Sport Physiology

Sport Physiology focuses on understanding the physical demands of competition in a particular sport, and subsequently working with the coach to design training programs which help the athlete reach peak physical condition in the most important competitions. These physical demands are mostly dependent on the characteristics of the sport (e.g. distance, duration), as well as the competition structure (how many rounds/matches) and the prevailing environmental conditions (esp. heat and humidity) which can have a direct impact on athlete work capacity. The type, amount and timing of training can all be manipulated to produce the most appropriate adaptations leading to sport specific fitness and maximal performance.

Our Sport Physiology team aims to ensure that athletes get the most effective outcomes from the effort they put into training. This can be done through routine monitoring of training load together with regular testing, to assess the response to training and inform subsequent training priorities. Specific environmental interventions can not only improve work capacity but also help in familiarising athletes with the conditions they will likely encounter at Major Games.

If training is the Yin, then recovery is the Yang, and the two work hand-in-hand to ensure athletes are not only very FIT, but also feeling very FRESH, when they compete in major competitions. Accordingly, our Sport Physiologists assist in providing effective recovery activities at appropriate phases of the training plan.

Lastly, in always looking for a competitive edge, our Sport Physiologists explore evidence-based interventions and conduct research on novel techniques aimed at maximising athlete performance.

The support provided by our Sport Physiology team include:

• Assistance in designing a periodised training plan

• Individual profiling of athletes and recommendations on training priorities

• Monitoring training load and sport-specific testing (field and/or laboratory)

• Access to Environmental, Altitude and Recovery facilities

• Sport-specific and theme-based athlete workshops

• Tailored interventions during training blocks and at competition