced that human growth hormone (HGH), Erythropoietin (EPO) and anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are all artificial and controversial paths to improved performance in sports.  The recent headlines that have included Barry Bonds, Marion Jones, Floyd Landis, Dwayne Chambers, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens and many lesser known names (see the amazingly long list of doping cases in sport) have referred to these three substances interchangeably leaving the public confused about who took what from whom…

Here are some quotes we have all heard (or said ourselves) on the golf course or at the ball diamond.  On a good day:"It was like putting into the Grand Canyon""The baseball looked like a beach ball up there today" On a bad day:"The hole was as small as a thimble""I don't know, it looked like he was throwing marbles" The baseball and the golf hole are the same size every day, so are these comments meaningless or do we really perceive these objects differently depending on the day's performance?  And, does our performance influence our perception or does our perception help our…

Visit any youth soccer field, baseball diamond, basketball court or football field and you will likely see them:  parents behaving badly.  Take a look at this Good Morning America report on "sideline rage".  Sometimes, these are the extremes, but at most games, you can find at least one adult making comments at the referee, shouting at their child, or having a verbal exchange with another parent.  Thankfully, these parents represent only a small percentage of those attending the game.  Does that mean the others don't become upset at something during the game? …

For years, sport science and motor control research has added support to the fundamental assertions that "practice makes perfect" and "repetition is the mother of habit".  Shooting 100 free throws, kicking 100 balls on goal or fielding 100 ground balls must certainly build the type of motor programs in the brain that will only help make the 101st play during the game.  K. Anders Ericsson, the "expert on experts", has defined the minimum amount of "deliberate practice" necessary to raise any novice to the level of expert as 10 years or 10,000 hours. However, many questions still…

Listen to science instead of Tiger Woods on golf? Sheer madness. But golfers who heed the advice of instructors to keep their heads perfectly still while putting may be hampering their game, according to a study in the July issue of the Journal of Motor Behavior that examined coordination patterns. Tim Lee, professor of kinesiology at McMaster University and a golfer himself, says the findings run contrary to conventional wisdom, or at least conventional golf wisdom.   The putting stroke is used more frequently than any other during a round of golf, regardless of skill. In 2007, putts…

Some enthusiasts compare the peloton to a formation of birds. To get a better understanding of how this integrated unit works it is necessary to look at a description of a group of birds as stated by Craig Reynolds Boids, who writes software to simulate various types of animal and human behavior: “The motion of a flock of birds is simple in concept yet is so visually complex it seems randomly arrayed and yet is magnificently synchronous. Perhaps most puzzling is the strong impression of intentional centralized control.” In races such as the Tour De France and the Giro d’Italia cyclists…

LONDON, December 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Now that the first snows have come across Europe and the US, skiers will be tempted to rush out and get some action on the piste. That's just the moment accidents can happen, warns Greg Lawson, Group Broking Director of online travel insurance company Flexicover.Net, as he offers some timely advice to help skiers stay safe on the slopes. "Winter sports can be dangerous but there are all sorts of things skiers and snowboarders can do to make sure they have a fun and safe holiday in the snow," he says. These are: - Make sure you are fit: Research has shown…