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The Concussion Issue
We have 11 pages dedicated to how people are preventing this potentially fatal head injury
This Is Sparta
We talk tech in obstacle racing
Analytics at Chelsea
We talk to Ben Smith about analytics in Chelsea FC’s Youth team
Contents
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Contents
P. 4
Brad Leshinske talks about the various tests that he uses in his strength and conditioning training programmes
P. 9
We talk to Ben Smith of Chelsea FC about the analytics being used in youth player development
Concussion
P. 14
P. 21
We talk to Mark Dillon, inventor of Mamori, the revolutionary mouth guard that identifies concussions
Dealing with concussions in elite sport, Craig Skilling shares the new ideas affecting treatment and prevention
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P. 24
P. 30
Freddie Faull reviews the Fitbit Flex, as we continue our coverage of the available wearable technologies
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Spartan Race is taking endurance racing to a new level, we look at how they use technology to enhance the experience
George Hill looks at how concussions are currently viewed in professional sports and how this should change
P. 28
Louis Gray takes a look at the book that is changing the way that people engage with Football, The Numbers Game
P. 33
Adidas claim that their new Boost technology will revolutionise running, we put the new Sonic Boosts to the test
Livia One probiotics are tested and reviewed by Heather James
P. 27
Robert Taylor Jr gives us the lowdown on how neck strengthening can prevent concussions
P. 40
How are British Bobsleigh using analytics and technology to improve medal chances?
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Editor’s Letter
Letter From The Editor Welcome to this issue of Sports would wow our reviewers, Performance and Technology. then please get in touch. This issue also tackles the difficult topic of concussions, their monitoring and their prevention. It is a pertinent issue at the moment making the front and back pages of newspapers globally. We The response that we have talk to a young inventor who had from everybody in this has created a revolutionary a coach unique community has been mouthguard, phenomenal. We put that who believes that neck down to the passion of our strengthening holds the key writers and the buzz that to concussion prevention everybody has created and a youth team coach through social media and who uses an app to monitor concussions. sharing amongst colleagues. I think we have created the We hope you enjoy this issue best issue to date, complete as much as we have enjoyed with discussions on bobsleigh, creating it and as always if concussions, football and you are interested in getting involved please contact me reviews. at The review section includes some of the most ghill@sportsperformancetech.com interesting products in sports performance and monitoring George Hill including the new Adidas Managing Editor Boost running shoes, Livia One Probiotics and the Fitbit Flex. We always want to review new products that are pushing new ideas and new technologies, so if you think you have something that As the last issue of 2013, we would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has helped take this magazine from an idea in January to a fully fledged global magazine in December.
Managing Editor: George Hill Assistant Editors Richard Angus Katie Bilton Editorial Assistant: Louis Gray Art Director: Gavin Bailey Advertising: Hannah Sturgess hsturgess@sportsperformancetech.com
Contributors: Katie Bilton Robert Taylor Jr. Craig Skilling Brad Leshinske Freddie Faull Heather James General Enquiries: Editor@sportsperformancetech.com
Brad Leshinske
Real Life Sports Performance Testing Brad Leshinkse Owner, Athletic Edge
We know that testing is a vital component for tracking results, prevention of injury and seeing if a program is working. There are many forms of testing that you can do per sport and per age group. We are going to focus on tests that are applicable to not only any athlete age 13 and up, but also any sport the athlete plays. When testing athletes
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Brad Leshinske
you want to make sure that you hit 6 areas: • Injury Prevention - Medical intake form - FMS (Functional Movement Screen) • Core Power Medicine Ball Toss - • Strength • Power Vertical Jump - • Acceleration 10 yard dash - • Endurance - Muscular - Cardiovascular Within these 6 tests we are going to be able to see patterns within athlete performance and base a program around
these. It is important to note that a natural athlete may be good at these tests and we must consider the training age of the athlete (time spent in a gym) vs biological age (age in years). A natural athlete might perform well on the athletic tests but falter in the injury prevention tests. This is an indication that whilst they may be strong for their age, considerations in their program are needed for injury prevention and a base
Brad Leshinske
strength program. If we just took their athletic testing we would progress them too fast and injuries may occur. Below is a breakdown of the 6 tests we are talking about. 1. Injury prevention is key in strength and conditioning and is a vital component in the field of strength and conditioning. a. Medical intake form is important too because you need to see if they have had any previous injuries or any medical issues that may alter their program. Things like asthma, diabetes and heart issues are a major concern. Recent surgeries and any acute injuries within 3 months is also important for their program design. b. FMS (functional movement screen) uses 7 tests to determine stability, mobility and core strength. These tests are scored on a range from 1-3 (3 being the highest) and a total score of 21. Tests include the hamstring test (ASLR) to determine the flexibility of one hamstring compared to the other, Hurdle step, used to track hip mobility and core stability. The Inline lunge test looks at the function of the knee and the stability of the back. This testing method is a great way to see some limiting
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factors that may hinder an athlete’s performance. From these scores we can take the athlete through a mobility and activation circuit designed to help increase these numbers and decrease the chances of possible injury. 2. For our core power test we use the seated medicine ball throw. This is done by having the athlete sit against the wall, bottom on the floor and legs straight out. Using a 6lb medicine ball, toss the ball using a chest pass (no turning of the shoulder like a shot put) and throwing it for distance. Taking the legs and upper body out of the equation we can see the power produced by the core. This gives us a good indication on whether the athlete needs core power work. 3. There are a couple variations of strength we can look at doing. We generally only do this with our HS athletes who have some training age experience. We will use, depending on sport, bench press, a variation of the squat (back or hex dl) and pullup test. These numbers play a roll in producing a percentage based lifting program for our advanced athletes. 4. For power test using the vertical jump. The vertical, especially the static vertical
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Brad Leshinske
jump, is a great indicator of power. There is an important correlation between vertical jump and power. Generally an athletes who show the top results in this test, have good strength and power bases in most other tests. 5. For our speed test we use the 10 yard dash. Many will tell you that a 40 yard test is best, however with injury concerns and a lack of sounds reasoning behind 40 rather than 10, it is only really used for testing by the NFL. We do not want to put the athlete into a top end sprint where injuries become a concern. The 10-yard dash is optimal because it shows acceleration and power whilst minimising injury risk. Again the athletes who test well here will also test well in the power test of the vertical jump.
