Keane Wheeler

PERSONALITY AND SPORT CAREERS

2011-07-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

Human Kinetics provides an interesting discussion on the three major personality types offering a good match with sport coaching and exercise science. According to the American Kinesiology Association (AKA)it takes a special kind of personality to excel in the kinesiology area. As outlined in the book Careers in Sport, Fitness, and Exercise (Human Kinetics, 2011), there are six major personality types, three of which seem to match up well with the pursuit of a kinesiology career.

Performance analysis in boxing

2011-07-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

Video Analysis System For Boxers Packs A Punch

A hi-tech video capture system that is helping Britain's hopes for boxing glory in 2012 has won a major award for its work with GB Boxing athletes.

The iBoxer system, developed by researchers at Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER) in conjunction with the English Institute of Sport (EIS), won the Best New Sports Technology category in the MBNA Northern Sports Awards. The system uses a series of cameras to monitor boxers' movement in the ring, which is fed directly to a series of touchscreen monitors in the gym. The athletes then go over the footage between bouts in order to analyse and improve performance, define fight strategy and gain a better understanding of their opponents' tactics.

10 things about stretching

2011-07-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Stretching

1. You’re Not Just Stretching Muscle

2. Everything is Connected

3. Stretching De-Activates Muscles

4. We Should All Stretch Differently

5. Breathing Influences the Stretch

6. Stretching Can Be a Waste of Time

7. Stretching Can Cause Injury

8. Stretching is NOT a Warm Up

9. Better to Stretch Away From Exercise

10. Stretching is 3 Dimensional

Soccer performance analysis

2011-07-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

@ENBSports provides 2010-2011 Argentina Primera (Apertura y Clausura) Final Player Statistics

Elite Player Development Manager - Munster

2011-07-06T16:19:00.001-07:00

Elite Player Development Manager - Munster

Reference VAC-659
Rugby Code Type Rugby Union
Club/Employer Irish Rugby Football Union
Job Title Elite Player Development Manager - Munster
Sector Coaching, Training & Medical, Jobs with Governing Bodies
Salary NIL
Town/City Munster
Locations Munster
Contract Type Contract
Job Description Elite Player Development Manager - Munster

The Irish Rugby Football Union (�IRFU�) is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Ireland and comprises four provincial branches as well as the national governing body.

The IRFU is currently seeking applications for the position of Elite Player Development Manager for Munster Rugby with the responsibility to oversee the strategies and long-term objectives of the elite player development pathway in Munster.

The Elite Player Development Manager is a full time employee of the IRFU.

Responsibilities associated with the role of Elite Player Development Manager will include:
� Oversee the strategies and long-term objectives of the elite pathway aligned to IRFU LTPD and Technical models, to include the Academy Programme, the Sub-Academy Programme, the National Talent Programme and the Regional Development Squad Programme.
� Ensure delivery of agreed service level provision for all aspects of the elite pathway with the IRFU Performance Committee and Provincial Performance Board.
� Manage the development and progression of players for the professional game in Ireland to Pro12, European, International and World Class standards.
� Manage an integrated service team to ensure best service provision for all players within elite pathway.
Qualifications Required Reporting operationally to the CEO Munster Rugby and the Chair of the Munster Rugby Academy Board (or equivalent), and functionally to the IRFU Director of Rugby via the High Performance Manager, the successful candidate will have:
� A minimum of 3 years experience and a proven track record of achievement in developing players for the elite representative game of rugby union
� An IRFU / IRB or related union coaching accreditation.
� A complete and thorough understanding of rugby union and the long term player development (LTPD) pathway.
� Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to interface effectively with people at all levels and the competence to manage and motivate, develop relationships, and if required manage conflict.
� Excellent leadership and management skills including the ability to plan, communicate, research and constantly evaluate current practice in order to achieve excellence and realise the vision.

To apply, please forward your Curriculum Vitae with a covering letter of not more than one page highlighting relevant experience by clicking the direct email link in our contact box below or alternatively to: Human Resources Department, Irish Rugby Football Union, 10-12 Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

The closing date for applications is Friday 22nd July 2011 at 5.00pm.

Candidates must be available to interview between 8th August to 12th August 2011.

Sports Institute Northern Ireland - Performance Analyst

2011-07-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

Performance Analyst

Organisation: Sports Institute Northern Ireland
Salary: £28,719 - £31,062 (plus superannuation addition)
Location: Sports Institute Northern Ireland
Type of contract: Full time
Closing date: 15/07/2011

Job Purpose:
In a time of positive change within the Northern Ireland performance system, this is an outstanding opportunity to join the team within Sports Institute Northern Ireland (SINI) and its associated network of Performer Development Centres.
The person appointed will be responsible for the delivery and development of performance analysis services within both team and individual sport environments. They will be expected to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team developing a high performance culture through working within Northern Ireland's best athletes and coaches.

Responsibilities:

1. Develop and deliver a range of performance analysis support services across SINI programmes with the aim of enhancing skill development and making performance impact. This will include individual, group and team interventions across a range of training and competition environments.

2. Direct the work of other SINI staff engaged in performance analysis to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach to performance analysis support within the Institute network and to ensure that the service effectively meets its commitments to athletes, coaches and Governing Bodies

3. Develop, plan and allocate resources to ensure implementation of an appropriate performance analysis strategy for SINI.

4. Develop and use sport specific notation systems as required.
5. Undertake technical and tactical profiling as necessary to inform the preparation of athletes for major competition. These athletes will come from a range of sports

6. Manage the data collected to facilitate its use by SINI athletes, coaches, support staff and governing body personnel. This to include use of video streaming technology to support remote athletes and coaches.

7. Maintain a comprehensive, indexed database of work conducted with athletes and coaches and prepare reports for line managers within agreed timescales

8. Work within a multidisciplinary team to develop a high performance culture and make performance impact

9. Participate in the mentoring / training of developing analysts within the SINI network.

10. To take reasonable care for the health and safety of him/herself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work and to co-operate so far as is necessary to enable any duty or requirement imposed on SINI under statutory provisions to be performed or complied with.

11. Participate in organisational training and staff annual reviews

This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and can be amended in the light of the changing environment within SINI.

How to apply

For further information or to download an application pack visit www.sini.co.uk.

Alternatively, application packs may be obtained by contacting Francis Casey on 028 90368822 or by emailing jobs@sini.co.uk.

Interview with Vinton Cerf

2011-07-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

Father of the Internet talks Broadband (Australia's NBN), eHealth, Cloud, past and future tech, Innovation, the Interplanetary Internet.

Modelling and Simulation Practitioners Forum - ACT

2011-07-04T16:15:00.001-07:00

The Modelling and Simulation Practitioners Forum aims to facilitate collaboration across Government and Industry in the ACT on M&S matters.

The Forum has a primary focus on the 'Decision Support' space and typical business problems in resource and process planning and management..

Meetings

Meetings are held (in Canberra) every four months from February. The next meeting is to be held Thursday July 28th starting at 9.30am. Venue to be advised closer to the date.
Attendance is free.

Participation

M&S practitoners from within the Canberra region are encouraged to not only attend meetings but to present on examples of their work.

Presentations may cover purely the technical aspects of problems encountered or the often more challenging problems associated with customer engagement, data collection, verification and validation, tactics used to convince sceptics of the validity of results and change management issues when findings are acted on.

Another way to participate is through the hosting of meetings. Venues can be difficult to obtain and hosting is a great way to promote your organisation. SAS Institute Australia hosted the last meeting and NICTA have offered to host the November meeting. For potential hosts assistance will be provided by the Forum co-ordination team.

