Since March and the dawning realisation of the seriousness of Covid-19, 2020 has presented challenges for sport scientists. At the elite end of the profession, event cancellations, postponements and lockdowns inhibited training and monitoring plans. For those that use exercise as a health intervention, social restrictions interrupted programmes and the worry of increasing sedentary behaviour caused concern particularly among older and isolated groups. In this blog, Sport Science Agency will take a look back at some of the key developments that have shaped sports science in 2020.
SSA Blog: Festive indulgence
Performance Stories: Performance and marketing
Sport Science Agency’s John Mulcahy, Alex Skelton and Sport Scientist Tom Brownlee discuss the value and opportunities that performance programmes offer sports marketers.
Ensuring credible and insightful content by working with performance experts is the key to success…
SSA Blog: A life lesson from lockdown
The wider health implications of lockdown are becoming increasingly understood. The Chief Medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, said when questioned about the impact of lockdown 2.0, “there are no good solutions. All the solutions are bad”. Countries and regions across Europe have approached lockdowns with different levels of severity. While gyms have been asked to close in England, it has been striking that the health authorities have repeatedly pushed the importance of exercise and continued to champion its benefits, allowing people to leave their homes to maintain some level of activity.
SSA Blog: Increasing use of CBD in Elite Rugby: A New Sponsorship Category?
Rugby Restart has seen Gallagher Premiership and Guinness Pro 14 sides return to competition following their enforced stoppage due to Covid-19. The intense schedule implemented in order to finish the season has seen squads increase player rotation more frequently as they manage player loads recovery and injury. While player welfare measures have been put in place by World Rugby to reduce the risk associated with collisions, there is little to suggest that collision-induced muscle damage or injury is set to decrease. Players and clubs will therefore continue to seek optimised recovery strategies following matches and training.
Performance Stories: Mental fatigue
Performance Stories: Premier League drinks break
SSA Blog: NBA bubble
As with almost all professional sports, NBA basketball was curtailed by COVID-19 and the league suspended between 11th March and 30th June. Upon resumption 22 of the 30 teams headed to Walt Disney World, Orlando to be part of “the bubble” in order to conclude the regular season, playins, playoffs and finals.
SSA Blog: Andy's apparel appeal
Following what he described as “the hardest match of my career” Andy Murray was unable to repeat the heroics of his 2020 US Open first-round victory. After an absence of over a year from the Grand Slam scene, a grinding five-set battle lasting over four hours was not what he or his performance team would have wanted. His second-round tie proved too much at this stage of his comeback as he lost in straight sets.
SSA Blog: Catch me if you can
On Sunday evening, a series of celebrity riders will take on Chris Froome in a charity cycling event; The Race - Wheels for Heroes. The aim is to raise money for NHS staff helping them access bikes to travel to work during the Covid-19 crisis. The various celebs will be given a head start before the seven-time Grand Tour champion sets off to hunt them down. The Race will take place not in the real world, but in the virtual world of Zwift’s Watopia, on the 22.9km Volcano route and will broadcast on both Sky Sports and Youtube.
SSA blog: Behind closed doors
The impact Covid-19 has had on sport is unprecedented. Events and fixtures have been cancelled or postponed across the globe causing a knock-on effect throughout sport in terms of scheduling, athlete preparation and business. As the world’s biggest sport, football has been at the centre of the postponement saga.
SSA Blog: Covid-19 - How we have become like elite athletes
The current health pandemic has focused many minds on protecting themselves, their families, their neighbours and for those serving in government, their country. At an individual level, everyone has been called to play their part. The advice issued here in the UK, as with much of the world centres around social distancing in order to “flatten the curve”. It is hoped this will reduce the speed of viral spread so our health system is able to protect those most vulnerable.
SSA Blog: Wash your hands young man
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: Neck on the line
It’s been another disappointing weekend for Ferrari in the Formula 1 Driver and Constructor Championships. After such a promising showing in pre-season testing in Barcelona, they returned to the Spanish track and failed to gain a podium place. Sebastian Vettel is now under considerable pressure. His failure to challenge Mercedes and the early promise shown by new teammate Charles Leclerc has meant an increased focus on the former world champion.
