Here are some thoughts on the first step in strength & conditioning / sports science.
Step 1: Conduct the NEEDS ANALYSIS
Before we train or coach individuals participating in a sport or activity, we need to know the needs and/or demands of THE 'game'?
Here’s my approach.
Study the game
Study the game. I mean, really study it. Take a deep dive into the physiological, energetic, and biomechanical aspects of the sport.
Watch it. Watch very closely … every little movement. The frequency of specific movements and combinations. The duration of movements. The intensity, speed and power outputs of movements. The between bout recovery duration and mode.
Prior to GPS technology, researchers would quantify these movement demands using time motion analysis. Basically, watching a player and documenting every little movement. They were literally studying the game demands.
What do we know? Literature review
One should also search the published literature to determine ‘what do we know’ about (your sport here). What are the game demands (time motion, GPS, heart rate, etc.)? What are the injury rates and sites, etc.? What is the physical/physiological profile for the sport and/or position and/or level of competition? Some of the information for the latter can also be taken from baseline assessments in training studies.
A good place to start are review papers or book chapters. Someone has already done the literature search and review for you!
If not, my next steps are to comb through the hundreds of papers and start copying and pasting into a word document arranging by area. For example, all the papers on game demands using GPS or all the papers on body composition or speed, etc. under one heading.
Next, I will create summary tables for each area. I make it easy - copying and pasting from the abstract into my columns which usually entail [Study] | [Subjects] | [and then the key variables of interest - e.g., total distance, # sprints, etc. or height, weight, %fat, etc.]. Once completed, I have a one stop-shop for everything on that area. I can see all the GPS studies for that sport on one sheet of paper or all the published values for strength, power, speed, etc. on one sheet of paper. No going through index cards or PDFs …. a one-stop shop of information on the needs and demands of the sport.
Play the game
Some people disagree with me on this but it is my strong opinion that if you truly want to understand the demands of the sport, you must play it or have played it. Personally, it provides me a great sense of what the athlete is actually experiencing.
“Oh, that’s what it feels like to sprint, jog, kick, sprint while visually scanning and recognizing patterns.”
Play some pick-up. Heck, just grab a tennis racquet and hit up against the wall. Or a baseball bat and hit off the tee. Join an adult recreational league. But seriously, play the game .. and think and experience the demands of it. You’ll have a much deeper understanding (and appreciation) for the game. And, be able to better communicate and connect with your athletes.
Talk about the game --and listen
Finally, talk about the game. Talk to the coaches and the athletes about what they experience, how they feel, etc. Learn - from - them! They’ll also appreciate your interest - and it will help build relationships.