Contacts

Jessica Godber
Event Co-ordinator
(02) 6265 3163
jessica.godber@defence.gov.au

David Oliver
(02) 6265 1668
david.oliver11@defence.gov.au

Nacsport

2011-07-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Sevilla F.C. has purchased several licenses of Nacsport software for video analysis. The clubs new head coach, Marcelino Garcia is confident about the benefits of Nacsport software.

Predictive analytics

2011-07-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

Using Predictive analytics to explore outcomes

Another first in Grand Slam Tennis – using analytics software in realtime to assess matches in progress and explore the key turning points that impact games. This year, for the first time, IBM has mashed together five years worth of Grand Slam Tournament data and used IBM SPSS analytics software to mine these 39,000,000 data points in order to identify the three keys elements of each player's game that can help indicate his progress towards a successful game.

In the game of tennis, getting a better insight to the data that is already there, can help a player understand his opponents better. So it can in your business – the data you already have can tell you things you don’t already know. Predictive analytics can help your organisation anticipate change so that you can plan and carry out strategies that improve outcomes.

By applying predictive analytics solutions to data you already have, your organisation can uncover unexpected patterns and associations and develop models to guide front-line interactions. This means you can prevent high-value customers from leaving, sell additional services to current customers, develop successful products more efficiently, or identify and minimise fraud and risk. Predictive analytics gives you the knowledge to predict…and the power to act.

UAE RUGBY COACH

2011-06-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

This is a new and exciting position created to initiate the growth of Sevens rugby in UAE.

The successful applicant will report directly to CEO and will work closely with all affiliated Clubs. The role requires a highly organised and knowledgeable individual who has a significant background in playing and/or coaching Sevens. Organising a comprehensive training programme that encompasses sevens specific conditioning, skills coaching, game plans and recovery. Coaching the National squad in the Asian Rugby Sevens Series with a view to qualification for the Emirates Dubai 7's
Conducting a programme of player development for Emirati and Women's players in terms of skills development and understanding the game. Working with club and schools coaches on initiating performance pathways leading into the National squad.
Qualifications Required This is an excellent opportunity for the right person to work with committed players and an ambitious Union. Candidates should be able to evidence high performance sevens playing or coaching and an understanding of how to develop players.

This position is full-time on a contract period which will start as soon as possible until the end of November. Candidates should forward a letter of application and CV to Ian Bremner by clicking the direct apply link in our contact box below and list full contact details of two persons who will provide a professional reference on their behalf. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and will be informed of the employment details.

Closing date: Monday 4th July 2011

PROZONE & AMISCO join forces to advance sports performance analysis

2011-06-26T18:43:00.001-07:00

Amisco and Prozone, announce a strategic agreement to become a global industry leader in sports data and performance analytics.

Krossover Data Analytics

2011-06-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

FastCompany reports that data Analytics has recently become a red-hot trend in professional sports. It's even spawned a Massachusetts Institute of Technology conference with sessions such as "Allocation and Dynamic Efficiency in NBA Decision Making." But the tools are too expensive for most high-school and small-college programs, leaving those teams out of the data revolution.

That's beginning to change, thanks to Krossover, a web startup that promises to have a broad impact on small-time sports. Krossover, which went live in late 2010, is making inexpensive analytics tools available over the web for basketball and lacrosse coaches at small colleges and high schools. It also offers players a way to study their games and create video highlight reels to post on Facebook or other sites. In March, ESPN tested Krossover at its National High School Invitational, with an eye toward a possible partnership.

Brian Prestige,Bolton Wanderers FC

2011-06-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

Sports Activated talks 1-on-1 with Brian Prestige, Head of Performance Analysis at Bolton Wanderers Football Club

Mycosm Studio

2011-06-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

Mycosm Studio is a powerful 3D engine with an interface that’s easy on the eye. Construct realtime environments with assets from your 3D design apps and Mycosm’s powerful built in tools then publish to Mycosm Player.

StatDNA

2011-06-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

Soccer statistics and performance analysis through StatDNA.

BRAIN EXPLOSION

2011-06-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

Brain Explosion
Reporter: PBS Frontline
Broadcast: 19/05/2011

Some have described it as the sports equivalent of an arms race. No matter what the code, all coaches want their players bigger and faster, capable of handing out and taking physical punishment. This week Four Corners and PBS Frontline go inside American high school football to look at the impact this arms race is having on players, focusing on the latest research into brain injury. The news for sports stars and sports fans is sobering.

Koori Mail Online

2011-06-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

The Koori Mail Online is Aboriginal owned and controlled – is situated on Bundjalung country on the far north coast of New South Wales. Its shareholders are five small Aboriginal organisations – the Bundjalung Tribal Society (Lismore), Bunjum Co-operative (Ballina/Cabbage Tree Island), Buyinbin Co-operative (Casino), Kurrachee Co-operative (Coraki) and Nungera Co-operative (Maclean).

Visible Human Project

2011-05-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

The Visible Human Project® is an outgrowth of the NLM's 1986 Long-Range Plan. It is the creation of complete, anatomically detailed, three-dimensional representations of the normal male and female human bodies. Acquisition of transverse CT, MR and cryosection images of representative male and female cadavers has been completed. The male was sectioned at one millimeter intervals, the female at one-third of a millimeter intervals.

The long-term goal of the Visible Human Project® is to produce a system of knowledge structures that will transparently link visual knowledge forms to symbolic knowledge formats such as the names of body parts.

MARCO CARDINALE - SPORT SCIENCE BLOG

2011-05-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

Dr. Marco Cardinale, Head of Sports Science and Research of the British Olympic Association. His blog aims at presenting useful information in sports and fitness science

iSportConnect

2011-05-29T16:33:00.000-07:00

iSportconnect combines business networking, an in-depth look at the latest sports business news and the market data, listings of business events and executive jobs as well as market analysis to provide a one-stop shop for the sports business community.

TimeMotion iPhone App

2011-05-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

TimeMotion takes the hassle out of time-motion studies. For sport science or coaching students, doing a time-motion study can be a real chore. TimeMotion allows you to record the activity profile of any sportsperson live during the event, or now you can analyse an existing video stored in your photo library. Use the activity categories that ship with the app or choose your own. You can even turn categories on and off as and when you need to. To save the data just take a screenshot (press the Home and Sleep buttons at the same time), or email the results via the Share button. Coaches can even use TimeMotion to track the time in possession of the ball and the frequency of possessions for their team or individual players

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

2011-05-26T19:23:00.001-07:00

SUPPORT FOR UP-AND-COMING INDIGENOUS RESEARCHERS

2011-05-25T22:02:00.000-07:00

Indigenous Australian researchers and research students can join a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Researchers’ Network, which will help them seize more research opportunities and advance their research in a supportive environment.

The Government is providing up to $800,000 a year over four years — through the Australian Research Council — to establish and support the new network, which will build the capacity and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers.

A call for proposals for the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Researchers’ Network will occur in coming months, to be advised by the Australian Research Council.

EDUCATION, LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY

2011-05-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

http://change.mooc.ca

Being connected changes learning. When those connections are global, the experience of knowledge development is dramatically altered as well. Over the past four years, a growing number of educators have started experimenting with the teaching and learning process in order to answer critical questions: "How does learning change when formal boundaries are reduced? What is the future of learning? What role with educators play in this future? What types of institutions does society need to respond to hyper-growth of knowledge and rapid dissemination of information? How do the roles of learners and educators change when knowledge is ubiquitous?

