This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- What makes Arne Slot a successful football manager?
- The latest research on sports supplementation in swimming
- Sad news about rugby legend Sébastien Chabal
What makes Arne Slot a successful football manager?
Liverpool F.C. manager Arne Slot has made a significant impact on the English Premier League since his arrival last summer. Renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams, who worked alongside Slot for two years at the Dutch club Feyenoord, recently shared a LinkedIn post that highlights the qualities he observed in Slot.
Slot is recognised for his open-mindedness and willingness to consult experts like sports psychologists; however, he is not afraid to challenge their ideas. Abrahams sees this as effective, noting that Slot listens, asks questions, and makes informed decisions.
Slot’s positive attitude and strong work ethic inspire his players, showing how presence and effort can elevate an entire team. As a leader who values teamwork, he encourages collaboration and problem-solving during training, balancing a coach-led and player-centred approach.
Additionally, Slot encourages his coaching staff to develop their understanding of psychology. While Abrahams points out that coaches aren’t psychologists, he emphasises that they can still play an essential role in infusing psychological principles into their coaching. Slot understands that psychology is closely linked to tactics, and he is meticulous in delivering tactics through multiple group and individual player meetings.
For more insights into Slot’s methods and thought process, check out Abrahams’s excellent post. It offers a unique look at what makes Slot an exceptional manager and it’s definitely worth a read!
The latest research on sports supplementation in swimming
A recent systematic review focusing on sports supplementation for competitive swimmers has been published, encompassing 23 studies with a total of 422 swimmers who competed in events ranging from 50 meters to 800 meters.
The findings indicate that creatine emerges as the most promising sports supplement, demonstrating significant ergogenic effects for competitive swimmers. Additionally, caffeine, administered at doses of 3–6 mg/kg approximately 60 minutes before swimming, was also found to influence performance positively. Sodium bicarbonate and β-alanine exhibited somewhat promising effects on performance, particularly in longer-distance swimming events included in the study. However, the review did not find sufficient evidence to support the efficacy of beetroot juice and L-arginine/L-citrulline in enhancing swimming performance.
While this systematic review highlights the need for more comprehensive and rigorous research in the area of sports supplementation for competitive swimmers, it nonetheless serves as a valuable resource for athletes and practitioners involved in competitive swimming.
Sad news about rugby legend Sébastien Chabal
Recently, some concerning news surfaced about French rugby legend Sébastien Chabal, affectionately known as “the Caveman.” Chabal earned 62 caps for the French national team and was celebrated by fans for his fierce tackling style.
Tragically, Chabal has revealed that he has “no memory of a single second of a rugby match” he played in. He also struggles to recall any childhood memories, a situation attributed to amnesia stemming from repeated head trauma throughout his rugby career.
Chabal is among 1,000 former amateur and professional rugby players who have filed a concussion lawsuit against the sport’s governing bodies. Let’s hope that these former warriors, like Chabal, can secure compensation for the conditions they now face as a result of the sport. Now more than ever, it’s crucial for rugby to enhance its safety measures, ensuring that both today’s players and future generations can enjoy their retirements with their faculties intact.
We have an excellent blog: Concussion Recovery in Sport: A Comprehensive Guide and a course: Concussion Rehab, that are well worth checking out!
From us this week:
>> New course: Foundations of Sports Nutrition
>> New podcast: Catapult’s Vector 8: The Future of Athlete Monitoring Unveiled
>> New infographic: Weightlifting Pulling Derivatives
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
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