ISSUE5
SENSE
SPRING 2015 EDITION
WELCOME
SPORT AND EXERCISE NEWS, STORIES, AND EVENTS
If you are a prospective, existing or former student I hope the Spring edition of SENSE will keep you up to date with the developments in Sport and Exercise at Staffs. The last three months have been very busy as we continue to invest in the student experience with over £100K capital grant invested in more equipment including a bank of new iPads for student use in class and a new Finometer for measuring cardiovascular responses to stress and exercise. This will be used by both our students and our sport psychology research team lead by Associate professor Dr Jamie Barker. Jamie also introduced the excellent annual Basil Ashford Memorial lecture this year from one of our Visiting Professors, Chris Shambrook, on his work with GB rowing on building confidence.
Since our last newsletter we have announced our official partnership with Matrix Fitness, hosted Laura Trott for the launch of the Matrix Fitness Female cycling team and launched our Team Staffs Elite Scholarship programme to support our students who are elite in their sports.
We also continue to develop our student employability programme; we have ran our annual careers fair, had two evening for our second year research conference and our Super Seminar Series continued with Dan Howells, England RFU Rugby Strength and Conditioning coach delivering a fantastic lecture and applied coaching session on working with elite athletes.
For prospective students there is a bit of a push now as exam and coursework deadlines loom large and may be interested in registering for our next open days. While our graduating students and alumni may want to check our new MSc and MA in Applied Research which allow you to study on campus in any Sport and Exercise related area which we have research expertise….. which is pretty much all!
Our students have also been busy getting involved in applied work, with Sport and Exercise Science and Sports Therapy Students testing and treating rowers competing in the Tower (of London) to (Eiffel) Tower rowing challenge for the Donnas Louise Trust. Indeed our very own Senior Lecturer in Sport Therapy Steve Bateman has stepped up to the plate and will be completing the row in the summer! Our undergrads have been doing a lot of work with Port Vale FC and Stoke City FC as part of our partnerships with them while we funded our final year students to present their research dissertations at the annual BASES Student Conference in Liverpool.
Another one of our academics has also joined the ranks of published authors with Martin Dixon, Lecturer in Sports Coaching, publishing a new book on reflective practice within sports coaching. We also congratulate biomechanist Dr Helen Branthwaite on being awarded her PhD and welcome Victoria Fern to the team who is starting her PhD journey and is being supervised by Associate Professor Dr Chris Gidlow. Chris was one of four of our academics presenting at the British Science festival on their research into the role of natural environments in health and well-being.
You can also keep up to date with the latest news on our website, our Twitter feeds or our new SENSE blog.
Professor Vish Unnithan of the Centre for Sport, Health and Exercise Research at Staffordshire University presented a pennant signed by first-team players of FC Barcelona to the Mayor of East Staffordshire (Councillor Ron Clarke) to raise funds for a number of the Mayor’s charitable causes (Cancer Research UK, the mental health charity-Changes based in East and South Staffordshire and The Eaton Foundation, which aims to help vulnerable men in East Staffordshire). Professor Unnithan is working on a number of research projects with the Medical Services Department at FC Barcelona.
Join the conversation Dr Peter Jones
Head of School of Psychology, Sporty and Exercise @pgwjones_dr
The Psychology Department has its own Twitter Feed follow @StaffsPsych
SENSE
Strength and Conditioning super seminar with Dan Howells The Super Seminar series introduces our undergraduate students to leaders in the field who talk about their experiences and career progression in S&C, including notable achievements and research interests. Dan focused on the importance of developing a coaching philosophy and culture which is adaptable to a variety of sports and individual athletes. Indeed, one of Dan’s key points was that, although the research must be read and critically evaluated, it is essential that the S&C and other members of multi-disciplinary teams understand the individual with whom they are charged to develop.
On Wednesday 8th April 2015, the latest in the S&C Super Seminar series took place featuring presentations and practical sessions given by Dan Howells. Dan, having gained a 1st class honours degree in sport and exercise science, took a sabbatical to complete a voluntary internship with the US ski team before completing an MRES investigating thermoregulation during intermittent exercise. It was during his time with the US ski team that his interest in S&C developed. Dan’s career in S&C has involved working with the English Institute of Sport with a variety of athletes, England women’s rugby, Premiership Rugby with Wasps and his current position is S&C coach for England rugby 7s.
The S&C Super Seminar also included a practical session delivered by Dan to provide an insight into his coaching experiences. As well as being expert in the development of strength and power, Dan specialises in speed and agility. He led the students through a series of drills, encouraging them to peer critique and coach throughout. He was a master at identifying movement pattern deficiencies, breaking the movement down and rebuilding it. The Super Seminar was of immense interest and value to everyone in attendance. Dan started where we all did – at the bottom. I guess his take home messages for success were to get out into the industry – Dan spent many hours over a number of years volunteering his services and networking. He emphasised not to wait until after graduation – DO IT NOW!