6. Endurance testing is also a great component in putting together a great program. We have 2 types that are used: a. Muscular endurance is important to monitor conditioning of muscles. This is often tracked through the 60 second pushup test. This test will challenge the athletes on their upper body conditioning. b. Cardiovasuclar tests are applicable on a sport by sport basis. For example for soccer we use the the beep test, basketball some sort of suicide testing and for our general athletes a 2 mile airdyne bike ride. These tests are great for seeing how conditioned their body is. They are done in scientific conditions in order to minimise anomalous results. Never switch up protocol unless it
is universal across all tests. We want to be consistant and accurate to gain the most valid and accurate results. We take pride as strength and conditioning coaches in our results. It is worth remembering that great results come from great programming and great programming comes with experimentation and experience. Never put the cart before the horse, whilst athletes might find testing boring, explaining the benefits on performance and injury prevention at that high level will provide fantastic motivation.
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We are always looking for new writers for the magazine, to spread new insight and ideas into new techniques, technologies and training If you want to contribute please contact editor@sportsperformancetech.com
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Analytics at Chelsea
Analytics to Create the Next Home Grown Prodigy at Chelsea George Hill Chief Editor
Chelsea FC are one of the biggest clubs in the world, attracting some of the highest profile players and endorsements. They currently hold the British transfer record after buying Fernando Torres for ÂŁ50m from Liverpool, they have one of the richest owners in world football and their training facilities are the envy of everybody. Laszlo Szirtesi / Shutterstock.com
Analytics at Chelsea
Despite this, Roman Abramovich (the billionaire owner of the club) wants to concentrate on youth. This is not only to appease the much discussed financial fair play rules that clubs now need for Europe qualification, but also to create an effective spine in the team. This view is shared by manager Jose Mourinho, who recently said:
"So we are working on that (new generation). We have some players on loan, like (Nathaniel) Chalobah, and we have some others working and growing in the under-21s. Their standard is improving. Before, these age groups in England did not have a good level of competition at that age, but now there is a national championship, an under-19s Champions League, and it's improving them. The conditions in our academy cannot be better – the facilities and coaches are amazing – but while the quality of the coaching and the philosophy can be excellent, you really need competition to develop the kids." http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/17/jose-mourinho-chelsea-english-players
mooinblack / Shutterstock.com
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Analytics at Chelsea
The importance of youth at Chelsea is evident with the investment that has been made in the academy and new technologies. At the centre of this is Ben Smith, Head of Development Performance Systems.
gives the players a significant advantage. The programme for this works in six week blocks, areas are identified, worked on for six weeks and then reevaluated. This is not a six week block where targets need to be achieved but a simple timeframe whereby the players and coaches know what would be best for them to work on.
Helping to develop players at a young age is of vital importance in this new strategy and Chelsea are utilising new technologies to make this as effective as In addition to this six week process, there is also an onus possible. Ben tells me that one of the on visualisations. This is to most important factors for allow coaches and players the this is not to use the data best possible opportunity to that is collected to set specific understand and make data targets for the players, but to actionable. optimise their training time in order to make the most of the areas that need to be developed. One of the ways that this has increased is through the introduction of an academic school at the training centre. This means that young players no longer have the problem of training, travelling to school, travelling to training again and then travelling home. It also means that coaches have far more opportunity to have one-on-one training with the players. The fact that Chelsea identify the areas where coaches should be spending the most time to increase the effectiveness of the training Rnoid / Shutterstock.com
Video analysis is also an important part of tracking the progress of a player and is utilised by Chelsea in most of the youth level matches. Combined with the GPS tracking systems that the players wear, allows truly unique insight into a performance that could easily be missed by a coach on the sidelines. A great example given to me was during a match it was noticed that one player was making considerably more runs with maximum effort. When this was brought to the coach, he started looking at the player and realised that he was making too many runs at this speed. This meant that when he needed to make the vital
Analytics at Chelsea runs, he was tired from the previous unsuccessful ones. This kind of synergy between analytics and coaching can create a profound effect on the ways in which players develop. Another aspect of development that is often overlooked is the mental state of players, something that these six week blocks allow for. By sitting down with coaches and analysts who record the outcomes of the meeting, areas where mentalities can be improved are identified and worked on. This could be anything from workload being daunting through to breaking up with a girlfriend. This kind of identification of issues and the ability to act on them is something that could easily be overlooked when reducing actions down to data and numbers. Of course the most important area of developing players is the identification suitable candidates in the first place. Chelsea focusses on using analytics effectively to support their scouting network. The use of data in the recruitment system allows scouts to be deployed in an effective way, identifying genuine targets quicker and allowing untapped areas to be pinpointed. An example that Ben gave me was when they were analysing government census data, they noticed a
high potential area that they had limited or no coverage. After sending a junior recruitment roadshow to the area they saw that this was an area of untapped potential and have now set up scouting initiatives that are seeing significant results. The use of analytics for multiple purposes across the club only creates a better understanding of the importance that they can play in the overall success of the teams from first team down to youth. The level of data collection at Chelsea at the moment is significant, but is nothing compared to what it could be. Talking with the youth development team there, you realise that despite being blessed with significant amounts of data, there is always more to come. If we compare sports analytics to medicine, we are in the leaches and experimentation stage. Despite the technology around at the moment, we are only in the infancy of this growth area and in the future we will be seeing even more improvements. With the kind of work that Chelsea are doing to help youth players develop, it is entirely possible that Abramovich and Mourinho’s vision of a locally grown spine to future Chelsea teams is within grasp.
