Sports-science roundtable: does sports-science research influence practice?
As sports scientists, we claim to make a significant contribution to the body of knowledge that influences athletic practice and performance. Is this the reality? At the inaugural congress of the Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science, a panel of well-credentialed academic experts with experience in the applied environment debated the question, Does sports-science research influence practice? The first task was to define "sports-science research," and it was generally agreed that it is concerned with providing evidence that improves sports performance. When practices are equally effective, sports scientists also have a role in identifying practices that are safer, more time efficient, and more enjoyable. There were varying views on the need for sports-science research to be immediately relevant to coaches or athletes. Most agreed on the importance of communicating the results of sports-science research, not only to the academic community but also to coaches and athletes, and the need to encourage both short- and long-term research. The panelists then listed examples of sports-science research that they believe have influenced practice, as well as strategies to ensure that sports-science research better influences practice.
Bishop
David
D
School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
Burnett
Angus
A
Farrow
Damian
D
Gabbett
Tim
T
Newton
Robert
R
D035843:Biomedical Research; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013178:Sports Medicine; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis