Research Reviews

Expert reviews of recent sports science research.

Caffeine and sleep can be a Catch-22 relationship for athletes.

Caffeine and sleep: Does a pre-match coffee impact post-match sleep quality?

September 1, 2022

Caffeine is one of the most popular ergogenic aids in the world, but it has the potential to reduce sleep quality and recovery time, resulting in lower physical and cognitive function. So how do athletes strike the best balance?

Energy availability in athletes is a big deal.

Energy availability in athletes: How important is the concept of inadequate energy intake?

August 1, 2022

Energy availability in athletes is a growing area of focus for sports nutritionists. But how important is the concept of inadequate energy intake for both health and performance?

Women in sport is becoming an issue clubs and coaches need to be more aware of.

Women in sports: An investigation of strength training methods in men’s vs. women’s football

June 30, 2022

Women in sports is becoming a topic clubs and coaches need to be more aware of. But while female participation in soccer (football) is booming, much less is known about the strength and conditioning (S&C) support that females get in comparison to males.

The menstrual cycle is a very real, constant, and ever-changing physiological state that is difficult for a male to understand.

Understanding and approaching the entire menstrual cycle: A guide for coaches

May 31, 2022

The menstrual cycle is a very real, constant, and ever-changing physiological state that is difficult for a male to understand. What can coaches do to better support their female athletes?

Periodising and planning training load (TL) is a great start and important step in the process of setting up a team to be prepared for a competitive season.

Training load monitoring: How coaches can effectively monitor multiple variables

May 10, 2022

Training load monitoring and management is an important step in the process of setting up a team or athlete to be prepared for a competitive season.

Talent identification and development is a highly complex and competitive process in many elite sports.

Talent identification: What coaches are looking for in youth athletes

May 2, 2022

Despite the plethora of research surrounding talent identification, few studies, if any, have investigated if successful players make consistent improvements in their performance, or start and remain on top of the talent pool.

Is it time to re-think the 7-day microcycle length?

March 31, 2022

When teams and athletes endure long seasons or twice-weekly matches, the ability to plan microcycles from match to match is more important than ever. As always, there is more than one way to skin a cat...

In the end, data is simply a compass, not a step-by-step guide on what to do and how to do it.

How can coaches and sport scientists best use data to their advantage?

February 25, 2022

There is no doubt sport science is here to stay, but how can sport scientists and coaches best understand data collection so they seamlessly align and accomplish what they set out to do?

What is the best training frequency for hypertrophy gains?

Is training two or four times per week superior for strength and hypertrophy?

January 31, 2022

This study aimed to compare two and four times per week training frequencies with matched volumes on gains in muscle strength and size.

The ketogenic diet is a very low carb, high fat diet.

Could the ketogenic diet be beneficial for team sport athletes?

January 4, 2022

The ketogenic diet consists of a high fat, adequate protein, and low carbohydrate intake but limited research has been conducted on the impact of this diet in team sport athletes.

Coaches need to look after their own mental health, too.

Are you OK, coach? Starting the conversation about the mental health of coaches

November 30, 2021

The authors of this study investigated the relationship between coaches' mental health, the stressors they faced, and their use of psychological resilience.