Podcasts

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Serhat Yilmaz and Lerina Bright (Mission 89) join host Martin Foster to discuss Human trafficking in the global sports ecosystem.Loughborough University, in partnership with Mission 89 and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch of the British Parliament, has released the first-ever comprehensive global thematic report on sport trafficking.Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published.  The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly.https://mission89.org/Intro 00:00The issue 6:21 Definitions 11:06In and through sport 22:42Around sport 34:47Recommendations 43:20Summary 53:18Outros 1:06:31

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Professor Mark Williams joins host Martin Foster to discuss How Elite Athletes Are Made. Professor Mark Williams has researched Sports Science for over 30 years, he has published hundreds of academic articles, written, and edited over 20 books and has worked at leading organisations around the world. In this podcast we focus on his book "The Best. How Elite Athletes are Made." We discuss a wide range of topics from how siblings and the environment we live in can impact our sporting success, the truth about the 10 000 hour rule, the power of coaching and much more. If you want to learn more about how elite athletes are made, then this podcast is a great place to start.Intro 00:00How Elite Athletes Are Made 3:25Most important aspects 6:12 Siblings 7:32Helicopter parenting 9:24Location 10:39Age and academies 20:24Early specialisation and 10000 hours 31:23Born or made? 35:31Practice 38:50What makes the best coaches? 48:01Next steps 1:03:48Outros 1:06:09

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Dr Janine Coates (expert in inclusive PE and school sport), Tammy and her mum Lynn (stars from the 'Equal Play' documentary), and Helen Derby (Strategic Lead, Programmes, Activity Alliance) join host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) to discuss how physical education can be improved to make it inclusive for everyone who takes part.Intros 00:00The research 2:51Tammy's experience 5:55Activity Alliance 10:17 Examples 18:40 The future 21:17Wheelchair tennis 29:14Outros 33:51

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Steven Bradbury joins host Martin Foster to discuss Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Leadership. Intro 00:00Equality and equity 1:49 Leading the way: the background 3:19 Levels of representation 6:52 Benefits of a diverse workforce 9:55Challenges 14:27Barriers 23:15Examples of good practice 26:02Recommendations 34:12Next steps 41:27Outro 46:17

Physical activity levels of children in England and around the world remain stubbornly low. Research has shown that Physical Education can inspire children to embrace physical activity and sport, yet the curriculum that is delivered nationwide remains narrow with a heavy focus on skill development for sport.  In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Professor David Kirk and Professor Ash Casey discuss Models-based practice with host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead). The trio cover what models-based practice is, the potential benefits and the best way to apply Models-based practice within schools. Professor Ash Casey is the Programme Director for the MSc and PGCE in Education with QTS (Physical Education) at Loughborough University. Ash maintains an active presence on X (formerly Twitter) (@DrAshCasey) and operates a blog (www.PEPRN.com), dedicated to translating research into practical applications Physical Education and Pedagogy. His research explores pedagogical models, teacher development through social media, and pedagogies of technology.  Professor David Kirk is an educational researcher with teaching and research interests in educational innovation, curriculum history, and physical education and sport pedagogy. He is the founding editor of the peer reviewed journal Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy (Routledge) and editor of Routledge Studies in Physical Education and Youth Sport. He has held academic appointments previously in universities in England, Australia, Ireland and Belgium and is currently Honorary Professor of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland. Intro 00:00Background of P.E 3:04 What is the purpose of P.E.? 12:59 Models based practise 22:30An Activist Approach 34:53In practise 36:49What’s next? 48:39

Safeguarding and interpersonal abuse in sport – the development and potential impact of the IOC consensus statement. Last month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed its commitment to safe sport by announcing the release of its third consensus statement on safeguarding and interpersonal violence in sport. In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, hosted Martin Foster is joined by those involved in delivering this initiative. The panel, featuring Prof Daniel Rhind (Loughborough University), Prof Yetsa Adebodunde Tuakli-Wosornu, (Stanford University), and Kirsty Burrows (Head of the IOC's Safe Sport Unit), discuss the background to the consensus statement, its development, the overarching recommendations and what this means for wider stakeholders. Intro 00:00 Consensus statement importance 2:52  Research rationale 7:42  Definitions 9:14 Methodology 16:31 Findings 18:06 Sport and society 28:27 Intentional interpersonal violence 34:43 Recommendations 41:28 What changes do you want to see? 52:02 Outros 56:01 

A Centre of Excellence for Physical Activity and School Sport, we chat to Jon Bedford from Rawmarsh Thorogate School about their success linked to active travel.