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Concussion Special
The Concussion Conundrum One of the biggest issues affecting athletes involved in contacts sports is the long term effects of concussion.
With the NFL currently being sued by several ex-players and the long term mental health of rugby players being closely monitored, the technology We are seeing NFL, Rugby and La- and analysis of these injuries is more crosse players seeing the ill effects of important now than ever. multiple concussions. We only need In the next 10 pages, we look at the to look at the issues facing many fa- ways in which passionate people mous ex-boxers to see the serious are aiming to stop this endemic and consequences that concussions can make long term effects from concushave. sions and blows to the head a thing of the past.
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Mamori: The Answer to Future Concussion Prevention? William Tubbs Organiser, Elite Minds In Sports Summit Millions of pounds are invested each year in the protection of players from injuries. Analytical systems are created to help identify when a player is likely to be injured, HRV systems monitor how to maximise training whilst minimising injury and products are designed to protect joints against damage. Daniel Goodings / Shutterstock.com
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Concussion Special
However, aside from a few relatively low tech products, very little is done to protect against head injury. The NFL has recently seen a rise in the numbers of explayers suing due to long term damage from concussions. It is hitting the headlines, yet the only real strides being made are in padding to help protect against it. Although this is important, in game protection for head injuries is still not at the level that other injury prevention technologies are.
I caught up with Mark to discuss Mamori and the implications that it could have on the future of serious head injury prevention. Mark tells me that one of the core reasons behind his design is his love of Ice Hockey and one of it's superstars: Sidney Crosby. For those who aren't familiar with ice hockey, Sidney would be the equivalent of Lionel Messi in soccer.
Despite all of the multinational companies investing huge budgets in safety equipment, In one of the ideas that has caught the imagination of designers was from Mark Dillon, whilst at university in Dublin. This device is called the Mamori and it is a gum guard which incorporates sensors in order to monitor impacts that may cause concussions and allow the prevention of second impact syndrome. Mamori is currently being lauded due to it's inclusion in the shortlist in the 2013 James Dyson Award.
January 2011 he was concussed during a game against the
Concussion Special
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be taken from the field of play and potentially save them from any further head injury. Mark has noticed the reason that this may be a necessity is the mentality of most professional athletes. They If the initial concussion had want to get out and play their been noticed and treated, this chosen sports, injuries are seen as a hindrance to their would not have happened. desire to play as opposed to Mark therefore set out in a long term and threatening his final university project, health issue. to create something that could help the There is even a culture around identification of an this that if a player can get up and carry on then they are to initial concussion. be commended, when as we Having initially have seen with Sidney Crosby, played with a this mentality can often lead number of ideas, to long term issues that keep Mark realised them from playing for an that the majority of extended period. concussions in professional sports came from blows to Currently in experimentation the face and most of these phase, Mark's dream is to came from blows to the chin. eventually see his technology Therefore the idea of having rolled out across multiple high a mouthguard as both a contact sports throughout protective and monitoring the world. The list of sports that could benefit from this device came to pass. technology ranges from Mark placed a series of sensors american football and in the mouthguard that could rugby through to lacrosse be calibrated and send a and boxing, each of which signal to medics to say that creates situations where the the player may be concussed. chances of concussion are This would then allow the high. The way that Mark sees player to be evaluated on site this happening is through with the idea that they could working with national and Washington Capitals and again four days later against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This resulted in second impact syndrome and he subsequently missed over 60 games.
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Concussion Special
international organisations, using this product as a necessary protection rather than an additional technology. In conjunction with this technology, Mark believes that cognitive testing could be improved to help identify concussions quicker, improving the long term health of a player. International guidelines should be created and reviewed in order to improve the identification of concussions and take players away from the action for their own good. Mark is very pragmatic and realistic in his approach to Mamori but does see that the use of sensor technology could have wider injury prevention uses. One of the areas that he is interested in is neck injuries. This is especially pertinent as often big impacts to the head can cause whiplash and other injuries that affect the neck and back, meaning that a severe concussion can be an indicator of neck problems too. Much of this could be seen as overly preventative however, Mark makes a point of trying to match practicality and safety. As a sports fan himself he realises the importance of not disturbing a game too much as to take away the spectacle, but at the same time wants to have an injury prevention system in place to
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allow increased safety. Overall this product looks like it could revolutionise the way that concussions are viewed globally. With the help of governing bodies and the support of professional
teams, this product, thought up by a student during his university course, could forever change the safety and long term health of millions of athletes.
Concussion Special
Head And Neck Training To Prevent Concussion Robert Taylor, Jr. Founder, SMARTER Team Training
There have been a lot of questions around the topic of concussions. What are you doing to be proactive? What are you doing to help your athletes be prepared for competition? What is the most important area of the body to train in preparation for combat sports? Contact sports? Non足contact?
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Neil Balderson / Shutterstock.com
For those of you who read the title and thought, “We do shrugs. We train the neck.” Read this, print this and share this with three of your coaches.
again and again. Never stop emphasizing the importance of quality rep replication. The following manual resistance exercises can be performed during a strength training or fitness session. The following exercises are designed to strengthen the flexors and extensors of the cervical spine.