British Science Festival
Why being in the green can stop you from feeling blue
Four Staffordshire academics presented at the British Science festival on Tuesday 9 September discussing their work on the role of natural environments in health. Dr Chris Gidlow, Professor Marc Jones, Dr Gemma Hurst and Daniel Masterson presented data from the European funded ‘PHENOTYPE’ project (see www.phenotype.eu), explaining why being in a natural environment, such as a park or coastal area, has such positive effects on health and well-being. As part of this research, participants went for three separate 30-minute walks in a country park, near a canal and around some residential streets, completing a range of measures before, during and afterwards. The data, which has not yet been published, suggests that walking in a country park and next to a canal made participants feel less stressed, more revitalized and afterwards performed better on complex mental tasks, compared to walking in the residential area.
These findings are relevant to both Birmingham where the British Science Festival is being held (and which is famous for having more miles of canals than Venice) and Stoke-on-Trent where the research is taking place. Not only are these canals a reminder of these cities industrial past but they can help the well-being of its inhabitants by providing pleasant routes to walk and distress, but they can also link green spaces, which can provide similar effects.
IPads as a teaching tool in sports therapy Sports therapy have been utilising iPads / mobile technology for teaching and learning for 3 years now. Over the last 12 months we have utilised both students own devices (BYOD) and departmental iPads (preloaded with relevant apps) to improve teaching, monitoring and formative assessment. During this time we have piloted a number of apps and tools to facilitate learning and in particular to address the issues of student engagement in lectures and workshops. Some of these apps are sports therapy specific (anatomy / clinical apps) and others more general teaching tools. Here is a quick summary of just 5 of the key apps we use on a day to day basis: Nearpod: if I had to pick one app that has changed the way I teach this is it. Nearpod enables you to seamlessly present material (slides, videos, journals etc…) both on the big screen and onto student devices whilst assessing progress or facilitating live interaction with students (real time quizzes, surveys etc…). Perfect for ensuring engagement and learning progress. Ubersense: this is formally a 2D video analysis app and is used frequently to assess and teach functional movement patterns. It is also great for simply videoing and magnifying demonstrations (or student led examples) onto the big screen and emailing them straight to the student inboxes via blackboard. Essential anatomy 5: arguably the best app for teaching and learning anatomy. Clear diagrams which you can rotate, remove layers and click on anything for more detailed information. This can be projected onto the big screen for teaching and is also accessible on the department iPad so that students can learn at their own pace in workshops.
SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY, SPORT AND EXERCISE
Notability: One of a number of whiteboard apps used this year to facilitate brainstorming and creativity. At the end of a session this can be saved to the student OneDrive or emailed to blackboard as a revision resource. This app is also great for reading and annotating pdf journals individually or as a group in a seminar environment. Prezzie and Powerpoint: We all know what these are all about…but by presenting from a handheld device it give you the freedom to move about the room and interact with students whilst presenting. Long gone is the ball and chain of being attached to a pc at the front of the room. In a recent staff peer review of teaching it was commented that, with regards student engagement, this was the best the assessor had ever seen. I would love to claim that this was solely down to exemplary teaching but maybe, in fact certainly, this was largely due to the integration of iPad and the fact that students to take part in lectures and aren’t expected to just sit there and ‘absorb’ information. The more we sink our teeth into the use of tablet and mobile technology within teaching the more excited we get. It is clear that the only limit to using iPads in teaching is the lecturer’s imagination!
Port Vale schools event On Thursday 26th March, staff and students from the School of Psychology, Sport and Exercise delivered a sport science-themed workshop as part of a STEM event at Port Vale Football Club, in conjunction with local primary schools. Approximately 150 year 5 students from local schools were invited to visit the club and take part in 4, hour long workshops over the course of the day in a variety of STEM subjects. Dr Charlotte Chandler, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, and Phil Walker, Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning, delivered the sport science workshop along with students from the BSc Sport and Exercise Science and BSc Strength and Conditioning degree programmes. Within the sport science workshop, students were able to take part in 3 different activities based around physiological tests, nutrition, and sport psychology. The physiological test was jump height whereby the students’ jump height was used to determine maximum and relative power.
The nutrition station allowed the students to ‘create their own sports drink’ and explore the ingredients required for hypotonic and isotonic drinks. Finally, the sport psychology section encouraged students to explore the mental characteristics of successful athletes, and they were also able to test their concentration. This was a thoroughly enjoyable event for all involved. It was a great opportunity for us to share our enthusiasm for sport science with the local community and hopefully inspire the next generation of sport scientists! Students also got to meet some of the football players, and had plenty of information and Staffs Uni ‘goodies’ to take home with them! Charlotte is a STEM Ambassador and frequently attends such events. If any staff or students are also interested in getting involved, please let her know.