In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Professor Paul Downward to discuss the UK’s low levels of sport participation. The podcast includes discussions on government policy and its impact on participation rates, and what needs to change to encourage more people to become active.Intro 00:00Participation rates 7:10 History of monitoring 12:19 How have things changed? 17:27 General trends 22:46Specific trends 25:57Fitness industry 30:27Biggest impact 37:18Future of policy 39:29What are we trying to achieve? 50:06The future 55:04

Axel Dopfer, Professor Duncan Walker, Dr Richard Ferguson, and Josh Cresswell join us to discussHow Loughborough University's world-class sports ecosystem helped alumnus Axel Dopfer break the German hour record.Intros 0:00 University approach 6:55  Training as a Loughborough student 11:20  Memorable moments 14:26  Interdisciplinary aspect 16:37  Heat acclimation 27:52  Training smart 32:02  Build up to the day 39:34  Methodology 48:29  The Event 52:24  What next? 56:47  How to find out more 1:03:22  

Professor Jonathan Folland and Dr Tom Balshaw join host Stuart McErlain-Naylor to break down the anatomy of Strongman Champion Eddie Hall and highlight the key characteristics that enabled him to break world records in the deadlift. Time Stamps: 00:00 Intros 1:04 An evening with Eddie Hall 5:16 Scope of research 10:13 Why Eddie Hall?11:55 Preparation 16:50 What did the day entail?22:19 Main findings of the case study26:24 Under or over developed? 28:43 Tendon adaptation 34:44 Injury risk 37:07 Inherited characteristics 42:11 Limiting factors in human performance 43:43 What else is there to know about Eddie? 45:58 Current and future research 49:27 Where to find out more50:55 Outros  Journal: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00342.2024

Professor Vicky Tolfrey chats to host Dan Trussell to discuss the Paralympics in Paris, wheelchair sport and what's to come after the Games. Intros 0:00Wheelchair configuration in tennis 0:43 Competitive edge 4:28Athlete collaboration 5:26What to expect from wheelchair sport 7:10Wheelchair basketball at Loughborough 8:11The future of parasport 9:41Parasport and society 14:11Outros 19:29

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, discusses research within Para sport at Loughborough and its potential across the landscape of sport with guests, Vladyslava Kravchenko, Alasdair Donaldson, and Jennifer Wong, of Loughborough University.Time stamps:0.00-4.03 - Introduction4.04- 8.31 - Why Loughborough?8.32- 10.49 - Development of Para sport at Loughborough10.50-12.32 - Examples of Para sport development12.33-17.32 - Developing the workforce17.33-24.05 - Opportunity at Loughborough24.06- 28.34 - International relations 28.35-34.04 - Para sport against stigma 34.05-42.37 - London 2012 Legacy42.38-45.53 - Barriers and stigma45.54-48.25 - Making noise toolkit48.26-49.54 - Diplomacy and international governance PhD49.55-51.25 - Outros 

Loughborough University alumna, Paula Radcliffe MBE, joins host, Martin Foster, in this episode of the Experts in Sport Podcast to discuss her experience as a student athlete at Loughborough and her successful career within athletics.Timestamps:0.00-1.23 - Intro1.24-7.14 - Experience as a student at Loughborough University7.14-9.57 - Combining academia and sport9.58-12.34 - Student life12.35-15.22 - Partnered running15.23-17.51 - Loughborough traditions17.52-25.06 - Preparation for competition as a student25.07-31.22 - Changes in practice and training31.23-34.57 - Menstrual cycle34.58-42.52 - Androcentrism vs women in sport & training during pregnancy42.53-47.08 - Further work47.09-51.02 - Getting into running51.03-51.47 - Outro

A Loughborough University study found that top sprinters, whilst being generally more muscular, had a very specific pattern to their muscularity, with some muscles far bigger. Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, talks to Professor Jonathan Folland, from the School of Sport Exercise, and Health Sciences, to discuss research findings in the area.

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor Liam Heaney, who provides an insight into how athletes are tested on the biggest stage and the work that Loughborough University is carrying out in the area. 

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, joins host, Dan Trussell, to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the importance of legacy that exists within major sporting competitions.

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor of Psychology Sophia Jowett to break down coach-athlete relationships and their benefits in athletes having the edge on the biggest stage, seen in the relationship between Mel Marshall and Adam Peaty.

