Last week the U.S. Soccer Federation sent me a draft of a job description to do data collection and analysis for the Development Academy. Reading it you can almost feel the pull in different directions between sports management people (looking for an administrator to fill the post) and people more interested in sports science (looking for someone who can innovate and keep up with research).
Since the number of sports management people is far greater than the number of sports science people it seems more likely that an experienced and qualified administrator will get the job. Innovation will probably take a backseat, in part because the organizational voice for science and research is quieter than the volume that can be generated by staff trained in sports management.
Company politics is what it is and every organization has its own culture. The ones that innovate successfully will be the ones that can develop staffs that broaden and deepen the available expertise. It is the classic argument in favor of diversity over familiarity. And people in sports who want their teams to become competent in sports science will have to hire new staff that have not been trained the same way they were.
The Best Things I Read Last Week:
- Ex-U.S. fitness coach Pierre Barrieu puzzled by Klinsmann’s comments SI.com, Planet Futbol blog … Fitness has long been a calling card of U.S. soccer. Barrieu played a crucial role in establishing that in American soccer culture.
- Optimization of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention Paradigm: Novel Feedback Techniques to Enhance Motor Learning and Reduce Injury Risk. PubMed, Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy … Coaches and trainers are taking preventive measures to avoid ACL injuries, yet they still occur too often, indicating opportunities to improve those preventive practices.
- How Patrick Chung Prepped for His Comeback Season Inc. Magazine … Cut by the Eagles after last season, Chung went to the EXOS facility to get ready after he rejoined his old team, the New Englad Patriots.
- Inside the Modern Team Locker Room Athletic Business … On one hand it is an arms race to impress young athletes with the newest, shiniest facility, but it is critical to remember that even state of the art locker rooms have to be functional spaces.
- January’s deadline day keeps punters glued but managers can come unstuck The Guardian, UK … Sean Ingle makes the point that professional soccer player transactions are sometimes at odds with developing the players already on the team.
- A SPORT ON THE EDGE: HOW MUCH SOCCER IS TOO MUCH SOCCER? VICE Sports … The athletic requirements for top-level professional have increased substantially in the past decade. This article asks if we will know when athletes are being pushed too far.