High Performance CentreThe Hurley Surfing Australia

Ellen Raymond

Placement Year at

Where is the HPC?

A famous stretch of coastline for surfing, with beautiful beaches and countryside.

Casuarina Beach, NewSouth Wales, Australia. Close to Brisbane.

What does the HPC do?

• An elite athlete programme, for some of the best Australian competitive surfers.

• Training camps for selected young surfers with the potential to succeed in competitive surfing.

• User-paid surf training camps, open to everyone.

Elite Athlete Programme• Provides training and sport

science support for surfers competing on the World Championship Tour and/or World Qualifying Series.

• Helping these athletes to excel in elite competitive surfing, with the ultimate goal of winning world titles.

• Overseen by Sport Science Manager, Dr Jeremy Sheppard and National Coach, Andy King.

My RoleWithin the elite athlete programme, working with the PhD students and Dr Jeremy Sheppard.

• Training – In the gym, in the pool, and at a high

school. With a range of ages and competitive levels.

• Testing – For athlete monitoring, as well as data

collection for research projects. Mainly in relation to physiology and biomechanics.

• Research – Assisting with data collection and

analysis, as well as co-writing some research papers on performance analysis of the World Tour.

Athlete TrainingStrength and

conditioning

Gymnasticsincluding rolls, rotationsand trampoline work.

Athlete TestingAthletes are tested to track changes, and for research. Tests include:• Strength• Power• Sprint paddle (15m)• Endurance paddle (400m)• Movement competency• Time to stabilisation and force in landing• Anthropometry

Research• Research is undertaken by the PhD students who

work and study at the HPC. This is very new to the sport of surfing.

• They aim to use their results to enhance training of elite surfers, so Australia can continue to produce world class athletes.

• I’ve had the opportunity to co-write two research papers

with one of the PhD students, analysing the scores

achieved by male and female surfers on the WCT.

• This has greatly improved my skills in scientific writing,

data analysis and statistics, which will help a lot in future.

Research

What I’ve gained• Amazing hands on experience in a combined sport

science and research environment.

• Application of knowledge, and improved practical skills.

• Worked with world class athletes, within a sport I’m passionate about and really interested in.

• Moving away on my own, a long way from home, has improved my confidence and independence.

• Improved my ability to work by my own initiative, and with responsibility.

• I feel I’m much more prepared for final year, and a job.

My Placement Year at

NSWISOrganisation: New South Wales Institute

of Sport

Place: Sydney, Australia

Role: Sport science intern

(Multi-discipline & Multi-sport)

What is NSWIS?A high performance sport institute

• Provides coaching and high performance

services to elite and emerging athletes

My role = assist with high performance services

-Physiology -Performance Analysis

-Biomechanics -Nutrition

-Strength & Conditioning

Physiology• Laboratory & field testing – calibrating

equipment, running the tests, taking blood

samples & recording testing variables

• Environment room (heat/hypoxic) monitoring &

pre/post testing

• GPS data analysis

• Taking conditioning sessions

• Athlete monitoring e.g sleep reports

• Data input

Strength & Conditioning• Level 1 ASCA qualification

• Gym shifts – supervising gym floor during

athlete open hours

• Coaching athletes

• Functional movement screenings

Strength & Conditioning• Strength testing

• Jump testing (using force plates & vertical jump)

• Speed & agility testing using Swift Timing Gates

• Use of GymAware

Project – write & implement strength programmes for

two hockey players returning from injury

- Additional off feet conditioning sessions

- 3+ sessions/ week

- Originally a 6 week project, extended to when I leave

Biomechanics• Vicon testing

• Force plate testing

• Track and field comps. – Set up,

video capture & analysis, laser

• Swimming comps. – video

capture & analysis

• Kayaking comps. – filming,

Mini-maxx data analysis

• Water polo shooting analysis –

overhead camera's and digitising

Performance Analysis• Filming games & competitions across a number

of sports

• Creating code windows with Sports Code

• Coding water polo games

• Filming & coding diving training

• U21 Netball Nationals

- 1 week in Adelaide

- Film & code games live

- produce statistics for games

Swimming altitude camp in Thredbo

Monitoring of athletes through

training diaries

Lead S&C session

Assist coaches with pool

sessions – test sets

Underwater camera set up

& use

Hydration monitoring by USG &

pre/post training weight

Walk to peak of Mt. Kosciusko

Just some of the technical skills gained:

