Blog Archives

The sport hormone?

This article about our research into the biopsychology of team performance recently appeared in The Lancet (Diabetes and Endocrinology). Check it out!  A review argues that the hormone oxytocin affects athletic performance, because of its role in modulation of emotional and social

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Posted in Football, My own research, Science General, Sport Science, Uncategorized

How fair is youth sport and is it helping our children? Understanding relative age effects in sport.

How can an apostle, a greek sculpture and his creation shed light on the (un)fairness that our children are surrounded by when they take part in their favourite sport. Here’s a great paper I think any parent, and trainers and

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Posted in Football, My own research, Science General, Sport Science

Never give up …

Never give up! It’s more than just a platitude. In her extensive research, psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth found that more than IQ or talent or any other factor, the #1 predictor of a person’s success is their unflagging commitment to

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Posted in Football, Science General, Sport Science

‘Win at all costs’ a recipe for failure

Coaching young athletes to enjoy their development rather than focusing on winning at all costs reduces the risk of burnout, according to research. Victoria University Institute of Sport, Exercise & Active Living researcher Thomas Curran said athletes’ passion for their sport took

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Posted in Football, Science General, Sport Science

Team membership boosts performance

It is well documented that competition can affect performance and emotion in sport. However, our understanding of the comparative effects of individual and team competitions on performance and emotion is limited. We also know little about emotion-based mechanisms underlying the

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Posted in Football, Science General, Sport Science

Positive Coaching

Imagine you’re coaching a big football game, against an undefeated team that has beaten your team in all your previous matches. Your 11-year-olds are playing well and are ahead. Then, in the closing minutes, the official makes a bad call

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Posted in Football, My own research, Science General, Sport Science