The Possible Fate of Sports Science

Exercise science is the study of biological responses and adaptations to exercise and training. Exercise science depends on various disciplines, including biomechanics, physiology, and psychology/sociology. Exercise science includes various specialties such as geriatrics, adult fitness/wellness, ergonomics, and pediatric exercise. Today, exercise science is largely concerned with health, health-related performance, and the underlying mechanisms. Although there can be a carry-over to sports, the carry-over is largely indirect.

Sports science literature frequently suggests that both game intelligence and tactical creativity are important for successful athletes in different kinds of sports. To generate decision possibilities and seek original solutions, players must be able to perceive all important information from their environments (positions of teammates and opponents, players emerging unexpectedly, etc.) and consider this information when generating an action plan.

Good sports science courses, and good sports scientists, consider all the constituent sciences as an integrated discipline. For example, you would not only consider the biomechanical dynamics of a movement but the physiological and psychological requirements as well. None of the disciplines can provide the best solution to a problem in isolation and most advanced sports teams have the full spectrum of sports scientists working together to support the team.

Sports science itself is a relatively fluid subject, and it’s continually evolving. We saw this perhaps five years ago with a strong shift in interest to skill acquisition research. And we’re seeing it now with an increased interest in data collection and analysis, meaning that more and more data scientists are transitioning to sport (and many sports scientists are working on upskilling in these areas). Karate practitioners of different skill levels were analyzed regarding a choreographed sequence of distinct movements (karate techniques) from the beginning of the so-called Kanku-dai kata. These karate techniques include blocks and strikes using one's hands or feet, and occasionally both at the same time, delivered from specific stances.