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF CLASSROOMS

2011-05-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

The Online “Supplemental” Workshop: Course Enrichment to Support Novice Teachers’ Analysis of Classroom Video

Laura H. Baecher and Shiao-Chuan Kung

As online learning and video technology become more consistent components of teacher education, the opportunities to blend the affordances of both was piloted in a specially designed online workshop. This workshop was designed to help teacher candidates become more sophisticated in their ability to recognize and describe specific teaching behaviors in videoed lessons. Using QuickTime Pro, iMovie, and Blackboard, a self-paced, asynchronous workshop to introduce techniques for observing and analyzing teachers and classes on video was created. Through a series of video tutorials and activities, teacher candidates were guided through the process of viewing the same video clip through different lenses--they were asked to reflect on student response opportunities, teacher use of praise, and teacher feedback to student error. Results of its administration to a pilot group of 47 teacher candidates indicated that completing the training module increased their comfort level with video analysis, and that video-based activities may be uniquely suited to self-paced, online tutorials.

Psychology of Coaching Teams Conference

2011-05-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

Psychology of Coaching Teams Conference

Thursday, May 26, 2011 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

2011 Agenda

8:30 Welcome Remarks – Hardin Coleman Ph.D., Dean Boston University School of Education

8:45- 9:30 John McCarthy- Director, Institute for Athletic Coach Education "Mentoring versus coaching”

9:30 – 10:15 Brian Durocher- Head coach Women’s Ice Hockey Boston University-2010-1 N.C.A.A Division 1. runner-ups “Coaching individuals into a team”

10:15 -10:30 Coffee Break

10:30 – 11:10 Amy Baltzell – Director, Sport Psychology Program Boston University, Author “Facing Negative Emotions: recognizing, accepting, and shifting”

11:15 – 12:00 Coaching Discussion Panels

The Coach Educator Panel : “Designing for outcomes: Learning from League Level Interventions”

Facilitator: Lou Bergholz-Edgework Consulting - Doc Wayne athletic league/Grassroot Soccer

* Dean Conway- J.P. Soccer
* Brian McCormick – Playmakers basketball league
* Marc Griffin- Play Rugby USA
* John McCarthy – ”It’s Your Call” (decision training). The Boston English High School

12:00 Lunch-break GRADUATE STUDENT POSTERS

1:00 Brian McCormick- Director of Coaching, Playmakers Basketball Development League and Founder of Youth Basketball Coaches association. “Decision-Making in point guards and combo guards”

2:30 – 3:15 Dr. Dave Brunner – U.S. Army Performance Consultant “Success under fire: orienting your team to make decisions under pressure”

3:30-4:15 Rebecca Sherlock Ed.M Doctoral Candidate Coaching Specialization: Boston University “Hidden disabilities on your team?: coaching strategies for inclusion”

4:15 – 5:00 Wrap-Up and New directions

5:15 – Coaches Social

THE ART OF BOWLING

2011-05-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

How to bowl a strike

OPEN ACCESS SCIENTIFIC POSTERS

2011-05-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

F100 Posters open access repository of biology and medicine conference posters.

Where green ants dream - notes from Leigh Blackall

2011-05-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

Leigh Blackall provides some great thoughts on Werner Herzog's Where green ants dream

YouTube across the Disciplines: A Review of the Literature

2011-05-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

Snelson, C., YouTube across the Disciplines: A Review of the Literature, Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 7(1)

YouTube has grown to become the largest and most highly visited online video-sharing service, and interest in the educational use of YouTube has become apparent. Paralleling the rise of academic interest in YouTube is the emergence of YouTube scholarship. This article presents the results of a review of 188 peer reviewed journal articles and conference papers with “YouTube” in the title that were published between 2006 and 2009. Four questions were answered through the review of YouTube literature : (1) What is the overall distribution of publication activity for refereed journal articles and conference papers with "YouTube" in the title? (2) How are publications with "YouTube" in the title distributed across academic disciplines? (3) What have scholars writ ten about instructional methodologies involving YouTube in a sample of literature containing "YouTube" in the title ? (4) What have scholars reported about the results of studies involving YouTube in a sample of literature containing "YouTube" in the title ? An analysis of the publications revealed that the literature emerged from multiple academic disciplines. The sample of literature included 39 articles and papers describing methods for teaching with YouTube. A total of 99 articles and papers containing the results of research studies were identified and categorized. This literature review is particularly relevant to those online educators who are interested in learning what scholars from their own academic disciplines are writing about YouTube . An emphasis is placed on trends in teaching and research discussed in the sampled literature.

SMALL SAMPLE CONFIDENCE INTERVALS

2011-04-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

BRUMBIES COACH 2012

2011-04-26T19:41:00.001-07:00

Jake White to coach Brumbies from 2012

FoxSports reports that the Brumbies have confirmed former Springboks boss Jake White will coach the club for the next four Super Rugby seasons. White had long been touted as the frontrunner for the head coaching post vacated by Andy Friend and was finally confirmed at a press conference in Canberra on Wednesday

Photo credits: bbc.co.uk

Murundak - songs of freedom

2011-04-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

Murundak - songs of freedom follows The Black Arm Band, a gathering of some of Australia’s finest Aboriginal musicians, as they take to the road with their songs of struggle, resistance and freedom.

"I was absolutely blown away...some of the most moving moments I can remember in cinema in a long time. If you get a chance to see it, grab it. I'm giving it 4 and half stars." - Margaret Pomeranz - At The Movies

The cinema season of 'murundak - songs of freedom' is rolling out across Australia from April 2011.
Click here for screening times and places.

URBAN DOWHILL

2011-03-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

2010 Valparaiso Cerro Abajo, Chile

VCA 2010 RACE RUN from changoman on Vimeo.

UNIVERSITY STUDENT NARCISSISM

2011-03-03T00:15:00.000-08:00

I read an article today about the attitudes of university students.

New generation infected by narcissism, says psychologist - Kate Hagan, The Age The article outlined that Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University, said a study she conducted of 16,000 university students across the US showed 30 per cent were narcissistic in psychological tests, compared with 15 per cent in 1982. ''They are all 18 and 19-year-olds, so this is clearly a generational shift,'' she said.

Narcissists have an inflated sense of self, lack empathy, are vain and materialistic and have an overblown sense of entitlement. Professor Twenge's findings of increased narcisstic attitudes of university students come as no surprise to me. I have discussed student attitudes in-depth with my collegues in both the tertiary education sector and the sport industry. It is agreed that narcissistic behaviour traits are generally common. I have also talked with students about their education and have often heard that they expect to learn nothing in their university studies and that they want simply to be awarded their degree and then move on. The sad thing is that these same students then expect to win jobs in a highly competitve industry (or feel that they are entitled to these jobs).

The challenge is to engage these students in the learning process so that they can not only learn but also improve their attitudes to become more empathetic to others and then be more productive in the workplace. This is difficult (but not impossible) when these people reach tertiary level study - intervention needs to be as early as possible (life-long learning).

As a teacher at a tertiary institution, I feel that respect must be earnt in order for them to engage with you and in the learning process (respect towards the lecturer is not a given from current-day students). I also believe that including appropriate industry based role models in the learning process is important for students to see what it takes to suceed in a competitive industry and that a job / education is a privaledge. Narcissistic students are on the increase and perhaps we need to re-think how we engage these types of people in a productive environment.

Professor Twenge's findings were presented at the XIIth International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders Congress, Southbank Melbourne.

INERTIAL SENSORS IN RUGBY LEAGUE

2011-03-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Inertial motion capture technology used to assist Dragons’ players
University of Wollongong researchers have partnered with the St George Illawarra Dragons rugby league team in a project aimed at improving the performance and rehabilitation of the team’s elite athletes.

Dr David Stirling, Dr Montse Ros and Professor Fazel Naghdy together with PhD students Matthew Field and Bahram Jozi from the University of Wollongong's Centre for Intelligent Mechatronics Research (CIMR) within the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering are collaborating with members of the High Performance Unit of the Dragons.

The researchers are using a high technology approach to player performance by drawing on a special motion capture suit MVN (previously known as Moven), produced by a Dutch company, Xsens, for motion and movement applications such as, training and simulations, sports science, rehabilitation and animation.

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS

2011-02-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

Dark Side of the Lens by Astray Films follows an amazing journey of a surf photographer and provides some stunning images. This is a great video that inspires you to follow your dreams.

I love what I do and although I may not be rich, I will have some great stories...

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

BIOMECHANICS OF CHEST PRESS

2011-01-26T15:39:00.000-08:00

Moment arms and force vectors - A deeper look at the mechanics behind a chestpress. This is a sample of the instructional videos created by NESTA.

ENERGY HARVEST WITH MOVEMENT

2011-01-26T15:35:00.000-08:00

SFU researchers have developed a new wearable technology that generates electricity from the natural motion of walking and promises to revolutionize the way we charge portable battery-powered devices. The Biomechanical Energy Harvester is the culmination of years of biomedical engineering research in SFU's locomotion lab by Max Donelan, assistant professor of kinesiology (above), in collaboration with researchers Qingguo Li, Veronica Naing, Andy Hoffer and Mei Young. Their device, which resembles an orthopedic knee brace, harvests energy from the end of a walker's step, when the muscles are working to slow the movement of the leg, in much the same way that hybrid-electric cars recycle power from braking.

LEVERS IN BIOMCEHANICS

2011-01-26T15:20:00.000-08:00

Youtube videos providing a simple description of levers

how levers work

How the Body Works : Muscles move joints

Yoga Sports Science - 004 Levers

BASIC BIOMECHANICS

2011-01-26T15:13:00.000-08:00

Good introdcution to Biomechanics with coaches from the AIS and ACTAS (link)

FREE SPORT FOOTAGE

2010-12-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

Online sport footage
http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/gameanalyservideo/tabid/10910/default.aspx
http://www.avf.org.au/index.php?id=557
http://www.ustream.tv/discovery/live/sports-football
http://www.archive.org/details/sports
http://www.youtube.com/user/IPL
http://www.afl.com.au/full%20match%20replays/tabid/10987/default.aspx
http://www.livestream.com/
http://www.livestream.com/hometownsportsindiana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_hosting_websites
http://search.informit.com.au/search;res=TVNEWS

OPEN CULTURE

2010-12-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

OPEN CULTURE is a great website full of open access audio books and podcasts.

EFFECTIVE RESUME

2010-12-14T18:18:00.000-08:00

CareerOne.com.au provides a great article on what makes an effective resume and getting the most out of an interview.

OPEN ACCESS ONLINE EDUCATION

2010-12-13T16:53:00.000-08:00

Open access lectures on Vector Calculus taught at UNSW, Sydney. The lectures focus on presenting vector calculus in an applied and engineering context, while maintaining mathematical rigour.

LORDOSIS

2010-12-12T19:21:00.000-08:00

A concise article on Lordosis relevant to functional anatomy and biomechanics. Lordosis refers to an abnormal bending of the spine. In lordosis, the curve of the spine arches forward.

BIOMECHANICS - BBC PODCAST

2010-12-10T22:42:00.001-08:00

Dr Mark Porter gets his kit on to investigate biomechanics and sports injuries at the University of Bath Sports Village in this podcast from the BBC. Duration: 29 mins (13MB)

ORTHOPEDIC BIOMECHANICS

2010-12-10T22:26:00.000-08:00

Yale University Podcast by lecturer Mark Saltzman.
Introduction to Biomedical Engineering: Orthopedic Biomechanics

Professor Saltzman introduces the material properties of elasticity and viscosity. He describes two separate experimental setups to measure the elasticity and the viscosity of a material. Material elasticity can be defined in terms of stress-strain property, and defines the Young's modulus (E), which is the slope of the stress-strain curve. Fluid viscosity, on the other hand, is described by shear stress. When modeling any material, the spring can be used to represent an ideal elastic material and the dashpot an ideal viscoelastic material. All biomaterials contain some combination of these properties and can be described by physical models that consist of both spring and dashpot.

Watch it on Academic Earth

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS IN JAPAN

2010-12-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

Applications are now being received for Fellowships beginning between 1 June 2011 and 30 November 2011. Closing date is COB Friday 14 January 2011.

The Japan Society for the promotion of Science (JSPS), in association with the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Research Council, offers postdoctoral fellowships for Australian researchers to work in institutes affiliated with JSPS.

ACADEMY STRUCTURES - NZ CRICKET

2010-12-07T13:54:00.000-08:00

NZ Herald published an interesting story titled Cricket: Academy 'ruined a generation' - Doull discussing the pitfalls of an academy structure. In the story, Simon Doull (former NZ cricketer)has been reported to blame cricket adminstrators for trying to clone batsmen using biomechanics, as opposed to allowing natural talent to be developed. The worthwhile nature of biomechanical analysis to improve cricketing ability is questioned.

As a biomechanist, I feel that the discipline adds great value to sport development programs when conducted in an appropriate way. Sadly, many biomechanists are poor coaches and unable to provide meaningful information to improve an athletes technique. This is not sport biomechanics but rather text-book biomechanics. It is important for sport biomechanists to understand that effective coaching is an art and a science at the same time, with the objective to harness an athlete's natural ability to produce high quality and repeatable performances. The inability of many biomechanists to communicate science to coaches means that time is wasted on often complex analysis with little benefit. It is critical that a coach always be able to interpret bioemchanics and understand the information that they receive from the sport scientist. This means that a sport biomechanists must behave more like a coach with high level sport science skills.

I question the approach of many of the sport academy's to sport science and believe these programs often have sport scientists that have little understanding of coaching. Unfortunately, the training for biomechanist is poor in the tertiary sector. The focus on a clinical setting to access greater government funding and the ever increasing emphasis on exercise physiology has meant that sport biomechanics has taken a back seat and coaching is rarely considered in undergraduate and graduate programs. Examine any university sport science program and few classes on coaching will be contained in the core structure. This means that the sport scientists of the future are gaining little coach training. This no doubt has lead to the disgruntled views of those like Simon Doull that believe biomechanics has a negative affect on athlete development and natural ability.

How do we provide a better service for coaches?

3 key points

1. The needs to be greater emphasis on sport biomechanics and coaching in tertirary / training programs. Sport biomechanics and coaching needs to adopt a powerful stance similar to our clinical exercise physiology colleges.

2. Biomechanists must be a coach and understand how to communication complex findings to coaches and athletes.

3. Biomechanical analysis must aim to harness an athlete's natural skills rather than produce a carbon copy of the world's best at the time. The next great athlete will not look like / move like the previous best.

OFFICE ACTIVITY

2010-12-05T23:13:00.001-08:00

Tips for increasing office activity

Key strategies:
1. Park your car further away
2. Walk during lunch break (cold whether should not prevent activity)
3. Get your friends to walk with you at lunch
4. Walk up and down stairs (avoid elevators)

GAIT LABORATORY

2010-12-05T23:04:00.000-08:00

You need a gait laboratory.

Background
A gait laboratory offers the evaluation of walking, running and other human movements involved with clinical disorders and sporting performance. Specialist staff use state of the art motion and force analysis systems to identify risks of injury, areas for technique improvement and explore the unique movement patterns of the human body. A gait laboratory would be used by patients referred from orthopaedic surgeons, sport medicine doctors and physiotherapists as well as high performance athletes and sporting organisations. To meet this need, a gait laboratory would need to offer full gait / motion analysis using modern technologies and methodologies with a comprehensive interpretation of results provided from expert staff.

