Early Sports Specialisation
Early specialisation is when a child focuses on training and development in one sport only, but there are downsides.
Sports Science
Sports science is the study of how the human body functions during sport and what things can be done to enhance it. It’s a comprehensive discipline that includes but is not limited to, the study of nutrition, psychology, technology, biomechanics.
As the world of sports science is very complex, our aim is to simplify it so that coaches, athletes, and everybody else can understand how to it in order to optimally enhance sporting performance.
Skill Acquisition
Skill acquisition is the foundation of sports science that all practitioners, coaches, and clinicians should understand.
Elevation Training Masks
An Elevation Training Mask is a device that is claimed to simulate the benefits of altitude training, but do they work as claimed?
Monitoring Growth
By collecting data on height and weight, coaches can identify periods of peak growth and survey young athletes for normal development.
DEXA Scans
Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans can be a valuable assessment tool for measuring body composition (e.g. levels of body fat).
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity refers to our brain remodelling, adapting, and organising after we practice a skill, which is vital for developing skills.
Hydration Testing
Hydration testing is used to determine an athlete’s body fluid balance, and can prevent serious performance and health deficiencies.
Youth Strength Training
Strength training is a widely accepted form of training for both children and adolescents, and can boost youths’ health and fitness.
Maturation
Maturation should be measured in youth athletes to properly monitor their growth and well-being as athletes.
Monitoring Fatigue
Actively monitoring fatigue levels in athletes can provide the feedback needed to adjust training in order to improve overall performance.
Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio
The acute:chronic workload ratio can assist practitioners in understanding the preparedness of an athlete and their relative injury risk.
Body Composition Testing
Changes in body composition can be determinants of successful performance, and there are several methods of body composition testing.
Bio-Banding
Bio-banding is the process of grouping athletes based on attributes associated with growth and maturation, rather than chronological age.
Relative Age Effect
The relative age effect is when children born in, or close to, a critical age cut-off period may have a sporting and academic advantage.
Peak Weight Velocity
Youth practitioners need to know what peak weight velocity is, and how to programme safely for athletes during accelerated periods of growth.
