Here are some of the biggest happenings
- Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr’s S&C training
- Football boots and their role in female ACL injuries
- Supplements in elite football
Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr’s S&C training
On Saturday Terence Crawford defeated Errol Spence Jr to become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. This was a momentous win and arguably puts Crawford as the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.
It is always fascinating to see how the best athletes in the world train and the strength and conditioning methods they use. Danny Wilson, Co-founder of Boxing Science, provided excellent videos in recent weeks, analysing the strength and conditioning methods of Crawford and Spence Jr. These videos are incredibly insightful and a must-watch for any S&C coach, especially if you work with combat athletes. To view Crawford’s training methods, click here, and to see Spence Jr. click here.
Wilson was a recent guest on our podcast too. If you haven’t listened to it yet, it is well worth checking out: How World Champion Boxers Train for Elite Punching Power
Football boots and their role in female ACL injuries
I reported on the ACL epidemic hindering the women’s football World Cup a fortnight ago. Unfortunately, England’s Keira Walsh became the latest female player to suffer a knee injury. It appears that the studs in her football boots got “caught” in the ground while she was trying to make an interception.
Interestingly, football boots have previously been linked to ACL injuries in females. Many female athletes are still wearing boots that are designed for male athletes. A recent feature on Sky Sports highlights the new boot revolution for females. Lara Youngson co-founded IDA, a company that specializes in “high-performance, comfortable footwear for female athletes”. Essentially IDA football boots are better suited to female biomechanics. Just last month Nike unveiled a new female football boot named the Phantom Luna. Nike claims the stud pattern on the Phantom Luna allows women to move more freely.
While the female football boot revolution is fantastic, we will have to wait for some scientific evidence to determine its success. If you are interested in learning more about women’s football, go check out our excellent new course: The Demands of Women’s Football
This course is currently FREE too!
Supplements in elite football
Supplements are widely used by athletes and footballers are no exception. There is a vast range of supplements readily available to athletes. Understanding what supplements are best can be very complex, especially with so many conflicting opinions on their associated benefits.
A recent systematic review provided a comprehensive overview of the effects of dietary supplements on athletic performance in elite footballers. Creatine, protein powders, electrolytes, beetroot juice, and caffeine are just some of the supplements discussed in the review.
If you are interested in the performance benefits of supplements, why not check our piece on Caffeine and Sports Performance
From us this week:
>> New course: The Demands of Women’s Football
>> New podcast: How World Class Coaches Train Athletes To Maximise Speed And Acceleration
>> New infographic: Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Sensitive periods of learning in youth athletes
>> New article: The deadlift: Form, benefits, and workouts | Science for Sport
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I hope you enjoyed this week’s roundup of the hottest sports science news, and as always, we’ll be back next week with more to keep you at the forefront of the industry.