Staffs students provide match analysis support at Port Vale Football Club As part of a growing relationship between Staffordshire University and Port Vale FC, final year students Daniel Aubrey and Kristian Walley have provided match analysis support for the club throughout the 2014/15 season. This has involved analysing the first team and relaying this information to the coaching staff as well as providing video feedback to academy coaches.
The students have received glowing reports from first team performance analyst Dan Thompson: “Daniel and Kristian have contributed significantly at Port Vale Football Club this season during first team matches and academy training sessions. The link with Staffordshire University this season has demonstrated how students can not only benefit from gaining first-hand experience in the football industry but also help the club to move forward.” Studying the BA (Hons) Sport Development and Coaching award, the students have found the experience extremely valuable to their professional development. “The placement has improved my knowledge of software, recording equipment and the role of a performance analyst. This allows an insight into elite sport, gaining the required expertise to pursue a career within this field.” Daniel Aubrey
“I have gained skills such operating and understanding performance analysis software. It has been a privilege to represent Staffordshire University at such a professionally run club such as Port Vale.” Kristian Walley
ISSUE5 Peter Jones elected as Vice Chair of the County Sports Partnership Head of the School of Psychology Sport and Exercise, Dr Peter Jones, has been appointed as Vice Chair of the Staffordshire’s County Sports Partnership, Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent (SASSOT). SASSOT (www.sportacrossstaffordshire. co.uk) is one of six County Sport and Physical Activity Partnerships within the West Midlands and one of forty-nine across England. They support partners in sustaining current participants and increasing participation in sport and physical activity. SASSOT is a countywide partnership that offers a one-stop shop of information
Happy, healthy sporting future for the region as Staffordshire University and Matrix Fitness announce partnership Staffordshire University and Matrix Fitness have launched a partnership at an official launch in the Brindley Building. Matrix Fitness is the leisure brand of Stokeon-Trent based Johnson Health Tech, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturers and distributors of commercial and home fitness equipment. Johnson started in Taiwan in the 1970s and now sells its products in over sixty countries and is the fastest growing leisure brand in the UK Staffordshire University has a thriving academic Sport and Exercise Department with over 1000 undergraduate and postgraduate students studying sport related degrees both on campus and by distance learning around the world. The Sport and Exercise team were recently rank 22nd in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework for their research outputs, the best performing in the University, producing research defined as “internationally recognised.” Head of the School of Psychology, Sport and Exercise Dr Peter Jones said “The
by linking together local providers of sport and physical activity. Key partners that work with SASSOT include Local Authorities, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Staffordshire Public Health, universities, schools, sports clubs and volunteers. Working in partnership with these organisations helps to connect and engage local communities to become more active and achieve their potential. Dr Jones comments it’s a great privilege to be appointed at Vice Chair and support the work SASSOT does in promoting all levels of sport and physical activity. As a County we have some real physical activity blackspots and the work we can do as relationship with Matrix Fitness is a natural one to form as they are a world class and a company that is pioneering in its approach to leisure. Importantly their ethos matches the innovative approach of the Sport and Exercise team, where we have world class applied research expertise in the areas of sports performance, physical activity and health. ”Jon Johnston, Managing Director of Johnson Health Tech, adds “working together with Staffordshire University not only has benefits for both our organisations. We are both regionally rooted and working together to improve the health, fitness and wellbeing of the region is an important part of what we do. I am sure the partnership will be mutually beneficial as well can access each other skill sets and facilities. This partnership meets our principals of health, value and sharing.” As part of the partnership, Matrix equipped a new Strength and Conditioning laboratory at the University with the latest conditioning equipment and are co-sponsors of the Team Staffs Elite Sport Scholarship scheme along with the County Sports Partnership (SASSOT), Bourne Sports and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
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Wednesday 29th April 2015 Saturday 20th June 2015 Saturday 19 September 2015 Saturday 10th October 2015
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an organisation with our partners is key to addressing some of the health inequalities in our region. I hope to bring my commercial approach as well as energy and networking skills to the post.” Director of SASSOT Mark Thornewill adds “Peter’s academic skill set will complement those of Chair Sue Finnegan. I am sure together they will be very successful.
Staffordshire University lecturer publishes innovative new text book. Martin Dixon, Lecturer in Sports Coaching and Professional Development, has recently published a new book on reflective practice within sports coaching with coauthors Sarah Lee and Professor Tony Ghaye.
‘Improving Performance: Coaching through Positive Reflection and Action’ has been written specifically for students and practicing coaches who are passionate and committed to improving what they are doing in the field of sports coaching and performance. It is underpinned by the relatively new and emerging area of positive psychology, encouraging practitioners to apply this approach to their coaching. The book contains practical strategies and activities to help coaches and students become better at reflecting and consequently develop themselves and their athletes.
The methods of elite sports coaches from a range of different sports are also presented, demonstrating how positive reflection and action has been applied in high performance environments. For students looking to underpin their coaching practice with academic literature, the book also provides key theories and useful further reading. Drawing upon innovative concepts, this is currently the only text book available which focuses on reflective practice within sports coaching.