Applied Sports Science newsletter – July 26, 2016

Applied Sports Science news articles, blog posts and research papers for July 26, 2016

 

In Melvin Gordon, Adrian Peterson has found a challenger and a protege

ESPN, Minnesota Vikings Blog from July 23, 2016

The sprint workouts James Cooper oversees each summer have long been the province of Adrian Peterson. Few have the physical skills of Cooper’s star pupil, and Peterson’s talents are kindled by a competitive zeal that leads him to regard second place, even in a summer sprint workout, as an affront.

This summer, though, if only for a fleeting moment, Cooper has seen a hint of change. The running back who grew up following Peterson’s career, who wears No. 28 because of his admiration for the Minnesota Vikings running back, is edging him.

As Peterson prepares for his 10th NFL season, he’s coming off his third rushing title in large part because of the unyielding work ethic that still has him training for three to four hours a day at his gym in Houston. He’s working to stay ahead of a young generation of running backs who were raised on Peterson highlights. And in the case of Melvin Gordon — the San Diego Chargers back who finished second in the 2014 Heisman Trophy voting and was selected 15th in last year’s draft — Peterson has a protege who has come to Houston this summer in the hopes of adopting some of the four-time All-Pro’s tenacity.

 

N.F.L. Introduces New Rules to Back Its Concussion Protocol – The New York Times

The New York Times from July 25, 2016

… Teams that are found to have skirted the rules can be fined up to $150,000 for a first violation, and a minimum of $100,000 for subsequent violations. If the commissioner determines that a team’s medical staff did not follow the concussion protocol for competitive reasons — for example, by keeping a concussed player in the game — the team could be forced to forfeit one or more draft picks.

Separately, the league and the union said that data on injuries would be reviewed annually to see if game rules needed to be changed to improve player safety. The two sides also established a committee to review the surface of playing fields to help prevent injuries. Players have consistently said they prefer playing on natural grass and have complained that fields made of synthetic material can be too hard.

 

What makes us stronger – New research shows that even severe stress can have an upside

The Economist from July 23, 2016

… Young people have long reported more stress than old people, says Mary McNaughton-Cassill of the University of Texas at San Antonio. But she believes today’s youth are more overwhelmed than ever before. Globalisation means rapid change in the workplace, and firms increasingly expect employees to be constantly connected. The mass media flood us with bad news while creating unattainable aspirations, she adds: “you have to look like a movie star, stay informed about politics, take care of the kids and hold down a job.” Social media, which may lower stress when used to strengthen connections with friends, have been associated with higher stress when they deliver news of friends’ travails, such as divorces and accidents.

Many studies have shown that stress has similar effects on humans as on Selye’s rats. It has been linked to high blood pressure, headaches, stomach upset and insomnia. According to the APA, chronic stress can “ravage” the immune system and increase unhealthy behaviours, such as drinking and smoking, that raise the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A recent study by Bruce McEwen, a neuroscientist at Rockefeller University, showed that exposing rats to stress for just three weeks changed their brain architecture. Forcing his rats to swim, among other unpleasant tasks, shrank the dendrites in their amygdalae, the parts of the brain that control emotional responses, decision-making and memory. Though reversible, such changes in humans increase the risk of anxiety disorders and depression.

 

The 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test: can it predict outcomes in field tests of anaerobic performance? – PubMed – NCBI

Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research from July 16, 2016

This study determined whether a composite assessment of intermittent fitness could be used to quantify performance in several anaerobic tasks. Fifty-two male recreational athletes (age: 24.3 ± 4.4 yr; body mass: 85.1 ± 12.2 kg; height: 180.5 ± 7.0 cm) were recruited from various team sports. Participants completed a battery of field tests to assess sprinting speed (40 m sprint), acceleration ability (10 m sprint), change of direction speed (505 test), anaerobic capacity (300 m shuttle), lower body power (vertical jump) and repeated sprint ability, as well as the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test to determine the velocity of intermittent fitness (VIFT). Relationships between anaerobic tests and VIFT were quantified via Pearson product moment correlations, and a two-predictor model multiple linear regression estimated the predictive relationships between the exercise tests and the VIFT. Multiple linear regression showed VIFT significantly predicted 56%, 51%, 44%, 36%, 12% and 1% of the variance in the 300 m shuttle, repeated sprint, 505, 40 m sprint, vertical jump and 10 m sprint tests, respectively. The two-predictor model determined 300 m shuttle and repeated sprint performance accounted for 67% of the variance in VIFT. These findings highlight that various anaerobic characteristics contribute to the intermittent fitness qualities that are quantified through VIFT. More specifically, these data indicate that VIFT is useful for tracking performance in tasks largely determined by anaerobic capacity, but may not be a good predictor of brief all-out sprinting and jumping efforts.