Do not for a second overlook the benefits of training both the head and neck. Yes, the head, neck and upper back are all responsible for helping to reduce the sub-concussive Neck Flexion (Target: Neck forces that the brain may ex- Flexors) perience in athletics or every Starting Position: day life. Find thirteen minutes two 1. Lying face up on a times a week. And make head bench with your shoulders and neck training a priority. slightly over the edge of the If you don’t have access to a bench. The top of the head machine (and you should add should be parallel to the floor. a 4 or 5way Neck Machine to At the beginning of each rep your “must have” list this sea- the neck muscles should be son.), try implementing these totally relaxed. exercises into your program. Remember that your program is evaluated by the quality of each repetition. Coach your athletes how to perform these exercises correctly. When you feel like your athletes are finally getting it, coach them up
Movement: 2. Flexing only the neck muscles, raise the head forward and upward so that the chin is resting on the chest— pause momentarily and resist the negative to the starting position.
Concussion Special
Spotting: 3. Place the dominant hand on the lifter’s forehead and your other hand on the lifter’s chin. Apply as much pressure as needed to accommodate for the strength curve of the neck flexors. Neck Extension (Target: Neck Extensors) Starting Position: 1. Lying face down on a flat bench with your head hanging over the edge of the bench. Neck should be totally relaxed with your chin touching your chest and hands Rob Taylor is the founder and resting under your hips. owner of SMARTER Team Training. Coach Taylor was Movement: the Head Strength and Con2. Raise your head up- ditioning Coach at Loyola Uniward and backwards until it versity Maryland for over sevis fully extended. Pause mo- en years. Rob was a strength mentarily and resist the neg- and conditioning consultant ative to the start position. for athletes on the Women’s Lacrosse World Cup ChampiSpotting: 3. Form a web with your on’s Team Australia in 2005, hands and place them on the and was the Head Strength back of the lifters head. Begin Coach for Team Australia’s the exercise with mild pres- 2009 World Cup team which sure and allow the lifter to played in the world chamraise their head in an arc that pionship game also. He has resembles a half moon. Adjust worked with professional orresistance according to the ganizations such as the Anastrength curve of the neck ex- heim Angels, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Mutiny, tensors. and San Antonio Silver Stars.
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Concussion Special
Concussion Prevention and Equipment Technology in Sports Craig Skilling, Sports Instructor/Consultant, Johnson & Wales University The discussion on concussions in amateur and professional sports is a serious yet sensitive topic and likely to continue for years to come. Last week’s tentative agreement between the NFL and 4,500 NFL retired players in which a federal court judge announced a $765 million settlement (ESPN.com) is evidence enough. As a father of two young boys who are beginning to
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Concussion Special
consider participating in youth sports, I’m not sure if I will allow them to play a physical sport like football, soccer, wrestling, boxing, basketball, baseball or ice-hockey. Call me naïve, cautious, whatever. Maybe I should just say, “no contact sports boys?!” Okay, seriously as a sports enthusiast, former athlete and youth tournament/clinic producer, contact sports have been and will always be a part of my life. I will allow my six and four year old to play whatever sport they fancy. Well, probably not football until junior high school. Nevertheless, the topic of concussion prevention and equipment technology in sports hits home. I’m teaching a college athletic coaching course this fall trimester in North Miami, Florida at the prestigious Johnson & Wales University under the Sports, Entertainment & Event Management program. (Selfless plug) I have invested time looking into technological advancements and current patents to advise my students and family on what is out there to protect and prevent our youth from serious and life threatening sports injuries. Conduct a web search and
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you will find the plethora of patents under this topic including impact shock absorbing material, mouth guards for monitoring body dynamics, bean proof caps for baseball, helmet impact sensing devices, helmet protective padding and the list goes on. The AAN (America Academy of Neurology) is doing their part by developing and offering a FREE “Concussion Quick Check” app that works with your iPhone, iPad (Apple) or Android device. This is good for coaches and parents with youth or teens who participate in recreational physical activity or sports in general. Should your child or athlete encounter head trauma you will be able to recognize some of the common signs.
Daniel Goodings / Shutterstock.com
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Concussion Special blood vessels, which improves blood flow to the heart. Increased blood flow brings more oxygen to your muscles in the form of fresh blood, In the NBA (National Basket- which helps speed recovery, ball Association) a so called Hamlin says. Now that we non-contact sport with a lot know what it does, who are of contact, it’s been widely the innovators behind this apreported that several players parel and technology? use some form of protective McDavid Inc., designs and compression apparel under markets sports protection their uniform. The NBA is okay and apparel for active peowith it as long as it’s not visible ple and athletes. Storelli is a due to their exclusive uniform sport brand that values the agreement with Adidas. As a protection of athletes’ bodies former NBA team employee I and aspirations and is making can recall when 3-time NBA strides with protective gear in champion Dwayne Wade soccer. started using compression So needless to say the techshorts, V-neck protective nology is and will continue to chest vests and he’s since be developed and enhanced. added the elbow and knee The bottom line is that there pads protecting all of his var- still is not a conclusive study ious ailments. “D-Wade” as or research available to show Heat and NBA fans call him that there is equipment and is known for driving to the technology to truly prevent basket in a fearless manner concussions. The technoloamong the giants, absorbing gy and equipment are provcontact and making some se- en to assist in preventing seriously acrobatic shots while vere head injury including frequently landing hard on the skull fractures and additional floor. It’s no surprise that he trauma to the head as tested would be advised by longtime on mechanical dummies. So Miami Heat trainer Ron Culp parents and coaches please to utilize the compression ap- be leery of any individual or parel gear and technology. company claiming their prodNote: You will need to download or update your smart phone with the latest version of iOS 6 (Apple) or you will not be able to download this app.
