Blog
Our latest news and insights
Performance Stories: Mental fatigue
Sport Science Agency discusses some of the latest research regarding mental fatigue in Football. They touch on how more insight can make better fans and help brands or the clubs view performance in a more holistic manner to drive increased credibility.
SSA Blog: Follow the leader
The captaincy has been somewhat of a poisoned chalice for past English all-rounders. Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff’s brief tenures in the role are the obvious examples. Despite being dominant performers, both were unable to transfer that dominance into successful captaincy. It is often said that the burden of captaincy inhibits a player’s ability to play. It creates a greater cognitive load and inhibits the ability to focus on their usual role. Is there any evidence to support this observation?
SSA Blog: Training partners
Project restart created an unprecedented interest from football media and fans into training, performance and the potential for injury that the return from lockdown has created. As we have mentioned in a number of previous blogs (It’s back, Recovery position, Project restart), Covid-19 presented staff with a number of unique challenges. There was no playbook for lockdown and the extended break it caused. There was no fixed return date to build conditioning towards, and there was no clear understanding of the fixture demands if/when competition was to return.
SSA blog: The performance potential of esports
The continued rise of esports has only been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Restrictions to movement, social interaction and of course live sport have motivated many to get their competitive fix via the gaming world. Competitive gaming is far from new with tournaments being held as long ago as 1972 at Stanford University. However, the development of faster more reliable internet connections, improved computer processing power and increased game development budgets and production quality have allowed for rapid expansion over the past decade
SSA Blog: Clutch Performance
2019’s summer of cricket will live long in the memory of many England and maybe a few Australian and New Zealand fans. The World Cup, for the first time, was decided via a super over while incredible innings from Ben Stokes and Steve Smith saw the Ashes swing one way then the other over the course of 5 test series.
SSA Blog: Warm Weather Training
This weekend sees the Premier League make way for the 5th round of the Emirates FA Cup. Only 7 Premier League teams have reached this stage leaving a number of clubs with the opportunity for a winter training camp.
SSA Blog: To captain The Pride
Lions selection is always a hot topic. This year’s entire RBS 6 Nations was played under the shadow of the Lions tour to New Zealand. Every game (involving the home nations) was analysed within the context of who had done enough or otherwise to earn a place on the aeroplane to Auckland.
SSA Blog: Life after sport - how athletes handle the transition to retirement
Retirement happens to every athlete in every sport. At the end of each season or Olympic cycle, countless athletes are faced with the most difficult decision of their careers. And those in a position to make that decision for themselves are the lucky ones.
SSA Blog: The Captain and their role in modern rugby
As International Rugby begins to grab the attention of the sporting public, Sport Science Agency takes a look at perhaps the most under developed research/support areas of modern professional sport, the role of the Captain.