Research Reviews

Expert reviews of recent sports science research.

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.

Sleep is crucial for everyone, especially athletes

Going overboard or just work ethic? The importance of understanding overtraining

October 25, 2021

One specific area that needs scientific clarification is the definitions of and differences around overtraining and overtraining syndrome.

ice

The positive effects of ice baths for athletes

February 17, 2021

Which has a stronger relationship to change of direction, a vertical or horizontal force-velocity profile?

February 3, 2021

Chasing Symmetry: Inter-limb Imbalances & Performance in Youth Tennis

January 27, 2021

Do you need to do a general preparation phase after a month of no training?

January 20, 2021

Accentuated eccentric training for the muscles & tendons of the knee

January 13, 2021

Unilateral versus Bilateral Training in Youth Soccer Players

January 6, 2021

Can a Coach Rely on Intuition Alone?

December 16, 2020

Blog posts

Methodical Planning & Reflection for Coaches

December 9, 2020

Do Soccer Players Sprint Enough?

October 28, 2020

Enhance your sleep, enhance your game!

October 21, 2020

Soccer-specific training or active recovery: which promotes better recovery?

October 7, 2020

Cannabidiol use in professional sport: is it really worth the risk?

September 30, 2020

Which to choose to maximise performance in team sports: complex or contrast training?

September 13, 2020

dynamic strength index

Should strength and hypertrophy be a priority during the pre-season?

July 24, 2020

ice

Intermittent cold water immersion: 8ºC vs. 15ºC

July 20, 2020

Does aerobic fitness help to beat the heat?

July 7, 2020

Periodisation growth

Block vs. undulating periodisation: how does this impact on performance?

June 29, 2020

The success of return-to-sport following anterior shoulder instability treatments

June 17, 2020

Do your athletes know why they are taking supplements?

June 10, 2020

dynamic strength index

Are cluster sets superior to traditional sets at eliciting a PAP response?

June 3, 2020

Football Celebration

Training load monitoring in team sports: A novel framework for adaptation

May 27, 2020

A multi-dimensional approach to training load and performance monitoring

May 4, 2020

Multidirectional plyometrics: how do these impact jump, change of direction, and dynamic postural control?

April 24, 2020

American Football Agility

Core stability programmes: can they improve cutting maneuvers and reduce injury risk?

April 19, 2020

Sleep extension through napping may effect performance

April 12, 2020

Monitoring fatigue: Are subjective wellness, jumping performance, and submaximal running tests reliable?

April 3, 2020

Workload efficiency: a new index for external and internal workload?

March 27, 2020

Asymmetry between limbs: Does it really matter?

March 23, 2020

Should we focus on unilateral or bilateral exercise for sport performance?

March 12, 2020

How to maintain immune health and prevent illness in athletes

March 6, 2020

Emotional intelligence training in rugby

March 1, 2020

The severe detrimental effects of making weight the wrong way

February 23, 2020

Uncovering genetic testing in athletics: limits, concerns, and possibilities

February 14, 2020

Hamstring strength vs. length: what should be the recovery priority following hamstring injury?

February 6, 2020

Do nutrition education interventions really embed what we want our athletes to know?

January 31, 2020

Strategies and effectiveness of daily sleep and HRV monitoring

January 25, 2020

Improving neck strength during adolescence: Risk, recommendations and benefits

January 18, 2020

Sport concussion assessment tools: How well do they work?

January 10, 2020

Is there a relationship between workload, the athlete’s state of recovery, and injury?

January 3, 2020

How to implement strength and power training principles into rehabilitation

December 21, 2019

What the kids have to say early sport specialisation

December 18, 2019

Bio-banding in youth sport: What do the athletes think of it?

December 12, 2019

Cold water immersion, does one-size-fit-all?

November 29, 2019

How long does it take to fully recover after a competitive match?

Team tactics using small-sided games: How can we change rules during training to improve team tactics?

November 24, 2019

Natural grass vs. artificial turf: which surface poses an increased injury risk?

November 17, 2019

How to include backwards running into your program to enhance performance

November 6, 2019

Nutrition for travel: what you need to know

November 1, 2019

Using the force-velocity imbalance to individualise training

October 25, 2019

Agility science for sport

Linear and multidirectional speed: Can we use PAP to improve them?

October 18, 2019

Post-activation potentiation banner image

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) for endurance sports: A hidden piece of gold?

October 11, 2019

How does age and maturation affect motor coordination and performance?

October 5, 2019

Fatigue monitoring: Which metrics should we be tracking?

October 1, 2019

The effectiveness of prebiotics and probiotics on athletic performance

September 24, 2019

How sleep impacts strength gains and what we can do about it

September 17, 2019

Back to basics: chocolate milk in recovery and performance

September 9, 2019

Using the force-velocity imbalance to individualise training

September 2, 2019

Don’t just sprint in a straight line: why curved running is important

August 27, 2019

Practical recommendations for priming exercise: when, what, and how

August 20, 2019

ice

Should we be individualising ice baths? The influence of body size and immersion time

August 7, 2019

How long does it take to transfer strength from one limb to the other with unilateral training?

August 5, 2019

Gym-based primer sessions 1-2 days before a game: Do they work?

July 30, 2019

Does the previous expertise of parents influence the expertise of their children?

July 22, 2019

ACL Injury Prevention for Young Female Athletes: Which Programs Work?

July 15, 2019

Coaches and Adolescent Mental Health - Understanding the mental health of athletes is the first step to their development and success

July 8, 2019

Rethink your warm-up: Make the most of pre -game and half-time warm-up strategies

June 25, 2019

Does the use of electronic devices in the evening effect sleep patterns of athletes?

June 18, 2019

How long does it take to fully recover after a competitive match?

How long does it take to fully recover after a competitive match?

June 10, 2019

Crane Scale - Science for Sport

Can a low-cost Crane Scale provide solid data for strength testing?

April 15, 2019

CAN’T KEEP UP-TO-DATE?

The answer? The Performance Digest.

A monthly review of the latest sports performance research.

GRAB YOUR FREE COPY

PD Advert (Handheld)