 

Accumulated workloads and the acute:chronic workload ratio relate to injury risk in elite youth football players — Bowen et al. — British Journal of Sports Medicine

British Journal of Sports Medicine from July 22, 2016

Aim The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical workload and injury risk in elite youth football players.

Methods The workload data and injury incidence of 32 players were monitored throughout 2 seasons. Multiple regression was used to compare cumulative (1, 2, 3 and 4-weekly) loads and acute:chronic (A:C) workload ratios (acute workload divided by chronic workload) between injured and non-injured players for specific GPS and accelerometer-derived variables:total distance (TD), high-speed distance (HSD), accelerations (ACC) and total load. Workloads were classified into discrete ranges by z-scores and the relative risk was determined.

Results A very high number of ACC (?9254) over 3?weeks was associated with the highest significant overall (relative risk (RR)=3.84) and non-contact injury risk (RR=5.11). Non-contact injury risk was significantly increased when a high acute HSD was combined with low chronic HSD (RR=2.55), but not with high chronic HSD (RR=0.47). Contact injury risk was greatest when A:C TD and ACC ratios were very high (1.76 and 1.77, respectively) (RR=4.98).

Conclusions In general, higher accumulated and acute workloads were associated with a greater injury risk. However, progressive increases in chronic workload may develop the players’ physical tolerance to higher acute loads and resilience to injury risk. [full text]

 

Should Coaches Practice Sports Psychology?

SpeedEndurance, Ryan Banta from July 25, 2016

… According to Brian Risk during the World Speed Summit, one of the most important aspects of sports psychology you can model to your athletes is how you handle yourself during track and field meets. Risk stated the coaches should avoid treating track and field events as a social gathering. Coaches are at meets to work, and it is important the athletes see the coaches are engaged in the process. At track meets, athletes will be nervous and often will project their fears on the coach. Even the most experienced coaches or athletes will get nervous.

 

Nothing but the best in training, technology and sports medicine at the Olympic Training Center

denverpost.com, The Denver Post from July 22, 2016

Outside it was a beautiful spring day with Pikes Peak looming majestically to the west, but as Desiree Linden pounded out miles on a treadmill in a hermetically sealed room at the Olympic Training Center, it was a Sunday morning in August in Rio de Janeiro. And she wasn’t at 6,100 feet, she was at sea level imagining the Olympic marathon.

Linden was sweating hard in the OTC’s high-altitude training center where technicians can create simulated altitudes from sea level up to 24,000 feet by regulating the amount of oxygen in the room. The temperature was set at 90 degrees, with 73 percent relative humidity. That’s hotter than historical averages for Aug. 14 in Rio (80 to 82 degrees), but the thermometer could easily hit 90 the day of the women’s marathon, even though it’s winter in Rio.

“We are assessing Desi’s abilities and her weaknesses of running in that environment,” said Randy Wilber, a senior sport physiologist for the USOC.

 

Ben McAdoo’s approach to Giants camp geared toward millennials

ESPN, New York Giants Blog from July 25, 2016

The revamped weight room, new strength and conditioning program, shortened side fields and the seemingly endless stream of music at New York Giants practices this spring were just the beginning. New coach Ben McAdoo will continue to put his stamp on the organization at training camp this summer, and it will extend into the season when he institutes a new daily schedule.

McAdoo, who was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach to replace Tom Coughlin earlier this year, is putting his mark on a team that is trying to rebound from three consecutive losing seasons and four playoff-less years. The next phase will be changes to the way training camp operates, both on the field and in meeting rooms.

The Giants will increase the number of daily meetings so players can better digest new material. In the process, they will decrease the length of each meeting. McAdoo and his staff will also put an increased emphasis on remaining healthy, something they’ve stressed since taking over in January. It will be evident during drills designed specifically to stress fundamentals and physicality while limiting the risk of injury.

 

Swimmers Want a Rio Snoozefest – WSJ

Wall Street Journal from July 22, 2016

… Even as worries mount about security, terrorism, and a global health epidemic, the fear keeping U.S. swimming officials awake at night is the possibility that their star athletes won’t be able to get enough sleep.

The issue is a new schedule, driven by the desire to feature swimming on prime-time television broadcasts, that will start finals races at 10 p.m. and therefore keep some swimmers at the pool well past midnight. That means athletes will be returning to their beds in the early morning hours, and will need to be deep in REM sleep when the rest of the Olympic Village roars to life.

In response, the U.S. team has developed a new protocol it calls LNATP: Late Night at the Pool.

