SSPEL Newsletter: Research and Scholarly Activities

The majority of sports clubs, teams and athletes are aware of the notion that science should underpin both their training and competition programmes. The purpose is to help athletes fulfil their potential, reduce the incidence of injury and illness, whilst shortening recovery time. However, there is still a significant proportion of sporting clubs and organisations that have not embraced this scientific approach and many of those that have, do not know what to do, what it means, or indeed how to do it.

Exeter City Football Club had been told by the Football Association that sports science should be evidenced in their approach to training. In response, Exeter decided to pilot ‘sport science’ through the youth academy and subject to the success of the programme, similar methods could later be implemented by the first team. To that end, the head youth academy coach approached me back in June 2005 to see if I could help with ‘sport science’. Following a number of preliminary meetings we came up with a two pronged approach. Firstly we arranged to test the children’s anthropometry, speed, agility and aerobic / anaerobic endurance on two occasions during the year. The resultant physical fitness profile was to be used to monitor physical development as young players progressed through the age groups in the academy. Once a data base has been collated over a period of years norm reference values are to be used to predict the position specific potential of players. Profiles of youth players that eventually become professional players could then be used as reference values to compare progress at specific ages and stages of maturation. This project is currently in its first year and has been conducted and developed in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Exeter.

The second initiative has been developed with the aim of educating young players and their parents about sport science. Matt and I have written a user friendly reference book that will be distributed to all academy players. A wide range of physiological and psychological areas have been addressed. Physiological concepts include hydration, growth and maturation, injury and developing power and speed. Psychological areas include attitude, belief, concentration, determination and emotional control. It is intended that this book be re-enforced with coach education sessions planned for 2006-2007.

This programme is designed to be on-going. It will hopefully offer exciting future opportunities with Exeter City Football Club. In addition, the programme could be expanded for use in other football clubs and a number of team sports. This is sure to strengthen the College’s links with community and professional sport in the region.

Saul Bloxham