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, is joined by guests, Dr Richard Ferguson and Dr Dave Nichols, to discuss research around elite cycling and performance.Timestamps:0.00-2.23 - Intro2.24-8.59 - Competing at an elite level and training9.00-12.29 - Individual or team sport and hierarchy12.30-17.14 - Research to understand level of performance17.15-21.38 - Interdisciplinary research at Loughborough University21.39-24.47 - Real-life applications of cycling24.48-27.19 - Potential use of online tools in elite training27.20-33.51 - Beneficial research at Loughborough33.52-42.16 - Loughborough Lightning 42.17-48.29 - Issues around androcentric research48.30-54.24 - Upcoming research54.25-57.11 - Outro

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Donald Barron (Loughborough University), Austin Fuller (Product Director of Football and Rugby business at Hudl, former FA insights and analysis) and Robin Jackson to discuss performance analysis, artificial intelligence, and football penalties.Timestamps:0.00-2.23 - Intro2.24-6.40 - Performance analysis and development6.41-11.07 - Advent of AI11.08-17.36 - Analyst’s job before game17.37-20.30 - Coach comparison between team and their opposition20.31-27.25 - Preparation prior to competition27.26-36.59 - Use of data and metrics in decision-making37.00-53.32 Penalties and analysis of Euros53.33-1.00.12 - Lack of top corner saves1.00.13-1.01.14 - Outro

0.00-2.59 - Intro and performance analysis overview3.00-8.53 - Constraints-led approach within sport8.54-15.18 - Tailoring training for elite athletes15.19-18.57 - Performance analyst, coach, and athlete relationships18.58-20.57 - Technological advancements informing data collection20.58-30.29 - Research and metric development30.30-37.22 - Unexpected findings within research37.23-46.45 - Real-life applications of findings46.46-59.23 - Encouraging development in younger players59.24-1.04.52 - Further research1.04.53-1.05.39 - Outro

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Stuart McErlain-Naylor is joined by guest Judd Kalkhoven, from Western Sydney University, to discuss common misconceptions within the scope of sports injury research.Timestamps:0.00-4.50 - Intro4.51-13.34 - Research and inspiration - causal models13.35-22.53 - Implications for research findings22.54-26.14 - Exploratory research to show statistical relationships26.15-28.18 - Transitioning research from the lab to the field28.19-30.11 - Do intended applications influence lab work?30.12-33.55 - Including practitioners in research33.56-45.44 - Need for research prior to practical application 45.45-54.10 - Prediction vs. causation54.11-56.44 - Outro and further work

Dr Tom Webb, Associate Professor in the Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University, joins Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor to discuss officiating within sports and the challenges that face referees and other officials across the landscape. Throughout the episode, conversations around the role and purpose of a sports official are centred, alongside the perception of sports officials as athletes, embracing the introduction of technologies such as VAR, and debating what constitutes a successful outcome.Timestamps:0.00-4.30 - Introduction and background4.31-7.49 - How does lack of research affect the representation of sports officials7.50-13.45 - Referee and Sports Official Research Network and further projects13.46-23.50 - Role and purpose of a sports official23.51-27.15 - Embracing and working with technology to officiate27.16-33.00 - Perception of the official as an athlete33.01-36.02 - What does a successful outcome look like? 36.03-40.40 - Errors, re-refereeing and the introduction of VAR40.41-47.47 - Issue of recruitment and retention within sports and solutions47.48-50.53 - Examples outside of sport to improve experience50.54-54.04 - Outro and further work

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, a doctoral prize fellow at Loughborough University, Ruth Hollis, and Amy Finch join Experts in Sport host Martin Foster to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on UK populations.Timestamps:0.00-5.04 - Introduction5.05-8.14 - Formation of Spirit of 2012 8.15-10.43 - Providing opportunities for societal change10.44-14.42 - Catering to different demographics during the event14.43-21.38 - Achievements since 2012 and convening people from different sectors21.39-29.04 - Biggest challenges within the landscape29.05-32.00 - Lasting legacy on the UK population32.01-37.00 - Should every event attempt to achieve societal change37.01-45.35 - Partnerships including Loughborough University and others45.36-47.49 - Advice for future event organiser47.50-49.55 - Conclusion and outros

Racism is an integral issue in the arena of sport, but how can its history and mediated culture assist in breaking down barriers for athletes moving forward?In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, hosted by Martin Foster, Dr Nik Dickerson, from Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, features as a guest to discuss the wider issues surrounding racism and its entwinement with masculinity in sport media.Highly contested issues within sport are decoded, including Colin Kaepernick’s explicit protest (taking the knee during the national anthem at an NFL game) to highlight racial injustices facing African American men, as well as incidences of police brutality.

