Over the course of the past few years, we’ve seen some big changes in the world of sports. Now more than ever, coaches and trainers for contact sports like football are aware of the safety challenges involved. This is especially true for student athletes, who are just learning the mental and physical skills they’ll need […]
We’ve always had the urge to quantify sports performance. We like to think that simple numbers make it easier for us to understand the wildly complex games we’re seeing with our own eyes. We like to pretend that our favorite sports games are a little less chaotic and random than they actually are. And we […]
“You never forget how to ride a bike.” It’s a popular saying you’ve probably heard before. And if you’ve ever hopped back onto the saddle after many years, you might even be able to attest that it’s true—even if you have to spend a moment or two getting familiar with the motions again. But what […]
When over 1,000 parents were polled about children’s athletics, 16% of them said that they refused to allow their kids to play sports due to worries over concussions. According to the study, a Harris Poll conducted on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association, a third of the remaining parents were on the fence, saying it […]
In my professional rugby career, there were almost always two schools of thought related to players. Those who believed that natural athleticism honed and channeled in the right way in training could be superseded by individual skills development in terms of time, effort and energy. Then there is the second, where athleticism and physical dominance […]
Dr Bennet Omalu in the Film Concussion (2015): “All of these animals have shock absorbers built into their bodies. The woodpecker’s tongue extends through the back of the mouth out of the nostril, encircling the entire cranium. It is the anatomical equivalent of a safety belt for its brain. Human beings? Not a single piece of […]
Every weekend, there are various iterations of youth sport that take place on suburban grounds across the world. Humble patches of grass filled with tiny athletes coached by dedicated and skilled volunteers who aim to instil the love of the game to their young charges. Sport teaches; it can teach you good things and it […]
My name is Roger Wilson, and for 15 years I made my living as a professional rugby player in Ireland and England. Like most athletes, I grew up with a love for my sport, and I reveled in the contact nature of rugby. Throughout my career, I never wore padding, relying only on my bare […]