Welcome to the Science of Sport where we bring you the second, third, and fourth level of analysis you will not find anywhere else.
Be it doping in sport, hot topics like Caster Semenya or Oscar Pistorius, or the dehydration myth, we try to translate the science behind sports and sports performance. Consider a donation if you like what you see here!
Sports Management
On performance analysis: Common sense, guided
2013-07-26: Performance analysis is never 100% definitive, but it guides understanding. Here's why choosing blindness just because 20/20 isn't on offer is a foolish response…
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A minimalism/ barefoot fad and inconsequential footstrikes?
2013-05-16: Was the barefoot and minimalist running 'explosion' just a fad? Recent stats from the shoe industry suggest a decline. Here's why it's more likely a…
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Running shoe tech: The Emperor’s clothes, and the issues for the integrity of running
2020-02-06: It’s been so long since I wrote anything here, I fear I’ve forgotten how. All I’ve written in the last few months is academic analysis…
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Head injury risk in rugby: U20 World Champs case study
2019-08-23: Last week I described, in detail, the evidence and process that has led to World Rugby's High Tackle Framework and clampdown on high tackles. …
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Protecting the rugby player’s head – the paradox of tackler height and head injury
2019-08-13: A look at the World Rugby concussion prevention approach that involves sanctions for dangerous high tackles to protect both players. I explain the rationale behind…
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Guest article: Prof Erik Boye on the bias in power in anti-doping
2019-08-08: This is a guest post by Norweigian scientist Erik Boye, in which he raises concerns about the imbalance in power in antidoping and how it…
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Short thought on sport: Introducing The Science of Sport Podcast
2019-06-03: The Science of Sport has a podcast! In case you missed, we have four episodes already, and the plan is a fortnightly discussion on some…
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On DSDs, the theory of testosterone, performance the CAS ruling on Caster Semenya
2019-05-02: The Caster Semenya controversy, or more accurately, the issue of DSDs in women's sport, is the most complex issue ever faced by sport. I…
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A short thought on sport: Evaluating Eliud. Is Kipchoge a next-gen 2:02 marathoner, or a mid-2:04 runner in a technologically superior shoe? Who knows?
2019-05-01: Eliud Kipchoge is a physiological marvel. The Nike Vaporfly is a technological marvel. Both improve marathon performance. Except these statements can't both be true, and…
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