What is RED-S, and why is it still so commonly misunderstood? (Pippa Woolven) RED-S occurs when an athlete doesn’t consume enough energy to meet both the demands of training and their body’s basic functions. This energy shortfall can be intentional (e.g. disordered eating) or unintentional—often caused by high training loads, insufficient recovery, or simply underestimating…
We asked six experts in sports science this question, and this is what they said: Marc Lewis Director of Applied Sports Science, Houston Texans The monitoring tool that has provided the highest return on investment in the last 12-24 months has been a wellness questionnaire. We implemented a short and practical wellness questionnaire that assesses…
1. What’s one practical way S&C coaches can build psychological safety into their training environment without compromising performance standards? Psychological safety (PS) can and should exist in high performance sport. But first, we have to define psychological safety in a way that respects the competitive realities. Drawing on Vella et al., [1] I suggest reframing…
What are the key considerations when selecting the most appropriate isometric hamstring test for team sport athletes? Single joint isometric testing using force plates or strain gauges is increasingly popular. This is likely because force plates and strain gauge devices are increasingly accessible, remove the limitations associated with handheld units, and address the criticisms around…
We asked six coaches this question, this is what they said: Medhi Kordi Head of performance Support and Innovation, INEOS Grenadiers In the early stages of my coaching career, I insisted on programming Olympic lifts—particularly power cleans—into every track sprint cyclist’s strength & conditioning sessions. I believed they were essential for developing maximal force production…
1. What is missing from basketball’s testing batteries? Most force plate and motion capture assessments at the highest level of team sport place a heavy emphasis on sagittal plane movements, particularly vertical force outputs and their derivatives, which have been widely studied in biomechanics research [1]. There are several reasons behind this, but in recent…
1. How do you approach planning preseason from a physical perspective, and what are the KPIs you track using GPS data during this phase? Preseason is about building your players’ “battery,” putting in the physical load and conditioning so they’re ready for the long haul. The fuller that battery, the more resilient and injury-proof the…
John Wagle Senior Associate Athletics Director for Sports Performance, University of Notre Dame I value professionals who bring a deep sense of curiosity to their work, as it drives seamless integration within interdisciplinary teams. Excelling in one’s domain is important, but curiosity enables individuals to go beyond their own expertise, seeking to understand and connect…
What are the key benefits of using the Sprint Mechanics Assessment Score (S-MAS) in team sports performance? The Sprint Mechanics Assessment Score (S-MAS) provides an objective and reliable method to assess sprint mechanics, a topic that is often debated due to the subjective nature of what constitutes “correct” or “incorrect” sprint form. Chris Bramah and…
Why do practitioners need a qualitative movement screening tool to assess sprint running mechanics? The ability to perform repeat maximal effort sprint running actions is a key performance requirement in both team and individual sports. However, sprint running exposure is also associated with injury risk, with more than 50% of hamstring strain injuries in football…
What do we mean by pre-activation and why should we seek exercises that enhance it? Pre-activation is a type of warm up that prepares for an upcoming movement in training or sport. The aim is to maximize muscular power output during sport specific movements to enhance performance. In particular, movements that require maximum power, such…
Why has there been such a resurgence in interest in isometric training and testing over recent years? Technological advancements have a lot to do with it, particularly the increased accessibility and affordability of force plates. This shift has allowed high level sports teams to readily integrate force plate data into their performance analysis and training…
Why do you put such a big emphasis on frontal and transverse plane drills for developing agility and change of direction? Approaching the concept of athletic performance and training from multiple angles, the philosophy shared by Steven Plisk emphasizes the importance of broad foundational knowledge for specialization. This approach advocates for understanding the intricacies of…
Give us a quick refresher on the speed based approach to rehab. The rehabilitation approach focusing on speed places early emphasis on high intensity actions such as acceleration, deceleration, and direction changes. This involves integrating specific movements and coordination tasks early in the rehab phase to gradually prepare athletes for intense activities, aiming to boost…
Why is training deceleration important from both performance and injury risk reduction perspectives? Alistair: Understanding the significance of training deceleration is paramount in sports performance and injury prevention strategies. Horizontal deceleration, the process of slowing down before a sprint or a precursor to changes in direction, is a critical component of athletic movement in team…