Inside Sport and Exercise Sciences / Spring 2016

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INSIDE SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCES Spring 2016 Edition

Spring 2016

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INSIDE THIS EDITION Welcome to the Spring 2016 edition of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences newsletter, designed to provide insights into the world of sport and exercise sciences and deliver the latest news from the school.

News

4 Professor Samuele Marcora makes worldwide headlines Troy Culley appointed apprentice coach to England under-16s basketball team Outreach events in Spring Welcome to our four new staff members and a farewell Sports Therapy student volunteers needed

Student life

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National Student Survey 2015/16 is now open Student Hub café to be named ‘The Deep End’ Kent Student Awards 2016 nominations The Big Ideas Competition is back for 2016 Peer mentoring scheme Research spotlight

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Endurance Research Conference 2015 Student Success Project and EDI Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology conference Graduate prospects

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Have you signed up to the Employability Points Scheme?

Drop in Personal Development Planning Service Ex-student starts stroke rehab exercise sessions Spring 2016

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NEWS

Professor Samuele Marcora makes worldwide This research attracted the attention of worldwide press including the headlines Financial Express of India, the Times of India, The Express Tribune in the Research by Professor Marcora US, Asia News International, the suggests caffeine could help Hong Kong Herald, the Philippine people stick to their exercise plans. Times and many others.

In a response to recent findings that suggest that the majority of people give up their fitness plans within the first six months, Professor Marcora conducted research that claims you can make exercise feel easier by using caffeine (or other psychoactive drugs like methylphenidate and modafinil).

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Physical exertion is one of the main perceived barriers to exercise and Marcora suggests that reducing perception of effort during exercise could help people with low motivation to do even moderate exercise, like walking.

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Troy Culley appointed apprentice coach to England Under-16s basketball team

Outreach events in Spring

A third year in the BSc Sport and Exercise Science programme, Culley started his journey coaching with the Torbay Tigers.

As part of this commitment the SSES have invited several of our University’s partner schools to attend a first year physiology seminar .

Once he was given his first head coach role at a club level and an assistant’s role within the South West regional set-up, Culley never looked back.

The seminar will focus on the analysis of heart rate and expired gases at rest and during exercise. Students will get an experience of lab skills, in particular the use of Douglas bags, heart rate monitors and gas analysis systems.

After meeting the chairman of the Kent Crusaders and current England U15 Boys head coach, Culley was offered a scholarship to the University and last year was given an opportunity to work with the U18s men before being invited back to work with the U16s.

The University of Kent wants to commit itself to 21,000 hours of outreach

The idea is to demonstrate how students learn in a Higher Education environment and get students thinking about applying for university.

We are looking forward to spending time with the students and encouraging them to pursue higher education and further than that, a career in sports.

DID YOU KNOW? Applications to the School of Sport and Exercise Science are up by 7% from last year!

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Welcome to our four new staff members and a farewell

Stephen is a research assistant working on the University’s Student Success Project to inform the development of Since the last newsletter we have interventions to welcomed Andy Wickens, Olivia Corke, Chris Fullerton and Stephen enhance students’ engagement and Earl to the School. performance across the University.

Andy has joined as our Senior Sports Technician and Chris is a research previously worked assistant to as a senior scientist Professor Louis and technical Passfield and joined advisor within the the department Civil Service where following completion he also headed a of his PhD studies scientific research investigating selfteam. control on sports performance.

Olivia is our new Marketing Officer.

After graduating with a degree in marketing last year she joined us in January and works on raising the profile of the school, dealing with communications and student conversion.

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Finally, we are saying a sad farewell to our Sports Therapy technician and lecturer, Laura McPherson who is leaving us after 8 years to become a Sports Therapy lecturer at the University of East London—we wish her all the best.

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Sports Therapy student volunteers needed

than 5 years now and each year the feedback we receive is so positive and encouraging. It’s a great opportunity for our Sports Therapy students to put The School are looking for Sports into practise what they have learned, Therapy students to provide sports to work alongside experienced massage at various sporting therapists and to find out the real and events. immediate benefits a post-race massage can bring to exhausted and On 24th April we will need around 70 often very achy marathon runners. sports therapy student volunteers to provide sports massage at the London On 21st May, we will need 15 sports Marathon. We provide post race therapy students to provide pre and massage to different charities such as: post event sports massage at the Guide Dogs, British Red Cross, Heart Runner’s World 10K and Half UK, Outward Bound and the Marathon Trailblazer at Bedgebury Children’s Trust.