• Ability to write and implement successful strength

& rehab programmes

• Ability to set up, carry out & analyse Vicon

testing

• Blood collection & analysis (e.g lactate, Hb)

• Gas analysis (calibration & set up, software use)

• Monitoring of athletes through multiple measures

– Reactive strength index, hydration, sleep

• Excel skills

Personal development

• Improved organisation and time management skills

• Developed communication skills

• Ability to work in high pressure environment

• Increased independence & confidence

• Ability to apply knowledge practically

• Increased awareness of the integration of areas in

high performance sport

Georgia UpjohnPerformance Specialist

What is The Altitude Centre?

• The Altitude Centre is the UK’s number 1 altitude training

specialist, working in the fields of mountaineering, sport and

health.

• Altitude training is scientifically proven to enhance sporting

performance, leading to the company working with Olympic

athletes, premiership football clubs, rugby associations,

explorers, and national governing bodies.

• The company has 3 elements to it:

o Installation: we build chambers for clients such as Manchester

City FC

o Rental: clients rent IHE, sleep or exercise systems

o Training and consultations: we run a range of consultations for

clients to measure fitness and health

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My role in the company: Performance Specialist• I work in the centre which is based in central London

• The building consists of 5 businesses which all link to sport

performance so referrals are common (physiotherapists,

strength and conditioning gym, running biomechanics)

• Sport science roles:

- Leading exercise classes at simulated altitude

- Extensive knowledge in the physiology of altitude training

- Assisted in rehabilitation of clients

• Other roles:

- Marketing including social media

- Administration

- Event organisation

- Educating clients of risks of acute mountain sickness

- Perform fitness and hypoxic sensitivity testing3

Daily routines:

• Conducting inductions, consultations (health, exercise and

mountaineering) and leading exercise classes

• Organising usage of the chamber for recreational and elite

users

• Customer service- dealing with clients questions and advice

• Updating and enhancing social media

• Advise clients on risks of acute mountain sickness

• Suggest strategies to cope with altitude

• Perform fitness testing and hypoxic sensitivity

• Dealing with the press interest of the company

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Mountaineering:• As you climb higher, the air gets thinner. Each lungful at altitude

gives you less oxygen so your body has to work harder to

maintain the supply. To successfully reach the heights you need

to pre-acclimatise your body to better cope with the lower oxygen levels at altitude.

• Increased stress placed on the body can lead to people suffering

from Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS).

• A consultation involves taking clients through a research based

assessment to analyse susceptibility to AMS and ways to stave off

AMS when at altitude

• We offer rentals that reach 6,000m to allow clients to pre-

acclimatise before going to altitude or the chance to train in our chamber here in London.

• Intermittent hypoxic exposure is a common method to pre-

acclimatise5

Sport• Altitude Training has always been extensively used with endurance based

althletes. Further research has revealed a much wider application for altitude

training including resistance work.

• The beneficial adaptations to sport are different dependent upon the

exposure protocol used. The two below are what we can offer:

• Live High Train Low

• Haematological Adaptions

• Improved exercise economy

• Muscular Adaptations (Improved delivery of oxygen and

removal of waste products)

• Live Low Train High

• The short exposure to altitude isn’t enough to elicit

haematological adaptions

• Muscular adaptations occur such as mitochondrial and

capillary density, myoglobin content and oxidative enzyme

capacity (improving oxygen delivery and utilisation)

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Health

• Altitude training is a form of adaptive medicine that can be

used to assist with a variety of conditions.

• Improving your oxygen efficiency is scientifically proven to

assist medical conditions, as well as helping you to lose

weight. Skin rejuvenation and general wellbeing are also

improved.

• It has also been shown that training at altitude doubles the calories burnt, due to the individual working metabolically that

much harder. So weight loss clients are becoming more and

more popular in the centre.

• Research also suggests altitude training suppresses ghrelin and increases leptin levels in the body, keeping you fuller for longer

(making it easier for weight loss).7

Rehabilitation

• Altitude Training can be used to assist in the rehabilitation of injured

player and athletes. During my time with the Altitude Centre I have

worked with Fulham F.C. who used the centre after matches at the

weekend to recover quicker.