According to a study by Mi- uct prevents concussions or chael Hamlin, Ph. D., an exer- serious injuries in recreational cise physiologist the pressure activities or contact sports. placed on muscle tissue by compression clothing reduces inflammation and causes reflexive dilation of the small
Concussion Special
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Concussion’s Perception in Professional Sport George Hill Chief Editor
There has been a huge debate around concussions within sport and the ways in which they are appreciated by both medical and playing staff. A recent example was during the Everton and Tottenham soccer match, where the Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was knocked unconscious and the Tottenham manager allowed him to play on.
summit in London, we heard from some of the leading medical minds currently working in sport. Given the short time since the incident, This controversial decision there were naturally several by Andre Villas Boas (the interesting points on view on Tottenham Manager) has the subject. been criticised from all corners Lynch, Arsenal's of the game, from player Declan physiotherapist organisations to medical first-team when asked if he would have practitioners. allowed the player to continue At the Elite Minds in Sports answered "Simple answer, no",
he went on to say "I've worked in rugby so I've been exposed to a lot of concussion, it's not an area I would mess with." Everton's head of sports science, Steve Tashjian, would be apprehensive of allowing a player to compete again after a head injury within four days. "I come from the States and we have a much different perspective on treating concussions," he said. "If the
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Concussion Special
Lloris situation happened in the States there would be a significant length of time away depending on how the tests came out."
are becoming clearer.
Therefore, in order to truly allow concussion to have the importance in player safety that it should, there needs to be a concerted effort to educate non-medical staff of it's importance.
employer, the importance may be more easily conveyed.
A proposed settlement was reached on August 29, 2013 where the NFL will contribute $765 million to provide The response to this from medical help to more than these leading minds does 18,000 former players. This mean that there is a definite is a significant investment for appreciation from medical injuries, that until recently were staff of the seriousness of not sufficiently understood. concussions. However, as When using figures like this Andre Villas Boas showed, it is and looking at the longterm always going to be managers/ wellbeing of athletes as coaches who have the final opposed to seeing it as decision. a responsibility as a past
When we look at sports we are always looking at results and on field performance and in reality players simply become people after their careers on the pitch have ended. By adopting a concentration on player care beyond the last time they appear for a club, this helps franchises in the long term. A classic example of how this can come back to hurt teams and national associations in the long run comes from the NFL. Players who suffered from concussions playing american football in the past are now coming back to haunt the legal departments as the long term health implications
Momentum is building for this kind of preventative action, especially with high profile cases such as Hugo Lloris and ahead of the 2015 rugby world cup. It is only a matter of time before concussion prevention gets the attention it deserves and it will be upto those working in sports technology. to prevent the effects in the future.
Jaggat Rashidi / Shutterstock.com
Andre Villas Boas, Tottenham Hotspurs Manager
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Do You Have The Next Game Changing Technology?
Send It For Review reviews@sportsperformancetech.com
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LiviaOne Daily Probiotics
LiviaOne Daily Probiotics: A Review Heather James Endurance Athlete Initially I was relatively skeptical of probiotics and the actual effect that they could have on my health and energy. Therefore, when I was contacted about reviewing the LiviaOne Daily Probiotic I was not sure what to expect. Having used the probiotic for around 3 weeks, I can definitely say that they have had some beneficial effects. Myself and one other were using the daily probiotic and the enzymes and probiotics powder throughout this process. The results were impressive, with a noticeable increase in energy levels in addition to an improvement in recovery times after training sessions. Having expected a relatively subdued or slight change, we are both impressed with this products results. Both the enzymes and the probiotic are taken with cold beverages and the one flaw that I found in the product was the inability of the enzymes to stay sedentary throughout the drink, instead the majority of the powder floats on the top. Although not a huge downside given the eventual results, this could be some-
thing to improve upon in future iterations. Having recently begun sponsoring California Wrestling, the company is clearly aiming this product at the sporting market. This seems like a sensible move as this is a probiotic that offers much in terms of healthy digestion as well as recovery benefits. Combine this with the high protein diet that many athletes have, it means that the energy efficiency is definitely improved, something that in elite athletes can often be the difference between first and second place. All in all I am quietly impressed with the Livia probiotic offerings and would recommend them for those looking to not only get the most out of their body, but also what they are fueling it with.
Exclusive offer to Sports Performance & Tech Readers: Use code SPT2013 before December 31 2013, and receive 15% off Livia Probiotics.
The Numbers Game
The Numbers Game, A Review Louis Gray Editorial Assistant
Much has been made in recent years about the rise of analytics and analytical techniques in football. Some say that it is destroying the game and taking the passion and unpredictability away from what is essentially a sport based on passion and inspiration. Others have even claimed that the use of analytics is turning footballers into robots as the focus comes down to pass percentages and the amount of shots on target rather than how effective they are. One thing that is certainly true is the significant rise in football analytics over the past 5 years. Take the two clips below, the clip from 2008 is almost all opinion based on video analysis, the clip from 2012 discusses positioning, passing patterns and average positions. 2008 Analysis: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=87ZEHYjOzrQ 2012 Analysis: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=SM88XV8N1eg This is something that has changed in football over the past 5 years just in television coverage, the use of analytics across the game in general has seen an even quicker climb in usage. Off the back of this increase in analytics being used, Chris Anderson and David
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The Numbers Game
Sally have created a book that looks at football through numbers, analysing more than simply the ways in which teams play. Through looking back at historical data across several divisions, geographies and competitions Chris and David piece together a fully immersive view of football.
put forward as a totally new way of looking at football. “The datafication of life has started to infiltrate football, and given managers, players, fans and observers the chance to see the ways things are ‘always’ done is not necessarily the way they should be done”.
