Knowledge Nuggets

In soccer, preventing injuries is crucial for player performance and long-term health. Current evidence supports strength training, including methods like eccentric and flywheel training, to reduce injury risks effectively.

How a coach interacts with athletes can be significant predictor of athletes’ enjoyment and intentions to stay in sport. A study of 202 elite-level artistic swimmers from 22 countries showed that athletes under the guidance of democratic-style coaches reported elevated levels of athletic enjoyment and expressed greater intent to pursue their athletic careers. This finding...

Many high-performance athletes scrutinize their own performances and often aim for perfection. A recent study delved into how perfectionistic athletes view success and failure in sports. Through interviews and season-long diaries, researchers found that an athlete’s ability to deal with failure depended on the type of perfectionism they exhibited.

The coaching environment influences athlete development. Research shows that for coaches to create effective learning environments for athletes they need to deliberately plan each practice session. To do so, coaches need to know their athlete’s capabilities and needs and should differentiate or individualize practice instead of adopting a “one size fits all” approach.

Coaching efficacy is influenced by factors such as formal education. In a study involving high school coaches, sport psychology education and contact with sport psychology practitioners significantly increased coaching efficacy. While we traditionally think of athletes as benefiting the most from mental health and performance supports, coaches can also benefit from opportunities to engage in...

Ketogenic diets are gaining attention in elite endurance sports for their ability to boost fat burning, potentially transforming performance. However, concerns linger about their impact on glycogen use and high-intensity exercise, with mixed results among athletes.

Stress can significantly impact an athlete’s well-being and sport performance, but social support from teammates, coaches, and support staff can positively influence how athletes perceive and adapt to stress. Recent research shows that for social support to produce positive effects, having a shared social identity and the knowledge and expertise to provide sufficient support is...

Parents play an important role in their children’s sport experiences. A recent study highlights 4 things that parents can do to make their children’s sport experiences more enjoyable: 1) show that you care about your child’s sport by facilitating and prioritising participation, 2) listen and learn from your child to ensure you can engage in...

Sport climbing is a new Olympic sport set to debut in Paris and is demanding on its own. However, it can also act as a complement to other athletic activities: a Romanian study found it can be a an effective cross training tool for youth soccer players. Over a 14-week trial, junior soccer players increased...

Did you know that within the sport performance literature examining female athletes and women’s sport, only 32-37% of research participants are female? Research on female athletes’ physiology and performance lags behind, with limited understanding of how hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle impact performance. Standardizing research practices and considering menstrual cycle phases can offer insights...