Pinetuem in Kent. This is an extremely popular event with both trained and Students tell us that is an amazing recreational runners set in a stunning opportunity for them to experience forest in Kent countryside. being part of such a large national To volunteer, sign up for the events or event. Last year we treated more further for information: email Kyra on: than 300 runners in total. We have K.De-Coninck@kent.ac.uk worked with these charities for more

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STUDENT LIFE

National Student Survey 2015/16 is now open The NSS is a census of nearly half a million students across the UK gathering the opinions of students on their experiences of their courses, tutors, assessments etc.

The survey gives students a voice to help shape the future of the university.

Therefore, it helps provide us a picture of what students’ learning experience has been like, where we can improve and what we excel in, helping us to effect changes for both current and prospective students.

(M1-11), a range of new equipment for teaching and research, and began piloting personal development planning sessions.

Student Hub café to be named ‘The Deep End’ After receiving 118 name suggestions, 1,200 votes later saw the new bar/café being crowned ‘The Deep End’.

Runners up for potential café names were ‘Periscope’ and ‘The Lifeguard’.

The Student Hub is due to open in September 2016 and is set to provide students with all Student Union As a result of previous surveys we services in one building as well as have provided students with; their own bookable activity space for students. social space—the SSES Student Hub

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Whether students want to have a drink at the student union’s bar, relax in the ‘chill out zone’ or host events and meetings, the new building will have it all.

Kent Student Awards 2016 nominations Do you know an inspirational Kent student? Nominate them for a Kent Student Award!

From 11 January until 6 March 2016 students, staff and members of the public can nominate an inspirational student to win one of 11 Kent Student Awards for their extracurricular activity.

The winner in each category will receive £400 with a second prize of £100 and a third prize of Amazon vouchers worth £50.

In 2015 Amy Burgess, a second year at time studying Sport and Exercise for Health, became a second place runner up in the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Development category.

Winners and runners up will receive their awards and cash prizes at a gala dinner on Friday 6 May. Nominate an amazing Kent student at www.kent.ac.uk/studentawards

The awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution students make to the Kent student experience.

The judges are looking for inspirational students who have made a difference to people, communities or environments through dedication, innovation, understanding or skill.

There are 12 award categories including Outstanding Contribution to Local Community, Outstanding Contribution to Sport Development and Student of the Year.

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The Big Ideas Competition team and multiple entries can be submitted also. is back for 2016 Students will receive 15 Employability Win an all-expenses paid trip to the Points per entry. All you need to do is USA! complete an application form and email the entry to hive@kent.ac.uk Sponsored by Santander Universities, by midnight on the 28 April 2016. the Big Ideas Competition gives all current students the opportunity to On top of this, the University selects a submit a business idea for a chance to student, or team of students, to win prizes. compete at the Virginia Tech University in the USA along with The business idea can be for a new students from 14 other universities product or service and can come from from around the world. These any sector. These ideas can be students all have one thing in submitted individually or as part of a common: a great idea.

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Peer mentoring scheme This year the School is piloting a peer mentoring scheme kicking off this term.

The scheme partners stage 1 students with students in stage 2 or 3 with the aim of providing first year students with strategies for success at university.

The role of mentors is to guide and support first years in settling-in to university and understanding what is expected of them as university students.

This is a great opportunity for first year students to get to grips with university life and develop strong skills to carry them forward through their degree.

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It is also an excellent chance for second and third year students to pass on their knowledge to the next generation of students and is another set of skills to develop to enhance their employability.

First years can ask their mentor to help them on a range of issues such as;  how to submit through turnitin  how to reference their work  how to manage time  which clubs and societies to join  what is the best way to revise.

If you would like to have a mentor please contact our student support officer Michaela Fullman on M.J.Fullman@kent.ac.uk

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Endurance Research Conference (ERC) 2015 On the 2nd-4th September the school hosted a 3 day conference on endurance sport.

The aim of the conference was to further the use of research in endurance sport and exercise, and disseminate relevant information to practitioners. The programme itself was designed to stimulate and inspire future collaboration and researchinformed practice.

The conference itself attracted world experts from the field of sports science and over 150 delegates to focus on all aspects of endurance research which will be held on a biannual basis.

The Beacon for Endurance Research is lead by Professor Samuele Marcora, member of the Endurance Research Group, who, alongside the rest of the team (Dr Glen Davison, Dr James Hopker, Dr John Dickinson and Dr Carla Meijen) have been able to launch a number of initiatives, including:   

school competitions involving local school-children in a sports science research project collaborative research between Kent, universities in Essex, Rome, Granada, Dijon and Brussels; using psyching teams to provide psychological skills to local marathon runners

The ERC marked the end of the Beacon for Endurance Research as part of the University of Kent’s Beacon Projects for our 50th anniversary celebrations. The Beacon Projects illustrated some of the University's distinctive strengths and provided a platform for future activity and were intended to leave a legacy—be it physical, intellectual or to help build our reputation and define our aspirations.

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Student Success Project and EDI The School has been involved in the University's Student Success Project since September 2015.