• Training in hypoxia enables you train without loading the muscle

groups whilst maintaining a high cardiovascular and respiratory load,

thus maintaining fitness whilst injured.

• The altitude of the chamber can also be adjusted to individual needs,

making it higher the more injured you are.

• Hypoxia also has a substantial effect upon the hormone response

during exercise which can continue the healing stimulus that is

generated by injury as well as increasing the release of Human

Growth Hormone which can speed recovery.

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Clients

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Taken from this year

This year has taught me a lot about working in a

business environment in the sports science domain.

It is hard job but rewarding, especially when making

contacts with elite sports clubs/ organisations.

This placement allows you to extensively use

physiological principles and apply them to each and

every client.

I am also fortunate enough to have experienced

altitude first hand, being given the chance to climb

Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Cricket Systems Operator:Hawk-Eye Innovations

George Collins

Company Overview

World leader in ball tracking, officiating and broadcasting technology tools

Involved in many sports: Cricket, Tennis, Baseball, Soccer, Australian Football & more

Offices located at Sony Europe’s HQ in Basingstoke, but…

Placement students can expect to spend a minimum 75% of the year abroad

Placement: Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd. 2

Travel

Cricket operators join a

small team, working at

international tournaments

Visiting the West Indies, Australia, South Africaand the Sub-Continentis part and parcel of a normal working schedule

Placement: Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd. 3

Operations – Tracking

Precise installation of

multiple cameras

3D calibration of the pitch

Tuning of cameras to

accurately detect the ball in images

Bespoke software triangulates the position of the ball & extrapolates data to predict it’s path after impact

Placement: Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd. 4

Operations – Virtual World

Ball tracking data is fed into a virtual 3D model of the pitch

Data is then used for officiating, statistics & coaching

Placement students are quickly given responsibility and can affect the outcome of an international match!

Placement: Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd. 5

Operations – Replays

Placement: Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd. 6

Software synchronises multiple cameras to allow for instant split-screen replays

Working closely with umpires to quickly reach an accurate

decision

Replays are broadcast

live to millions of

viewers!

Personal Development

Unique insight and experience of a live sports broadcast environment

Training in Hawk-Eye’s bespoke software

Improvement of time management and organisational skills, with the opportunity to lead a small team

Innovative thinking encouraged –operators are constantly required to think ‘outside the box’

Placement: Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd. 7

Summary…

A paid placement with the possibility of a career after graduation

Be involved with international sport

Opportunity to travel & see the world

Placement: Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd. 8

PORSCHE HUMAN PERFORMACESILVERSTONE

Where am I?Located at Silverstone Racing Circuit

What do I do?Roles include:

Exercise Testing

Strength & Conditioning

Nutritional Coaching

Sweat Testing

Heat Acclimation

Customer Presentations

Positives Integral part of the team

Given a lot of responsibility

Free accommodation

Paid placement

Working with elite athletes

Get to drive Porsches!

Free gym/spa membership

Negatives No nightlife

Lack of young people

Work 8-5 vs 9-5

Have to work weekends

occasionally

Sydney University Sport & Fitness

Adam Taylor

Sydney University S&C

• I have spent my 3rd year placement in the strength & conditioning department at Sydney University.

• Over the year I have had numerous responsibilities, covering a wide range of athletes and a wide range of sports, including AFL, Rugby, Netball, Basketball, Swimming, Snow sports, Boxing and Football.

• I shall go into more detail on a few of these later on.

Intern responsibilities

• There are two Bath interns and three full time S&C coaches at SUSF.

• My responsibilities over the course of the year have included taking warm ups, writing gym programmes (lifting and off-feet conditioning), running rehabilitation programmes, testing athletes both anthropometrically and with performance variables, and further S&C and admin duties.

Sport at Sydney University

• Each team I have worked with has been of a different standard, with different aims, goals and progressions for training, so it has been a very varied year within the S&C office!

• Adding further diversity to the year was the range in size of sports at the University, with just one or two individual athletes in some, and up to 3-4 teams of 11-20 athletes in others.

AFL (Australian rules football)

• AFL was the sport which I had the most contact with over the year. When I started, SUSF was still looking to replace the previous head S&C coach for AFL, so I was left in charge of the pre-season programme.

• Although it was a very new sport to me, I have taken a lot from this role. It is a very long game (usually over 2 hours) and so training is very different to other sports.

• I therefore take away very unique experience from working with this sport.