The pushing of this subject as A book that is this focussed more than simply an exercise on numbers could easily have in mathematics and interesting fallen into an almost academic facts to a genuine alternative to category, with several of the traditional coaching methods, topics being covered being gives this book an extra element relatively complex. Both manage that makes others in the same to avoid this implicitly, instead area seem almost academic. presenting what is complicated That Anderson and Sally algorithms in an understandable manage to bridge the gap between academic research and relatable way. and practical application is what The conclusions in this book makes this book a real revelation. sometimes throw up predictable results, for instance if a team In conclusion, if you have any has more possession then they interest in sports analytics and are more likely to win a match even just a passing interest in or that the more money a team football then this book is well spends, the better results they worth a read. are likely to get. One of the ways that Anderson and Sally make this interesting is through identification and analysis of anomalous results. For instance their analysis of Stoke and Wigan Athletic and the ways in which they buck the norms, is evaluated in extreme but interesting detail. One of the aspects of the book that I found particularly interesting was the ways in which the use of data and numbers is not only endorsed, but is also
Fitbit Flex
The FitBit Flex: Review Freddie Faull Endurance Athlete
Wearable technologies have come a long way in the past 3 years, from incredibly basic pedometers to what we have today. The FitBit Flex is one of the most advanced wearables available and I tested it out to see how it compared. Firstly when unboxing the Flex you notice the well designed,
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FitBit Flex
minimalistic look with only a small perspex rectangle disturbing the rubber bracelet. This small rectangle is the only indicator on the flex, with the majority of the stats being displayed post syncing to either a phone or computer. In terms of aesthetics this is good and plays with the 'less is more' design that has become popular. The premise of this rectangle is that it has 5 LEDs and the patterns of these combined with vibrations allow the user to see how well they are doing against their target. Although normally a fan of simplicity in products, this adds complexity to use whilst adding simplicity to design. It takes a couple of days to remember what each pattern means. There are only a handful (alarms, sleep mode on, sleep mode off etc) and these are easily noticed within a few days.
flawed is the ability to use it in the shower. There have been no problems in terms of the ways that the band works due to this, but due to the removable chip (which we will get onto later) the rectangle often has condensation trapped beneath it, which is very difficult to remove. As with all wearables working in the same market, the element of the band that makes it most successful is the variables that are tracked. In this it sets itself apart with an in depth sleep tracker, calorie counter and reactive dashboard. This dashboard allows users to see a multitude of stats about themselves with great visualisations. The simplicity of these is what makes them so successful, with the elements always relatable rather than company centric metrics like Nike Fuel.
The one aspect of the band in terms of design that is slightly Another aspect of the Flex that is
The Flex with slight condensation build up
FitBit Flex
impressive is the sleep tracking functionality, incorporating time asleep, time awake and times when you are in disturbed sleep. An aspect of this that I was worried about was that in order to turn the sleep function on and off it needs to be done through a series of taps on the band. This is something that I found myself either forgetting to turn on or off. However, given the 24 hour nature of the product, I could manually log the time I went to sleep and woke up and the band fills in my sleeping patterns from this. Added to this is the silent alarm functionality. Here an alarm can be set from the dashboard and will vibrate in order to wake up the user without the need for noise, something that is often useful for those with partners who Flex in terms of metrics is wake up at different times. superior to the first iteration The technology in the band of the Nike Fuelband. is discreet, with a chip about the size of the tip of your little One thing that this generation finger placed in the band. The of wearable tracking devices functionality is simple and lacks as a whole is the ability to based on tapping the chip a track beyond full body motions certain amount of times. This (running, walking, swimming). is a good way to quickly check As a keen cyclist, I often find on progress (which metric you that the number of calories choose to measure can be burnt is not accurate as there chosen from the dashboard) is an inability to track this but in some ways I wish the movement. This is something band had a watch on it too, that companies are looking to even just a simple LED screen, overcome and the new Nike similar to the Nike Fuelband. Fuelband is looking to counter This is a small gripe however this (we will be reviewing this and the functionality of the in the new year) so is likely to
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added to future iterations of the Flex. Overall, I was very impressed with the Flex, it is undoubtedly a technology aimed at lifestyle rather than sports specifically, but within this there are uses within the elite sports world. Although a few minor issues effect this iteration, none really detract from what is a good piece of technology and will undoubtedly be looked at in the future.
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Adidas Sonic Boost
The Adidas Sonic Boost: Review George Hill Chief Editor
There have been several important innovations in running shoes throughout the years. We have seen the use of increased padding, stability and injury prevention techniques alongside improved grip and decreased weight.
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Adidas Sonic Boost
endurance running trainers, I was shocked by the clear forward motion that these trainers create. It genuinely feels like Companies keen on making the they are propelling you forward most of this trend have created rather than simply being shoes products including relatively that are cushioning your run. The frivolous and ineffectual makeup of the boost technology technologies, these have been means that rather than purely adopted by many consumers as up and down absorption and necessities as opposed to nice release of energy, the energy to haves whilst running. Most is released in a way to consumers trainers have centred propel you forward. around injury prevention and They do not create joint maintenance as opposed a momentum by to performance improvement, themselves, but as this caters to the needs to they do work well to the amateur runners. of I recently tested the Adidas remit Sonic Boosts, which claim to ‘the more you put have changed this. in, the Whilst maintaining the injury more you prevention elements including get out’. “supportive welded overlays You find that and an external heel counter for there is a certain increased stability”, these also thrust forward when possess a new feature. Adidas are hitting optimum pace claim that the Boost’s have a and this certainly allows revolutionary energy returning wearers to not necessarily midsole, where tiny cells create run further physically, but more release of absorbed mentally makes them want to. energy. The new midsole is not bouncy When initially putting these however and as a runner who trainers on I was not convinced normally opts for cushioning, as, although comfortable, when I thought this would be an simply walking around the issue. What I found is that difference between these and there is a good mix between similar trainers are negligible. stability, ground connection The difference comes when and cushioning due to the new midsole material. running. The specialised running shoe has become a staple not only for athletes, but for almost anybody interested in fitness or sports.