The project is driven by the University’s Ethnicity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) agenda, and focuses on minimising the attainment gap between different student groups.

Stephen Earl, a recent graduate from the school, has been appointed as a Research Associate for this project, which is overseen by Dr Carla Meijen and Professor Louis Passfield.

This two-year project extends Stephen’s PhD work about motivation in schools in a university context. The project aims to design and pilot a student-focused intervention to enhance students’ academic motivation and attainment. This research will involve both students and staff within the SSES and other academic schools, on both the Canterbury and Medway campuses.

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Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) conference The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences was well-represented at the DSEP conference in Leeds.

Dr Carla Meijen chaired a symposium about self-regulation processes in endurance performance, Professor Samuele Marcora gave an overview of his work on the influence of perception of effort and potential motivation on endurance performance, and PhD student Alister McCormick shared findings from his work using self-talk with ultraendurance runners.

Finally, PhD student Daniel Madigan presented some of his research about perfectionism and longitudinal changes in athlete burnout, the interactive effects of personal standards perfectionism, and evaluative concerns perfectionism.

For more information on our recent research projects visit our website www.kent.ac.uk/ sportsciences/research

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GRADUATE PROSPECTS

Have you signed up to the Employability Points Scheme (EPS)?

The EPS rewards students for active engagement in extracurricular activities whereby points are allocated for the completion of different activities.

Points are earned throughout the year and qualifying students will have the opportunity to redeem their points for rewards. All rewards are offered by external businesses and can range from paid internships and project placements to unpaid work experience or mock assessment centers.

The EPS acts as to bridge the gap between education and employment by encouraging students to engage in extra-curricular activities and develop transferable skills.

Students in the past have had opportunities to undertake internships and work experience with the likes of Santander, Waterstones, This is Global and local businesses such Perfectly Clear Marketing.

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All rewards are completed between June and September and students must have a sufficient amount of points on their MyFolio by the end of March.

Points are earned by engaging in activities such as volunteering, parttime work, joining societies and much more. For each activity logged with the EP Scheme, students are awarded points based on the relevance of the activity and the level of commitment demonstrated.

For example, a non-curricular work experience/internship (6-12 months) can earn a maximum of 100 points, an average of 60 points or a minimum of 40 points. Joining a society or sports team would gain a student 10 points.

Students in the School of Sport and Exercise Science can also gain Employability Points through first aid training, student projects, academic peer mentoring and by becoming course reps.

To sign up to the scheme, and for more information on how to earn points and gain rewards please visit www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints/

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Drop in Personal Development Planning Service This new initiative is aimed at helping you improve your academic and transferable skills.

The School providing a weekly open drop-in service in the SSES Student Hub (M1-11) that will be staffed by lecturers.

These PDP sessions will help you fill in various tools and exercises to help you identify academic and transferable skills, the skills that you are good at, and those you need to work on as well as to assist you with developing techniques for improvement.

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You can also discuss any other aspect of skills development, employability, or career planning with the staff, for example about your CV or a specific job application.

Personal Development Planning is important to allow you to get the most out of your time at University, so that you get the best degree possible and that you are prepared for a career or further study upon graduation.

The timetable for the drop in sessions is posted in the SSES Student Hub and sessions are designed to fit around your timetable, giving everyone a chance to take advantage of the service.

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Ex-student starts stroke rehab exercise sessions A 2015 SSES graduate has set up stroke rehabilitation exercise classes with support from the University and the NHS.

to strengthen links with similar NHS agencies and offer a direct referral for stroke patients from the NHS after initial rehabilitation. This will help patients sustain a healthier lifestyle within a strong support network.

There is an excellent opportunity for current students to gain some real Whilst still a student, Roisin Sullivan training and work experience working received funding from the University to with Roisin to deliver the stroke complete a stroke rehabilitation rehabilitation exercise sessions. exercise instructor’s course.

With the support of Dr Steve Meadows, they approached the NHS Stroke Rehabilitation team to set up a referral pathway for stroke patients to attend the sessions at Medway Park.

Students must show a genuine commitment to develop a relationship with patients, provide support and gain skills in clinical exercise, personal training and exercise prescription for stroke survivors. These skills will boost your CV and help you into further study or employment.

Roisin began to run sessions in October last year, on a Wednesday afternoon, aimed at helping stroke If you are interested, or would like patients to cope with stroke disability, more information then please contact gain social support from other patients Roisin at rs494@kentforlife.net and staff and also act as a preventative measure to help reduce the risk of further stroke.

Although still in its infancy, the aim is Spring 2016

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INSIDE SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCES For more information, please see www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

University of Kent Medway Campus, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4AG

T: +44 (0) 1634 888858 F: +44 (0) 1634 888890 www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences Spring 2016

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