Dr Enora Le Flao (Postdoctoral Scholar, The Ohio State University), Dr Lizzy Williams (Senior Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University) and David Powell (PhD student, Swansea University) discuss concussions in Rugby Union and instrumented mouth-guards, which have embedded sensors to measure linear and angular kinematics of the head.Time Stamps:0:00-4:20 Intros4:20-5:09 What is the rationale behind all this?5:09-11:23 How has this been previously done and where are we now?11:23-12:59 Is the mouthguard a replacement for visual monitoring – medical threshold?12:59-14:44 False positives and negatives14:44-17:59 What causes concussion?17:59-22:58 How do the mouth guards work? What are they monitoring?22:58-26:17 Training and workload 26:17-30:25 Sex differences30:25-32:03 Misconceptions and eventual aims32:03-40:00 Further research40:00-42:52 Other sports42:53-46:20 Further information46:20-47:28 Outro and goodbyes

Joanna Czutkowna, a Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University, joins Experts in Sport host Martin Foster to discuss sustainability of the fashion and sport industries and the big problems that future generations will potentially face as a result of waste.Timestamps:0.00-2.30 – Introduction to guest & work2.31-5.32 – Overview of sustainability5.33-6.54 – Issues within the fashion industry6.55-8.54 – Charity shops, markets and clothing waste8.55-13.20 – Sports industry’s contribution13.21-16.51 – UEFA leading the way16.52-21.45 – Scope 3 emissions21.46-24.09 – What are the most sustainable materials?24.10-26.15 – Circular business models26.16-28.28 – Grassroots sport28.29-33.50 – Culture of repair & the modern education system33.51-37.00 – Neurodiversity’s part in sustainability37.01-39.26 – Cricket kitting out39.27-44.52 – Fans & participants facilitating change44.53-45.28 – Outro & goodbyes

Dr Rob Gray (Associate Professor in Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University) talks about coaching in sport as well as skill acquisition in baseball and the future of virtual reality in sportTimestamps00:00 - 03:41 - Introduction to guest, background and topic03:42 - 09:49 - What is skill acquisition?09:50 - 14:08 - Consistency vs improvement14:09 - 20:39 - The role of the coach in skill acquisition20:40 - 24:19 - What would a typical study consist of?24:20 - 35:10 - Virtual reality in coaching and skill acquisition35:11 - 41:15 - The variability of the virtual world compared to the real world41:16 - 48:35 - Where is research and coaching going in the next few years48:36 - 51:42 - Where to find out more about the topic in the episode

Jo Maher (Pro Vice-chancellor for Sport), Lamonte Winston (Head of NFL Academy at Loughborough) and Steve Hagan (Head Coach at the NFL Academy at Loughborough) talk about the NFL Academy, Super Bowl and the future of American football in the UK.Timestamps00:00 - 02:24 - Introductions to guests, topic and backgrounds02:25 - 09:25 - How did the partnership between Loughborough and the NFL Academy start?09:26 - 12:21 - The transferable skills from other sports12:22 - 24:33 - Where are we today with the standard of the NFL Academy?24:34 - 28:59 - When will we see a Loughborough student at the Super Bowl?29:00 - 41:19 - How is the partnership going and what can be achieved in the future? 41:20 - 42:27 - Final thoughts, thank you and goodbyes.

Dr Mark Doidge (Reader in Sociology of Sport), Katie Cross (Founder of Pledgeball) and Jenny Amann (PhD student at Loughborough University talk about the impact of climate change on sport.Timestamps00:00 - 06:03 - Introduction to guests, background and topic of the episode06:04 - 09:02 - What is Pledgeball now and how do people get involved?09:03 - 15:06 - Loughborough University's involvement in this topic15:07 - 17:00 - Personal appreciation of the sport and reasons for involvement17:01 - 20:39 - How does Pledgeball attempt to mobilise fans into making climate-related changes?20:40 - 39:54 - What are common pledges and types of pledges39:55 - 51:47 - “I hadn’t realised change is NOT a difficult thing, mobilising football fans on climate change”51:48 - 54:32 - Cultural change in football54:33 - 58:28 - Where is research regarding climate action and nature?58:29 - 01:01:09 - The power of sport to be agents of change, Thank you to the guests and final thoughts

Charlotte Ellis, Ed Montague (both Yorkshire Sport Founation) chat with Kris Mackay (Founder of Growing Circles) about the YSF approach to engaging with community groups as part of the Together Fund.The Together Fund was a continuation of the Tackling Inequalities Fund that was set up in April 2020 as part of Sport England's support package to help the sport and physical activity sector through the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.It saw another £20 million of National Lottery funding committed to help the groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic and it was significantly impacting their ability to be physically active.Host: Andy Morgan