The establishment of an appropriate gait laboratory would be the only service facility in Australia to offer full motion analysis to a wide range of clients that include clinical patients and sporting organisations. In addition, the services offered would be highly competitive within the international community. The research conducted within this facility will also lead the world in modern gait analysis.

Existing gait laboratory services
The National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC): Gait Centre of Clinical Research Excellence brings together research scientists, biomedical engineers, and healthcare professionals at the Royal Children's Hospital Gait Analysis Lab, the Monash University Ageing Research Centre, LaTrobe University's Musculoskeletal Research Centre, and the Biomechanical Engineering Laboratory at the University of Melbourne. This facility is located in Melbourne, Victoria and the centre was created in January 2004 and is funded for $2M over 5 years. It currently supports the activities of 6 senior academics, 4 postdoctoral researchers, and 3 PhD students.

The Hugh Williamson Gait Analysis Laboratory provides the service component of the aforementioned research facility. This facility is located in Melbourne, Victoria and services the Royal Children’s hospital. The Hugh Williamson Gait Laboratory was first opened on the 19th June 1995 and was funded in its first year through the Hugh Williamson Foundation grants. Since June 1998, the laboratory has been funded by the Victorian Government. The use of motion analysis cameras and camcorders as well as energy consumption equipment and electromyography (EMG) apparatus analyse the clinical gait pattern of children. Patients are referred to the Hugh Williamson Gait Analysis Laboratory through orthopaedic surgeons and services focus on cerebral palsy, spina bifida, head injury and bone dysplasia.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Biomechanics and Gait Laboratory was equipped for motion analysis and biomechanics research. It was used for research, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate biomechanics, for PhD research projects, undergraduate biomedical engineering research, and by the NSW Statewide Clinical Motion Analysis Service. The equipment used in this facility included Vicon Motion Analysis System, 16 channel EMG, 2 Kistler force plates and 2 camcorders. The Crown Prince and Princess of Japan recently attended the facility to be briefed on research into children’s rehabilitation through the UNSW Gait Laboratory as part of the school of safety science and the Sydney Children’s Hospital. In addition, the UNSW Gait Laboratory provided a referral based clinical service to the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Queensland Children’s Gait Laboratory was located at the Brisbane Royal Children’s Hospital. The services offered by the Queensland Children’s Gait Laboratory included three-dimensional gait analysis, musculoskeletal screening and energy expenditure analysis. Referrals to the Queensland Children’s Gait Laboratory include orthopaedic surgery, orthotic prescription, pharmacological interventions for gait problems, Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and physiotherapy interventions. Funding for the service was provided by Queensland Health following long-term lobbying by health professionals who had seen the benefit of gait laboratories overseas.

Gait analysis is also often provided by podiatrists and physiotherapists within the region. The services offered by these professionals are low level gait analysis involving pressure sensors and camcorders. For example, the North Sydney Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Centre offer basic video analysis and postural assessment as well as examination of pressure analysis when walking. It should be noted that the services offered by the North Sydney Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Centre includes Orthopaedic Surgeons, Sports Physicians, Rheumatology, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Nutrition and a specialist Radiology. The North Sydney Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Centre claims to have gained a national and international reputation as a centre of excellence, particularly for the treatment of knee injuries, foot and ankle injuries and shoulder injuries.

Stakeholders and investors of a gait laboratory
There a number of health care professionals through the east coast of Australia that would utilise a gait laboratory. The primary focus of service would involve the surrounding regions. In the immediate area, there are likely to be a number of private and public hospitals as well as orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine professionals, podiatrists and physiotherapists that would use the services offered. For example, orthopaedic surgery is a specialist service offered by many hospitals with applied health services including physiotherapy. A gait laboratory would provide a service to patients referred from hospital.

A gait laboratory would need to explore international partnerships with other laboratories such as the Oxford Gait Laboratory, England and the Gait Laboratory at the Fukui University Hospital, Japan. In addition, the development of industry partners would such as medical equipment suppliers, sporting goods manufacturers, footwear companies and sporting organisations would provide research funding and the development of additional services.

Investment would be required from industry (e.g. University) and government to establish a gait laboratory. This would be consistent with the strategic plan for any University and the health and sport development programs through government. The services offered through a gait laboratory would include but not be limited to the health of the aging and obesity in adults and children.

Strategy formulation for a gait laboratory
The existing gait laboratory services are focused on children and as such, there is considerable scope to consider other populations. In addressing this gap, a gait laboratory would provide clinical service for populations from children to elderly. In addition to the clinical service, the gait laboratory would service sporting participants such as those in high performance teams and also provide workplace health and safety examinations. The comprehensive services provided through a gait laboratory are urgently required throughout regional Australia.

A gait laboratory would also promote research capacity. For example, The Hugh Williamson Gait Analysis Laboratory currently has three postdoctoral research candidates. The facilities offered as part of a gait laboratory would allow quality and worlds best practice scientific research. Stakeholder Universities and other educational institutions, a gait laboratory would be used for teaching purposes in undergraduate and graduate programs and selected graduates would be given an opportunity to service patients referred to the laboratory.

VISUAL GEOMETRY GROUP

2010-10-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

Currently, computer search and classification of images is based on the name of the file or folder or on features such as size and date. That's fine if the name of the file reflects its content but isn't much good when the file is given an abstract name that only holds meaning to the person providing it. This drawback means companies in the search business, such as Google and Microsoft, are extremely interested in giving computers the ability to automatically interpret the visual contents and video. A technique developed by the University of Granada does just that, allowing pictures to be classified automatically based on whether individuals or specific objects are present in the images. (link)

OCEANIA SEVENS 2010 - REVIEW

2010-10-28T17:47:00.000-07:00

STATISTICAL REVIEW AND MATCH ANALYSIS (full-text)

Background
IRB Oceania Sevens Championship 2010 (link to website) - The Oceania Sevens Championship featured 8 rugby teams from Samoa, Australia, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Tahiti. The competition was held at Austar Park in Darwin, Australia 1 - 2 October (link to video).

Final Standings and Results:
Final: Australia 34 beat Samoa 12
3rd/4th Playoff: Tonga 12 beat Papua New Guinea 7
5th/6th Playoff: Cook Islands 15 beat Niue 5
7th/8th Playoff: Tahiti 19 beat Vanuatu 7

Tries Scored
Australia 1 try / 1.6 mins
Samoa 1 try / 1.8 mins
Tonga 1 try / 2 mins
Papua New Guinea 1 try / 2.3 mins
Cook Islands 1 try / 2. 5 mins
Niue 1 try / 3 mins
Tahiti 1 try / 10.5 mins
Vanuatu 1 try / 8.4 mins

Tries Conceded
Australia 1 try / 9.2 mins
Samoa 1 try / 5.5 mins
Tonga 1 try / 4.2 mins
Papua New Guinea 1 try / 3 mins
Cook Islands 1 try / 3 mins
Niue 1 try / 2.5 mins
Tahiti 1 try / 1.2 mins
Vanuatu 1 try / 1.1 mins

Statistical Analysis

How the attack started
• Turnover
• Kick
• Scrum
• Lineout
• Breakdown (ruck / maul)
• Penalty / tap-kick

How tries were scored: describes primary try scoring method
• Kick-chase (try scorer received the ball from a kick)
• Overlap (attack created an overlap and passed the ball to unmarked player)
• Outrun (attacking ball carrier received the ball in space and outran defence)
• Offload in tackle (attack offloaded the ball in tackle to try scorer)
• Evasive skills (try scorer used evasive skills to outmanoeuvre the defence)
• Contact skills (try scorer broke free from attempted tackle)