Having been used to traditional The uppers are also a good
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Adidas Sonic Boost
mix of durable and breathable, something that many running trainers lack, being either durable but hot whilst running or breathable but relatively weak. I used these shoes in multiple conditions, from clear weather road running to wet weather trail routes, I would say that they are definitely suited to road running rather than trail. Although not terrible off road, these trainers would not compare to specific trail trainers. Overall the Sonic Boosts do add a new element to running technologies, adding a real drive in running technology
development. With the Adios versions of the shoes coming out next year, it will be up to competitors to keep up.
Spartan Race
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This Is Sparta George Hill Chief Editor
Marathons and long distance endurance events are increasingly seen as too easy. Athletes are looking at more and more ways to push themselves beyond the limit. After all, once you have done a marathon or an iron man where is there to go? A second one? Image Courtesy of - Brent Doscher - Nuvision Action Image
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Spartan Race
Image Courtesy of - Brent Doscher - Nuvision Action Image
These were the thoughts of obstacles such as crawling Joseph De Sena, the founder under barbed wire, running through electrical wires and of Spartan Race. Having been an extreme ath- climbing over huge walls, the lete for a long time, he wanted race brings endurance to a more. He wanted a challenge new level. beyond simply running, cycling or swimming for a long time. He wanted something that pushed people to the limits of physical endurance and he wanted to make it a sport rather than just an individual event.
In 2012 Spartan Race won the 'Best Obstacle Race' from outside magazine and has seen a rapid expansion since it's inception.
growth of the company and how he has seen the use of technologies change the way that it is perceived. Joseph's main reasoning behind the use of technology is that makes it more of a sport than many of the competitors in the same space. The ability to track timings of individuals then compare across geographies, demographics and other variations gives spartan race a far more competitive feel than other events.
One of the main reasons behind the huge success is through the use of technoloThis was how Spartan race gies, the ability to track runwas born in 2001, as a race ners and even utilising new Joseph wanted to make Sparthat was beyond the physical media technologies to help tan race a sport rather than other obstacle course races traits needed for tradition- market the races. al endurance races. Tackling I spoke to Joseph about the that he describes as 'like going
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Spartan Race
to a birthday party'. Spartan race is far more individual focussed than competitors like Tough Mudder or Colour Race, both of which are far more team and fun focussed. Joseph was keen to emphasise that this was not the point of Spartan race.
crawling, jumping, running, climbing. Bringing this into the 21st century and making it competitive has allowed him to achieve this with great success and his eventual goal is to improve the health of people.
One of the ways that this is He wanted to create an event done is through simply measthat was far more focussed on uring weight. One of the parwhat humans originally did, ticipant aspects that is meas-
Image Courtesy of - Brent Doscher - Nuvision Action Image
ured is pre and post Spartan Race. This kind of technology use allows people to set a goal using what is essentially just basic weight input.
allowed the courses to be designed with increased accuracy and fluidity. Many of the runners wear cameras as well as the course being recorded in a wider capacity. Richard can then go back through this footage to analyse choke points or where obstacles are the wrong distance apart.
Speaking to Richard Cook, who is the head of course design in the UK, he also told me about the innovative use of technology in course design It also allows Richard to not and layout. Using video technology has only pinpoint choke points, but
Spartan Race
look back at footage to analyse why they occur and adapt the course accordingly in the future. This alone does not explain the success of the races though. One of the aspects of the technology used in the race as a multi-purpose mechanism is both for tracking and marketing. Through the use of RFID chips, runners can be tracked for timing, allowing accurate timings to be taken and rankings to be announced. They also provide a considerable advantage in terms of marketing.
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their exploits at Spartan run and so when this media is sent to them, it is uploaded to Facebook and shared with all their friends, complete with Spartan Race branding. This kind of exposure and use of technology for both sporting and marketing purposes has had considerable success for Spartan Race and has allowed them to become the company that they are.
The combination of easily shareable and exciting content (think mid air photos whilst jumping burning logs) with a fierce competitive Through the use of these streak seems to have created chips, videos and photos can a perfect storm for the organautomatically be taken dur- isers and could pave the way ing obstacles and sent to the for extreme events worldwide. competitor. Richard points out to me that it is very important that they keep all of this free and easily sharable. People want others to know about
Image Courtesy of - Brent Doscher - Nuvision Action Image
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British Bobsleigh
Analytics and Technology At The British Bobsleigh Team: A Summary of Gary Anderson’s Presentation At The Sports Technology Innovation Summit
Katie Bilton Organizer, Sports Technology Innovation Summit
British Bobsleigh
The difference between finishing 1st and 5th in most sports can come down to seconds, sometimes even minutes. Many think that sprinting has the closest difference in finishing times, however, this may be after only 100-200 metres. Bobsleigh however, can have differences in the hundredths of a second after a course that runs for several miles. When Gary took over as performance director, Great Britain had finished fifth during the world championships. This was not too bad from a country that has little snow and limited numbers of tracks. However, Gary saw several areas that could be improved and took analytical logic to address them.