Basketball

• Another sport I had a lot of contact with was basketball, from working with the Sydney Uni Flames- a team in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).

• I was an assistant to Tristan Sharp- the head S&C coach, and have learnt a substantial amount from him.

• I was in-charge of game day warm ups and recovery, as well as gym supervision.

Netball

• My role with netball included taking Tuesday night S&C sessions.

• This included warm up, on-court speed and agility work, followed by strength and conditioning work in the gym.

• This job has taught me a few lessons, including the need to be creative with training, and also how stubborn some athletes can be!

Boxing and Snow sports

• These were a couple of the sports which included working one on one with some individual athletes.

• Boxing involved off-feet conditioning in the gym for an athlete returning from injury, whilst snow sports included both strength and conditioning work with an Alpine Skier who ended up attending the winter Olympics at Sochi.

Weekly schedule

• With different sports starting and ending their seasons at different points, my schedule varied significantly throughout the year.

• Hours started at 5am on some days and finished at 9pm on others.

• Generally I had a very varied week, and was kept on my toes, working with numerous different sports, and often attending competitions to help with game day warm ups and recovery etc.

Conclusion

• All in all, I have gained a wide range of experience over the year, from a wide range of roles at SUSF.

• Working with Tristan Sharp, Tom Reddin and Tim Leahy has been greatly insightful for me, and I have benefited enormously from their experience, philosophies and enthusiasm.

Jonny Wheeler Academy Sport Science Intern

Leicester Tigers RFC

• Leicester Tiger are the most successful club in English history and the academy is no different, having recently won the newly formed academy league and in the last

decade produce a plethora of premiership and international players.

• The Academy is currently based at the Oval Park Training ground in Leicester where the academy train alongside

their first team counterparts

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About the Tigers

My Responsibilities

3

Below is a list of the tasks I was responsible for or involved with on a daily basis:• The collection and download of GPS data from training sessions

and games as well as collecting RPE’s for these sessions• The collection of players body mass and ensure the completion of

the players daily monitoring questionnaire• The overseeing of players weights and conditioning sessions and

taking the data from these sessions, e.g. Power output on a watt bike

• The addition of all the data collected to the clubs own data system • Videoing academy games and development games• Working as a coach within the developing player pathway, for

player pre academy

GPS and Coding

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For each session key players wore a GPS unit which would then be download to show their total meters as well as distances in certain speed brackets. An i-pad was used in conjunction with this to record session times and splits as well as certain key events or injury prevention data. This coding method can also be used in tandem with video recordings for further analysis.

Strength and Conditioning

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For these session I would either take the condition elements where players performed various high intensity protocols in either running shuttles or Watt bikes. If not I would be supervising and spotting the weights sessions.

For the conditioning sessions either the average meters or average power would be recorded, while with the weights certain rep schemes would need the weights lifted being recorded.

Video

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On academy game days I would video the games so both the coaches and players can watch the performance back as well as for video analysis purposes. This often involved using two cameras to capture a tight and wide angle and on occasion allowed for an analysist to code the game live.

I also did this for the development player pathway internal games for the academy coaches to review as a talent identification tool.

Collation of Data

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In addition to the gym and GPS data players body mass was also collected on a daily basis and all added into the edge 10 system

used to collate all the academy data.

This system also helped monitor player wellbeing. Each day players would fill in a monitoring questionnaire designed to assess their physical and psychological wellbeing and their subsequent ability to train. This questionnaire could be complete on their phones and then would subsequently update the edge 10 system.

Conclusions

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Throughout my internship I gained valuable experience across a wide variety of areas including s&c, monitoring, video analysis, nutrition and the collection and use of training data. I also had regular opportunities for CPD through conferences, Skype calls and meeting with leading researchers and coaches in their respective fields.

I was also fortunate enough to work several games at the stadium with both the academy and the A league side, as well as been taken on the academy trip to Portugal to play the Russian club champions. Both of which are experiences I will never forget.

Expectations

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From them: You can expect to be included and immersed from the very start in what is a very unique working environment. You will get kit, food on site and as well as transport to work off site. People will be more than happy to help you and share their expertise, you just need to ask and be willing to learn.

From you: As long as you are enthusiastic and have a passion for what you do you cant go far wrong. However an appreciation for professional boundaries is also key to flourish in this environment. Punctuality and reliability are also a given in terms of qualities expected.