Team Ranking
1. Australia (AUS)
2. Samoa (SAM)
3. Tonga (TON)
4. Papua New Gunea (PNG)
5. Cook Islands (COOK)
6. Niue (NIUE)
7. Tahitii (TAH)
8. Vanuatu (VAN)

Game analysis grouped team ranking:
• Team 1-2 (Australia and Samoa)
• Team 3-4 (Tonga and Papua New Guinea)
• Team 5-6 (Cook Islands and Niue)
• Team 7-8 (Tahiti and Vanuatu)

Tries Scored: start of phase
• Breakdown most common start of phase play resulting in a try
• Team 7-8 tended to score tries from a turnover
• Even distribution of width for the start phase resulting in a try
• Teams 1-2 displayed highest percentage of tries scored from attacking 22m
• Teams 7-8 scored the highest percentage of tries from attacking 22 – 50m

Tries Conceded: start of phase
• Team 1-2 concede few tries from set piece (scrums / lineouts)
• Teams 1-2 and 3-4 concede larger percentage of tries from turnovers
• Team 1-2 concede most tries through left side of field
• Team 5-6 and 7-8 concede most tries through right hand wing
• Team 1-2 concede a high percentage of tries from within the opposing team’s own half (long-range tries)
• Team 7-8 concede a large number of tries from within the attacking team’s 50 – 22m zone.

Tries Scored
• Team 1-2 have a consistent try scoring pattern
• Team 7-8 score a large number of tries during the 1st quarter and few tries during the 4th quarter of the game
• Team 1-2 rely on evasive skills and overlaps to score tries
• Team 7-8 display a high number of kick-chase tries
• All teams except 1-2 tend to rely on tries scored through the attacking player outrunning the defence
• All teams attempt to score tries between the posts (easier conversion)

Tries Conceded
• Team 1-2 concede tries commonly in the 1st and 4th quarters
• Team 3-4 concede tries commonly in the 2nd quarter
• Team 5-6 concede tries commonly in the 1st and 4th quarters
• Even distribution of how team 1-2 concede tries (kick-chase, overlap, outrun and offload)
• Team 3-4 and 5-6 high percent tries conceded through outrunning
• Team 5-6 and 7-8 high percent tries conceded through evasive skills

Critical moment that resulted in tries scored: Critical moment describes an instance occurring during the attacking phase of play that determined a try would be scored.

Tries Scored
• Team 1-2 high percent critical moments in attacking 22m
• Team 7-8 high percent critical moment in attacking 22-50m

Tries Conceded
• Most critical moments on left-hand side of the field
• Team 1-2 high percent of critical moments on left-hand midfield (15m-post)

RUGBY TRIES

2010-10-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Top 10 rugby tries / moments from test matches (link)

VIDEO ANALYSIS IN SPORT

2010-10-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the different ways video can be used to evaluate athletic performance, while providing some pros and cons for each (link). Consider how each analysis method can be applied to your sport. The bottom line is, no matter which analysis method you choose, you will likely be able to gain insight into your atheltes’ performances and see things you are not able to catch in real time.

MOBILITY WOD

2010-10-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

Mobility Wod (link) is a blog intended address tissues and joint mobility issues.

OCEANIA SEVENS 2010

2010-10-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

IRB Oceania Sevens Championship 2010 (link to website) - The Oceania Sevens Championship featured 8 rugby teams from Samoa, Australia, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Tahiti. The competition was held at Austar Park in Darwin, Australia 1 - 2 October (link to video of games).

INTERACTIVE CHALKBOARD

2010-08-24T22:25:00.000-07:00

This is very interesting...create your own chalkboards online (link). Shows patterns of play for football.

SHOT PUT PROJECTION ANGLE

2010-08-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

Biomechanical Problem of Shot Putting Finally Solved
Sports scientists have puzzled over why the optimum angle of release for a shot put is not 45 degrees (link).

JAMIE OLIVER - HEALTHY EATING

2010-08-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food (link)

TED - FREE VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

2010-08-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

TED - Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world (link)

COACHING INSIGHTS - BILL SWEETENHAM

2010-07-28T17:52:00.001-07:00

Bill Sweetenham, one of Australias most successful and experienced high performance swimming coaches, is passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of coaches (link)

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF COACHING

2010-07-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

ASC Coach Development - Video Self Analysis

The video shows how coaches can benefit from video self-analysis. The video follows two coaches through the process, showing how it works and the kinds of strategies of improvements which can be developed.

The process of video coach analysis (part 1 / part 2)

TENNIS SERVE - SKILL ACQUISTION

2010-07-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Breaking an opponent’s serve is no easy task on quick grass surfaces, but players become increasingly adept at this throughout the course of each match according to English Institute of Sport (EIS) Skill Acquisition Co-ordinator Oliver Logan (link).

BIOMECHANICS FREEWARE

2010-07-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

Kinovea
Kinovea is free and open source video analysis software for coaches, athletes and medical professionals (link).
Features:
* Measurements of line length and point speed.
* Overview feature -> Visual summary of the video.
* Export data to OpenOffice calc, MS-Excel, simple text.
* Shortcuts tab in the file explorer -> Fast access to your video folders.

SkillSpector
SkillSpector is a video based motion and skill analysis tool for Windows. SkillSpector is freeware and can be downloaded and installed on any computer. No registration, expiration, or adware (link)
Features:
* Video overlay for direct video on video comparisson
* 2D and 3D analysis
* Standard model definitions for fast analysis
* Semi-automatic digitizing using image processing techniques
* Easy advanced analysis of linear and angular kinematic data
* Calculation on intertia
* 3D representation of movement
* Simple video calibration

UWIC - Lecturer in Performance Analysis

2010-07-14T18:46:00.001-07:00

The opportunity exists for a suitably experienced candidate to deliver performance analysis modules on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in sport studies. The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of the postgraduate programme in performance analysis. You will also be expected to undertake research/scholarly activities and the supervision of student research and placements as appropriate. You will be required to undertake administration associated with teaching and other administrative duties as directed by the Dean of School. You will also make a contribution to the enterprise activities of the School, including the Centre for Performance Analysis.

You will have a good honours degree in the discipline or related discipline, as well as a postgraduate qualification in Performance Analysis or closely related subject. You should have an advanced understanding of performance analysis theory and practice; the ability to teach theoretical and practical techniques in performance analysis and be able to plan and deliver lectures, practical sessions and seminars embracing innovative teaching methods.

For an informal discussion relating to the post, please contact David Cobner on 029 2041 6590.

Lecturer Salary: £35,646 - £40,119 pa

Closing date for receipt of applications: 18th July 2010

Interviews will be held on 29th July 2010

(link)

RUGBY SEVENS - COMM GAMES

2010-07-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

The International Rugby Board together with the Commonwealth Games Federation has announced the pool draw for the Rugby Sevens event at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India on 11-12 October.

(link)

DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING MATERIAL

2010-06-29T16:53:00.000-07:00

Tools for Building Tutors, and Tutors for Computing Education (link)

A discussion on the number of hours it takes to develop teaching material.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS USING EXCEL

2010-06-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

YouTube clips that give instructions on how to create a guided user interface (GUI) in excel (UserForm).

Part 1 - Designing GUI (link)
Part 2 - Adding buttons(link)
Part 3 - Adding code to buttons (link)

Create and Excel UserForm (link)

more information coming...

AMERICAN FOOTBALL S&C

2010-06-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

Head S&C Coach Jason Beaulieu talks about the Blue Hen Football off-season training program (link).

