Department of Sport and Physical Activity

Introduction: The online gambling industry has shown a significant growth in Europe and has become a point of interest for researchers. The development of technology is known to have played an important role in this growth with the ease of access to internet gambling  being one of the main factors to influence the online gambling participation. However, there are no studies regarding online gambling behaviour among university students in England and Romania. The current study aimed to investigate this issue, compare the behaviour among the university students from both countries and identify whether indeed the ease of access influences the participation.
Methods: A total of 233 university students (117 from England and 116 from Romania) have completed an online Survey about their online gambling behaviour. The survey contained questions regarding things such as their views on online gambling, their favourite devices, most frequently played games and the amount of money spent on online gambling and living expenses.
Results: Some of the key results refer to the fact that online gambling was viewed as a trendy activity by the majority of students from England and Romania. The mobile phone was the most preferred device for online gambling and male students reported to have gambled online more frequent than female students in both countries. However, students from Romania appeared to have gambled online more as a percentage of their living expenses. Sports betting was the most popular game for the England sample and slot/electronic machines for the Romania sample.

It has been reported that the UK economy is in transition to a new phase, where R&D investment is seen as essential to maintain competitiveness with other countries. This paper considers the implications on the sports product industry, and how it must adapt in transition. We report on the outcomes of the Sports SET Network initiatives to encourage and assist innovation through industry collaborations with academia. We also examine the key factors that determine successful innovation through collaboration, and identify current strengths and weaknesses within the UK sector. There is a clear acceptance by the industry that innovation is required for success in an increasingly competitive global market, but the knowledge base and skill levels required are generally insufficient. Academia can have an influential role, and in conclusion this paper outlines a basic model for the collaborative approach to successful innovation in sports products.

Finite element analysis is often applied to further our understanding of the mechanics of sports equipment. The aim of this research was to develop and validate a finite element model of a cricket ball/bat impact. The ball model was independently validated against experimental data for normal impacts on a fixed rigid surface, at speeds up to 35 ms-1. Finite element models were produced for two bat geometries, with ball/bat impact simulations compared to experimental data. A rigid body model was also applied to each bat. The validation experiment involved projecting a ball at 30 ms-1 normal to a freely suspended bat, at a range of locations on the long axis. The finite element models were in good agreement with the experimental data in terms of apparent coefficient of restitution. The rigid body model failed to accurately predict apparent coefficient of restitution for all impact locations along the length of the blade. The finite element modelling techniques presented here could be applied to aid the design and development of cricket bats.

Mass moment of inertia is a key inertial property of cricket bats and should be used in selection to optimise performance. Players currently rely on a subjective assessment of how the bat feels when swung supported only by a value for bat mass from the manufacturer. This reliance on a subjective assessment is because the moment of inertia of a bat typically requires a pendulum method to measure with sufficient accuracy. In this study, two methods for estimating moment of inertia were tested. The hypotheses were that (1) an acceptable estimate of moment of inertia could be calculated using a beam model approach, and (2) the inertial property first moment could act as a proxy measure for moment of inertia. Experimental values for moment of inertia were obtained using a pendulum method. The two-section beam model showed an error of 0.43-0.53% between model and experimental values based on a Root Mean Square Error of 0.0017 kg m 2. First moment data were generated on 5005 bats spread across eight bat shapes. A correlation was shown between the measured value of first moment and the beam model value of moment of inertia, with an R 2 value > 0.992 for all bat shapes. This study showed that a two-section beam model and first moment method for estimating cricket bat moment of inertia could be used to improve bat selection.

Within the sport of cricket it is common practice for players to tap the blade of a bat with a hard wood mallet or cricket ball to gauge its potential playing performance. This subjective assessment can produce contradictory opinions on the same bat. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of the 'tapping' test in rating the potential performance of cricket bats. This was done by comparing a measurable performance indicator (apparent coefficient of restitution, ACoR) to player assessment. Twenty experienced amateur and semi-pro cricketers completed a scaled-response questionnaire to describe the sound and feel of impact during the 'tapping' test, and rate the predicted performance. Correlations between player responses and ACoR were explored. Predicted bat performance by three out of twenty participants showed correlation with ACoR. It was concluded that the tapping test is not a reliable measure of bat performance across the study population. There are indications that individuals can correctly differentiate bats, but there is clear evidence that they also make errors. A further study with a larger number of participants and an exploration of the relative influence of sensory response will yield further insights to this pilot study.

Optimal physical performance is achieved through the careful manipulation of training and recovery. Short-term increases in training demand can induce functional overreaching (FOR) that can lead to improved physical capabilities, whereas nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR) or the overtraining syndrome (OTS) occur when high training-demand is applied for extensive periods with limited recovery. To date, little is known about the OTS in strength sports, particularly from the perspective of the strength sport coach. Fourteen high-performance strength sport coaches from a range of strength sports (weightlifting; n = 5, powerlifting; n = 4, sprinting; n = 2, throws; n = 2, jumps; n = 1) participated in semistructured interviews (mean duration 57; SD = 10 min) to discuss their experiences of the OTS. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in the identification of four higher order themes: definitions, symptoms, recovery and experiences and observations. Additional subthemes were created to fa...

Combat sports have been practiced for millennia and today are predominant sports at the Olympic games, with international organizations that host world, continental and national championships at amateur standard. There are also an increasing number of professional combat sports with global audiences. The growing popularity of professional combat sports and their importance at the Olympic games have led to an increase in scientific studies that characterize the physical, physiological, nutritional, biomechanical and training strategies of combat sports athletes. These studies characterize combat sports as high-intensity sports which require training strategies to develop the high-intensity capabilities of athletes. Therefore, the aim of this article is to (i) summarize the physiological demands of combat sports; (ii) present the primary considerations required to program high-intensity conditioning for athletes; (iii) define and present key high-intensity conditioning methods; and (i...

PROFESSIONAL BOXING IS A POPULAR PAN-GLOBAL SPORT THAT ATTRACTS CONSIDERABLE INTEREST AND REVENUE. IT IS A HIGH-INTENSITY SPORT THAT REQUIRES A RANGE OF WELL-ADAPTED PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AS LIKELY PREREQUISITES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE. SERIOUS CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO MEDICAL ASPECTS AND POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS FROM PARTAKING IN TRAINING AND COMPETITION. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO COMPREHENSIVE SOURCES OF APPLIED SPORT SCIENCE RESEARCH IN THE PREPARATION OF PROFESSIONAL BOXERS FOR COMPETITION. IN THIS REVIEW, WE PRESENT RESEARCH FROM PHYSIOLOGY AND STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING TO FORM A KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN PREPARING PROFESSIONAL BOXERS FOR COMPETITION.

The aim of this article is to raise awareness, amongst strength and conditioning coaches, of the challenges that may be encountered by elite athletes as they transition into retirement from their sport. This includes a discussion of common themes identified in the athlete wellbeing literature as well as a review of the athlete support systems for a range of sports. In doing so, it is hoped that athlete welfare can be enhanced throughout this period of an athletic career.