Physiology and Talent Identification at SASI

Tim Lyne

The South Australian Sports Institute

South Australians“Taking on and beating the world’s best”

SASI provides sports science support to world class athletes in 10 sports: Rowing, Cycling, Volleyball, Kayaking, Netball, Hockey, Diving, Swimming, Water-polo and Trampolining

SASI athletes live and train in Adelaide, South Australia

My RoleTalent Identification

• Liaising with all schools in South Australia

• Field testing of talented school pupils

• Selecting children onto SASI squads

Physiology

• Lab testing of athletes

• Providing feedback on performance using physiological parameters

• Training monitoring

Physiology

• Lab testing – predominantly kayak, rowing and cycling

• Taking lactates during training sets, often at the lake or pool

• Haemoglobin mass testing, pre and post altitude blocks.

• Field testing for both SASI and professional sports teams

Talent Identification• Using physical and physiological parameters to predict

sporting excellence

• Field testing at many schools in Adelaide

• Produced a number of Olympians and World Champions

Competitions• Cycling Track Nationals

• Kayak Nationals

• U21 Netball Nationals

• Rowing Nationals

• Beach Volleyball National Series

• Athletics Australia National Event

Performance Analysis & Biomechanics• Filming at cycling track nationals, athletics nationals

and netball u21 nationals

• Rigging rowing boats with Peach data collection system

• PA support for Australian women’s junior hockey camp; Coding, filming, equipment set up

Strength and Conditioning• Completed Level 1 Australian Strength and

Conditioning qualification

• Supervising athlete and staff gym sessions

• Providing recovery sessions

• Helping with speed and agility sessions

Interesting Project – Altitude Training• SASI has a hypoxic chamber, as well as altitude tents.

This gives athletes access to altitude training benefits without leaving their daily training environment

• This was particularly useful before the rowers went away to China as they could train at altitude but also with extremely high humidity

Things I LearnedPersonal DevelopmentCommunicationConstant with coaches and other sports scientistsExplaining protocols during testings

Time managementWorking to both deadlines and to a strict calendar due to training and testing sessions

TeamworkWorking in a multidisciplinary team to provide the best support to athletes

Technical SkillsPhysiologyLab testing procedures and equipment use

PA/BiomechanicsSetting up and using various types of cameraCoding and analysing training and matches

Strength and ConditioningVastly improved knowledge of techniquesUsing software to quantify strength and power improvements

2013-2014

Nathan Hancock

Founded in 1894 Professional football club playing in League

one of the Football League

Job Role 1st and U21’s Sports Scientist 1st and U21’s Performance Analyst

Daily Hydration Testing Maintaining Player Hydration Well-Being Heart Rate recording GPS Recording Activation exercises Matchday warm ups Training warm ups Gym sessions

Daily hydration tests carried out before training, any player found to be below a threshold given fluids to hydrate. A database was completed and given to the management team. Trends looked for to ensure players hydrated every day. Preparing drinks for each individual before training and matches.

Each player completed a well being pack which was put into a report and given to the management team. After training each player gave a Rated Perceived exertion (RPE).Daily and weeklysummariescompleted

Heart rates were collected during training and turned into a report for the management team, Ensuring training was at the correct intensity required.

Selected players wore gps vests during training sessions allowing activity markers such as distance being collected to monitor intensity of training.

Each morning different activation exercises were carried out to help with injury prevention. Before any training or matches players conducted a thorough warm up conducted by one of the sports science team. Players were given individual gym programmes to work on specific areas of their game

Pre-match analysis Post-match analysis In-game analysis Recording Matches External recruitment

Upcoming opponents were coded to allow the management team to look at different aspects of the opponents game

After games players involvements were coded to allow players to analyse their own performance.

During matches coding takes place to allow tactical changes at half-time and the management team to see any events they wish.

During first team games two different angles, behind the goal and from the gantry.On occasions training would be recorded to allow the management team to show the players areas of training

Players of interest identified by the manager would have games they featured in coded to enable the manager to see their involvements.

During my time at Bristol City I learnt a great deal about the team work it takes between the different departments within the football club to allow the players to deliver on matchday.

It has given my invaluable experience of working with both first team and U21 professional players and allowed me to see the attention to detail that is neededto maintain performance throughout a long season.