An inside look at the Strength Program at Penn State--with comments from former players like NFL Pro Bowler Lavar Arrington (link).

Thoughts on strength and conditioning from ASU football (link)

GAIT ANALYSIS - UNSW ISSUES

2010-06-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

David Mark from the ABC has reported that the gait laboratory formerly located at the University of New South Wales was collecting inaccurate data (until its close last year) which formed the basis for medical recommendations. Errors were found in the collection of data and attributed to a technical error. (link)

According to an article by Julie Robotham from the Sydney Morning Herald, doctors complained of errors in muscle measurements through the UNSW gait service, partly consequence of a change to the way sensors were attached to the children's skin. Julie also reported that software errors had resulted in wrong measurements of 74 children's foot alignment (link)

David Mark (ABC) outlined that an independent review of the service stated that there was an unexplained and unrecorded manipulation of gait data. However, the review then suggested that the errors had no clinical impact and did not affect surgeons decision making and as such no adverse consequences of any kind were identified.

Another report from the Sydney Morning Herald suggested that there had been a number of complaints from doctors regarding Andrew McIntosh (researcher and director of the UNSW biomechanics laboratory) and identified his reluctance to acknowledge the technical problems in the gait measurements. (link)

The responses to this article through Biomech-L have been interesting. A colleague from the University of Wisconsin highlighted that more information was required regarding the types of technical errors, what constituted an error and who judged that the data collection was faulty. Another colleague from Newcastle University (UK) suggested that an error checking system was in place at UNSW and that is how the technical errors were identified. These are both valid points and the question should be asked when does an error become a problem. Scientific apparatus (including motion analysis systems) contain inherent errors and this is particularly so when considering optoelectric systems where skin markers are used. Acknowledging the limitations of any research / scientific measurement shows maturity and is necessary in order for the findings to be placed in context. The issues arises when errors become large and then conclusions are drawn from this inaccurate data - this is a problem.

There is no doubt that gait laboratories offer an important health service (link) but there are clearly issues around quality assurance that requires further discussion. The International Society of Biomechanics has on its website a list of standards relating to various biomechanics topics. (link) There is no doubt that an independent international accreditation scheme for gait and biomechanics laboratories is warranted.

The UNSW gait lab conducted analysis for the Sydney Children's Hospital, the children's hospital at Westmead, and the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

AUSTRALIAN SPORT POLICY

2010-05-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

Australian sport: A pathway to success (link)

Australian Government:

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Australia has the fifth highest rate of adult obesity in the developed world. The 2007–08 National Health Survey found that 68% of adult Australian men and 55% of adult women were overweight or obese.1 Further, 17% of Australian children (5–17 years) were overweight and nearly 8% were obese.

In order to reinvigorate engagement in sport amongst our community and to regain our competitive edge, we need to do things differently. We need to place a strategic focus on collaboration, reform and investment across the entire sporting pathway – from the grassroots up.

The Sport and Recreation Ministers’ Council (SRMC) will establish a National Sport and Active Recreation Policy Framework to guide the development of sports policy across Australia. Reforms to the SRMC will also aim to better align Australia’s institutes and academies of sport. This reform will be backed by a record $1.2 billion funding over four years for Australian sport. This includes a $324.8 million boost to the Australian Sports Commission, which incorporates $195.2 million in new funding.

FALLS PREVENTION

2010-05-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

This post discusses some interesting points relating to falls in the elderly (link).

More than 47,000 elderly falls occur in America each year that result in emergency room visits. Data from 2001 to 2006 show that 129 Americans older than 65 were treated each day in emergency rooms for injuries resulting from falls using walkers and canes. Of the falls related to walkers and canes, you may be surprised to learn that most -- 87% of elderly falls -- were attributable to walker use.

It is known that using a walking stick reduces the loads on the hip joint during locomotion. However, a high proportion of injuries when using the walking stick suggests that this is an area for further research. Perhaps the people using a walking stick are unstable walkers initially, hence the walking stick and the greater incidence of falls. In contrast, those people who do not use a walking stick most likley display greater balance. Further investigation is warranted.

MOTION CAPTURE - NATURAL MOTIONS

2010-05-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

Dynamic Motion Synthesis creates high-quality 3D character animation in real time by combining artificial intelligence, biomechanics, and dynamics simulation (link). This is applied to gaming at the moment but would be great to trial in capturing movements for biomechanical analysis.

Parkour - functional training

2010-05-16T22:26:00.001-07:00

I have been watching recently a lot of Parkour videos (link). This is a great form of exercise in an urban envionrment that requires no special equipment but gives the participants terrific conditioning and functional movement training. This form of training is something that would be beneficial for developing athletes from any sport and, whilst some actions are complex and should only be performed by experts, many of the movements would no doubt improve coordination. Imagine the All Blacks strength and conditioning session constituting a Parkour session where the players are jumping from ponds, swinging off scaffolding and leaping across benches. Players with Parkour training would become coordinated and highly agile with a great movement awareness.

3D GAMING

2010-05-10T23:28:00.000-07:00

3D gaming on an Xbox 360 with the help of an LG 3D television.
(link) (link2)

PROMOTING URBAN HEALTHY ACTIVITY

2010-05-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Building Parkour Parks in New York. (link)

BIOMECHANICS OF DANCING

2010-05-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

ESPN Sports Science analyses 'Dancing with the Stars' (link)

ARTIFICIAL RUGBY SURFACES

2010-05-10T23:09:00.000-07:00

Top level rugby to be played on artificial surfaces? (link)

Premier Rugby has revealed that the idea of switching to artificial pitches was discussed at a meeting with Guinness Premiership club owners and major shareholders last week.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS DIAGRAMS

2010-05-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

Discussion of the use of schematic diagrams in performance analysis (link).

How to use Microsoft Word to design a schematic diagram - no doubt other software can do this more efficiently and effectively.

INSIGHTS FROM A COACH

2010-05-10T22:59:00.001-07:00

Clive Woodward on the Rugby World Cup 2003
Part 1: game plans
Part 2: team
Part 3: loosing

A GAME OF INCHES?

2010-05-10T22:56:00.001-07:00

Motivational speech used to advertise a rugby competition and talked about rugby as a game of inches. (link)

BRITISH LIONS - COACH PRESENTATION

2010-05-10T22:51:00.000-07:00

1997 British Lions - Coach presentation during team meeting(link).

UNDER 27 min / 10 km - ROSS TUCKER

2010-05-10T22:49:00.000-07:00

So it turns out that over 3,000 people have summitted Mount Everest. Only 31 have broken 27 minutes for 10,000m.(link)

Exercise, Recreation, and Sport Survey

2010-05-10T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS) is a joint initiative of the Australian Sports Commission and the state and territory government agencies responsible for sport and recreation. The survey collects information on the frequency, duration, nature and type of activities that are participated in by persons aged 15 years and over for exercise, recreation and sport during the 12 months prior to interview. Participation means active ‘playing’ participation, and does not include coaching, refereeing and being a spectator or activities related to work, household chores or gardening duties. (link)

2010-05-03T19:50:00.001-07:00

What is the future?

GETTING FIT

2010-03-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

This post that got me thinking about what the general public really know about exercise for a healthly lifestyle. (link). No doubt more needs to be done to empower the general population to take responsibility for their health and fitness. How do we do this? A starting point would be education...but do people really want to learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle and be able to prescribe their own exercise programs? or do people just like to have a personal trainer and be told what to do? This could be an area for research...

GOOGLE MAPS

2010-03-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

Google maps have added bike directions! (link)

REHAB EXERCISES

2010-03-10T14:29:00.000-08:00

This video demonstrates a number of rehab exercises (here)

Higher Education Teaching Reforms

2009-12-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

The Australian reports on the Australian Governement plan to reform higher education to results-based funding (here).