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record of success. The merits of this move went beyond simply improving the coaching though, as each of the coaches who came in could bring with them data and baseline requirements from their respective teams. This move allowed the under 21 team to not only improve, but win the world championships. This move prompted the increased budget that Gary needed in the senior team to take it to the level that he wanted to get to.
After this success Gary also made strategic partnerships with two of the leading companies currently working within aerodynamics, one of the most important factors within Bobsleigh. These were McLaren and One of the main issues that Gary BAE. faced was the lack of budget in He also made the move to break the team, with little money it was the existing system of athlete difficult to make any significant recruitment. Traditionally Bobimprovements to the team and sleigh had relied on trial days in the equipment being used. order to recruit new athletes, this Therefore his first challenge was system meant that there was to persuade the National Lottery only ever a small pool of peoFund and UK Sport to put more ple who had a previous intermoney into the sport. est in bobsleigh to get involved.
This pool was too small for what Gary wanted to achieve however, so through taking an analytical approach and identifying the In order to improve this level to key areas that needed to be tara significant degree Gary was geted, he put together a profile forced to fire many of the existing for the athletes that he wanted. members of the team and bring At this point it is worth noting in specialists from other coun- that the most important aspect Perspectives - Jeff Smith / Shutterstock.com tries who had a proven track of any successful bobsleigh run Noticing that success at youth level is likely to improve this, the team concentrated on the under 21 championships.
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British Bobsleigh
is the start. The fastest team at the start of the run is likely to be the fastest to the bottom of the track. There are other factors, the effectiveness of the driver for instance, but this has been identified as the key area that is likely to give a team significant improvements. Therefore when look at the profile for the ideal athletes, Gary’s model mainly picked out rug-
by players and sprinters. These are the guys who have explosive acceleration combined with the strength required in bobsleigh. The highest profile of the new athletes recruited was Craig Pickering, who was an olympic sprinter in Beijing in 2010. There were also a number of other sprinters chosen, one of the main criteria
Perspectives - Jeff Smith / Shutterstock.com
being an ability to run other areas to becom100m in sub 10.2 sec- ing expert members of onds. bobsleigh crews in 3-4 Many would question the months. This relatively wisdom in this move, giv- short turnaround has alen that sprinters are not lowed him to bed in some natural bobsleigh com- of the fastest and most petitors. To fast-track powerful runners in the this, Gary put together UK to the team, allowa programme that con- ing starts to be improved verted athletes from and giving them the best chance of a medal at the
British Bobsleigh
Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Aside from athletic performance there was another issue that was affecting the competitiveness of the team, the equipment.
and BAE, this turned into an There were setbacks in this opportunity. process, when the front Utilising the technological kno- bumpers, which had initially whow of these two companies been an area which had seen improvements, he set about creating new significant technologies and innovations needed to be changed in orto build a new sled, one that der to fit front facing camwould not only be better than eras as part of new regulathe old ones in the fleet, but tion. This was not the only better than those he had tried area that had been improved unsuccessfully to buy. McLar- though and Gary claims that en being one of the leading throughout the last 2 years, performance car and Formu- there have been new technola 1 manufacturers assisted logical breakthroughs that will with material choice and the see the team shave several building of the sled, BAE uti- hundredths of a second from lised their knowledge of plane their times.
The equipment being used when Gary first arrived at the team was 10 years old and often in poor condition. What he found was that the upkeep of the sleds was not at the level needed and given that the most important events were at the end of the season, by the time it got to these the sled were in far worse condidesign and the the testing fation than at the beginning. cilities to create a sled built Despite the poor quality of the like an F1 car and tested like a sleds at this point, the team, fighter plane. after Gary’s successful recruitment strategy, had begun to improve significantly and had arrived on the radar of competitors. Traditionally other countries had been willing to sell equipment to the British team as they were not seen as a direct threat to medals in World Championships and Olympic games. After proving themselves to be contenders with their starts, this was no longer the case and when they asked Germany (traditionally the best sled makers) to sell them a new sled, they refused. Many would see this as a hinderance, but with the support that Gary had from McLaren
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These were originally going to be deployed at the 2018 olympics, but as the team were keen to utilise them in 2014, Gary saw an opportu-
Martynova Anna / Shutterstock.com
The Starting Gates for the Sochi Track, taken in July 2013
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British Bobsleigh
nity to incentivise early successes. He said to the team that if they became the fastest starters in the world, then he would allow them to use the technology in 2014. So after the recruitment process and the new sled, the team became the fastest starters in the world. Therefore the ‘buried nuts’ of technology that Gary and his team have held back on are slowly being deployed during competitions and will be fully used only during the Olympics themselves. The idea behind these being that through covertly creating new technologies that are within the rules of bobsleigh, that they will gain significant advantages over their competitors. These are then hidden and utilised fully during competitions. Even at the competitions themselves there is an element of deception, as mechanics are told to cover what they are doing and work more obviously on parts that aren’t part of the technological innovations. There has already been a leak of one of the innovations, which was a simple idea for helmet alignment. Here the team had a line drawn across the top of their helmet from front to back, allowing video technology to show if all members of the team were lined up correctly. This was later inte-
grated into a clever design incorporating the British flag, but not until other teams had cottoned onto the same idea. Given the amount of technology that others have not been able to emulate though, Gary believes that this new technology will give the team a 5/100ths second improvement and with the even newer sled ‘Sir Douglas’ being deployed momentarily, there is a real opportunity that through his use of analytics, scouting networks and technology that the British Bobsleigh team could realistically be in one of the three medal positions come February 2014.
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