 

‘Smart,’ Sensor-Infused Thread Can Gather Diagnostic Data from Human Tissue

Design News from July 22, 2016

Researchers have been developing a number of nano- and micro-scale technologies that can be used for implantable medical technology for the treatment of disease, diagnostics, prevention, and other health-related applications.

Now engineers at Tufts University have gone one step further with the invention of “smart” thread that actually can be woven into human tissue to collect diagnostic data, taking implantable technology to a whole other level.

Unlike typical implantable technology, which generally is localized to an area for a specific purpose, threads can access multiple layers of tissue to sample interstitial fluid and direct it to sensing threads that collect data, such as pH and glucose levels. The threads also can be conductive, which means they can deliver the data to a flexible wireless transmitter sitting on top of a person’s skin.

 

Why are pro athletes now training with robots?

The Red Bulletin from July 25, 2016

As well as maintaining a good diet, athletes who want to achieve their peak performance use modern training facilities. Did you know many now use robots in their quest for sporting glory?

Robots are coming for our jobs, and no one is safe – not even elite sportsmen. Traditionally, a runner or a footballer would train with teammates to push themselves to the best of their ability. Now, even the flesh and blood of a training partner may not be deemed worthy enough, as sports brands are developing sophisticated machines to push athletes to new limits.

 

Meet the force behind Blue Star Sports’ sprint to digitize your youth sports

Dallas Morning News from July 25, 2016

… Wechsler began buying up companies — one to manage sporting events, two for team communications and another for payment plans — to capture chunks of the $9 billion spent annually on youth sports.

“It was three to four months from conception to execution,” said the 45-year-old, who opened Blue Star’s doors in December. “As an entrepreneur, I’ve always been really fast, and I’ve done things really fast – but this was the fastest.”

Wechsler envisions his firm solving a common problem for thousands of youth sports leagues. When nobody will step up to coach or manage a team, parents must volunteer. Busy, conflicting schedules make it difficult for leagues and teams to stay organized. Those volunteers turn to technology for help.

 

Stefan Reinartz new metric packing helps us understand effective passing – ESPN FC

ESPN FC, Raphael Honigstein from July 21, 2016

As Stefan Reinartz’s career as a tidy holding midfielder in the Bundesliga began to stall due to various injuries, his curiosity about the machinations of the game only grew bigger.

“I always enjoyed thinking about numbers and probability models,” the 27-year-old, who retired from active duty in May, told ESPN FC. “But I really became interested in the field after hearing a lecture on football stats at the German Sports University in Cologne. It discussed a study that showed that most common statistical numbers — possession, passing success rates, one-on-ones — had no relevance to the end result. So me and my [Bayer Leverkusen] teammate Jens Hegeler thought: ‘let’s see if we can do better.'”

Reinartz and Hegeler decided to look at passing; more specifically, they searched for a way to assign a numerical value to effective passing. Over the course of 18 months, they came up with a system that counts the number of opponents taken out of the game by a pass (or a successful dribble) and called it “Packing.” Their innovation has proved so successful that it is being employed by analysts at Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen and the German FA as well as by German state broadcaster ARD, who used it as an on-screen metric during Euro 2016.

 

Gender Differences in Risk-Taking: Evidence from Professional Basketball

Social Science Research Network; René Böheim et al. from July 07, 2016

We analyze gender differences in risk-taking in high-pressure situations. Using novel data from professional athletes (NBA and WNBA), we find that male teams increase their risk-taking towards the end of matches when a successful risky strategy could secure winning the match. Female teams, in contrast, reduce their risk-taking in these situations. The less time left in a match, the larger is the gap. When the costs of an unsuccessful risky strategy are very large (losing the tournament), we find no increase in risk-taking for male teams.

 

The Mystery of Recommender Systems

Medium, Matthieu McClintock from July 24, 2016

I stumbled into the world of recommender systems on accident. I was aiming to solve a problem through technology. The problem? Rampant and seemingly inherent failure when humans pursue the grand goals of their lives. The goal was to solve this problem by leveraging the power of Big Data. But how? After hundreds of hours of research only one solution made sense?—?recommender systems.

So what’s a recommender system? Only one of the most popular technologies on the web. Whether you’re browsing products on Amazon, listening to music on Spotify, or binge watching on Netflix, you’re always being told what else you should buy, listen to, or watch based on what you’ve consumed. However, there’s much more to these recommendations then meets the eye. It’s not just what you’ve bought, listened to, or watched that determines what is recommended. In fact, that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Recommender systems look for users who are the most similar to you based on your purchasing and consuming patterns, also known as your nearest neighbors, and recommends that you watch, listen to, or buy what they did.

 

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