The higher education performance indicators will cover four broad areas
- boosting participation
- increasing the number of students from poor and under-represented backgrounds
- improving the student experience
- enhancing quality of learning outcomes

The Education Minister, Julia Gillard outlined that the performance indicators will apply (without negotiation) to the higher education sector as a whole and also to each individual University. For more detail refer to the discussion paper (here).

David Jones has provided a great blog on proposed higher education reforms (here). David suggests that for the majority of teaching at universities the introdcution of performance indictors will encourage more corruption than it will actual real improvement in the quality of teaching. David also provides an in-depth discussion about the desire for new university teaching staff to complete teaching qualifications.

Accountability in any industry is a good thing and having the government provide this framework is neccessary. Self-appointed governing bodies that impose their views on teaching and learning is inappropriate. There are specific examples in the sport industry but I will leave this for another day. The point is that more leadership is required in the tertiary sector to provide higher standards of education. However, the performance indicators outlined by the Government need to be well-informed and based on realistic targets that can be achieved by all Universities (not just the ones carrying the biggest guns). Watch this space...

64GB iPhones and 128GB iPod Touches

2009-12-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

Toshiba has launched a Highest Density Embedded NAND Flash Memory Modules (link)

TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced the launch of a 64 gigabyte (GB) embedded NAND flash memory module, the highest capacity yet achieved in the industry. The chip is the flagship device in a new line-up of six embedded NAND flash memory modules that offer full compliance with the latest e•MMCTM standard, and that are designed for application in a wide range of digital consumer products, including smartphones, mobile phones, netbooks and digital video cameras. Samples of the 64GB module are available from today, and mass production will start in the first quarter of 2010.

Charlie Sorrel from Gadget Lab suggeted that pricing of these chips will have a lot to do with when Apple actually starts to buy them. This, in combination with the now well-established launch schedule of iPhones in the summer and iPods in the Autumn means that we might be waiting a while. On the other hand, if Apple goes ahead with a camera-equipped Touch as expected, we may get a New Year surprise. Charlie then went on to say that the days of the hard-drive based iPod Classic are now numbered. (details here)

Photo source: Toshiba

Survey on text messages

2009-12-15T14:11:00.000-08:00

John Sutter of CNN reports that nearly one-sixth of teens who own mobile phones have received nude or nearly nude images via text message from someone they know, according to a new survey on "sexting" from the Pew Internet & American Life Project (CNN report).

This survey has some implications for health education in schools. Current day edcuation porgrams no doubt need to keep up with technology. Educating students about how to handle the many avenues of sexual interaction including sexting seems a neccessary requirement of these education programs. Clearly, an area for further research.

Online book publishing

2009-12-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

Nick Bilton from the New York Times reports that many book publishers are now delaying the publication of e-reader versions because they were afraid the electronic copies were resulting in less sales of the more expensive hardcover editions (here).

Does restricting access to online publications result in greater sales of hardcopy books?

Nick makes an interesting points about the access to online vs hardcopy books:

You unwrap your holiday presents and see a fancy Kindle, Sony Reader or Barnes & Noble Nook. Just what you’ve always wanted! You turn on your new device, navigate to a wireless bookstore and search for Don DeLillo’s new novel. Instead of a simple click and download right from your armchair, you’re told it’s only available in hardcover for the next four months.

Are you really going to put down your new book reader, get in your car, drive to the store and buy the hardcover? Probably not. Instead, you’ll click the ‘back’ button and search for something else to read in the digital bookstore.

There is no doubt that publishers could make a terrible mistake in restricting online access to books. The right to control information needs to be challenged.

Photo source: George Eastman House

Pacific Island - Olympic Rugby Sevens

2009-12-14T17:34:00.001-08:00

The announcement of Rugby Sevens entry into the Olympics has generated great excitement throughout Pacific Island nations such as Fiji. Already the dominate sport in the region, Rugby Sevens now offers a pathway to Olympic Gold.

This is a great interview with Will Glenwright (IRB Regional General Manager for Oceania) discussing the popularity of Rugby Sevens throughout the Pacific Islands and the great oppurtunities now presented to these countries given that Rugby Sevens is and Olympic Sport (here).

Boxing Performance Analysis

2009-12-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

I was recently involved with performance analysis of Australia's boxing national. I arranged two students to particpated in work experience providing support to the Australian Institute of Sport Biomechanics and Performance Anlaysis department. Warrick and Paul have reflected on their experience:

Warrick:
Working at the AIS boxing nationals allowed me to widen my experience with performance analysis and broaden my knowledge of different sports.

Our main aim was to help build a video database of Australian amateur boxers so that scouting and analysis can be conducted by the AIS head coach and performance team. Footage was recorded from 130+ fights over four days and captured using an nNOVA capture device. A log of events such as start and end time of each round, the winner, fight number, method of victory, were continuously recorded using Microsoft Excel. At the end of each day of competition footage was captured onto a laptop using the nNOVA, and renamed and stored in the video database for future analysis.

Positioned behind the judges we were able to view different scores given by each of the four judges during every round of the boxing. This provided an interesting insight into how judges were scoring the bouts. Judges vision is obviously obstructed at different angles of attack. This led to identification of a possible project that could be conducted in relation to boxing. A post competition analysis of accuracy and reliability of judges scoring could be conducted to analyse what techniques were most successful in obtaining an awarded point from each judge.

Working at the AIS and meeting people involved with performance analysis, and head coaches was great as it provided an insight into the working field of performance analysis in the competitive sporting environment.

Paul:
Warrick Harrington and I undertook the arduous yet rewarding task of recording all 113 boxing bouts taking place at the Australian Institute of Sport for the Australian National Amateur Boxing Championships. Representing the national Institute of Sports Studies, University of Canberra, Warrick and I were tasked with digitally recording each bout, recording the details (fighters, time, outcome) of the bouts, and then compiling all the results into a Microsoft Excel database.

During day two of the championships, our recordings were also requested by judges to review a discussion quickly after a challenge had been made by a coach. We were able to provide them with the exact timing of the decision on the tape and subsequently, the decision was reversed and the correct outcome was delivered.

In the end it was an extremely successful championship which Warrick and I were able to take part in and assist in anyway we could. We are both extremely grateful for the experience and hope to assist in other projects involving boxing.

This was a great oppurtunity for Warrick and Paul to learn about performance analysis in high performance sport. A very successful program.

British Library's automated storage system

2009-12-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

BBC news - The British Library has unveiled a new automated storage facility with much of the sorting carried out by robots(here).

Football World Cup in 3D

2009-12-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

Sony and FIFA have announced that at least 25 World Cup matches will be produced in 3D using Sony's 3D cameras (here).

Harvard SpaceEd Technoology

2009-12-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

Alex Williams - SpacedEd is based upon the spacing effect, which states that people learn more effectively when presented information that is repeated over spaced intervals.

Harvards SpaceEd technology involves:

The learner receives course materials that are delivered electronically in a question format. People may receive questions by email, through an RSS feed or through a web site. Answers may be posted using any connected device, reflecting the nature in which people are conducting their lives.

People receive two questions per day. If the person gets one of the questions wrong then it is posed again one week later. If answered correctly, the question is repeated three weeks later. If the person get it right a second time then the question is dropped from the course material. Course material is delivered to the recipient based on their knowledge level.

SpacedEd Enterprise is designed for corporate clients and for-profit learning organizations. Administrators may control the access that users have to the courses. The service includes the capability to answer questions in a blog format so they may elaborate and create their own questions.

(link)