Spacer      
  AusSMC: australian science media centre Page specific graphic  
 
about us for media for scientists science in the media contact us home
hot topics  
 
 

Hot topics                    

Tuesday June 27 2006                                                                         

Media Alert: The Science of Soccer

The World Cup may be over for the Socceroos but the football juggernaut for the last eight rolls on. The question is how long will the interest in the game be sustained in Australia now? If you're looking for some scientific analysis of any aspect of science and football contact the AusSMC on 08 8207 7415 and we'll put you in touch with a scientist who is happy to talk to you.   Meanwhile here's some suggestions:

Horizontal rule

Professor Kevin Norton, Professor of Exercise Science University of South Australia and Director of Research for Sport Knowledge Australia

Kevin has reviewed the game speed and structure of the last 10 soccer world cup finals, 5 rugby world cup finals and over 45 years of AFL finals. He researches how sport is evolving and why. He also uses this research to predict where sport is headed. He knows how fast the game is getting, why players take longer to play set pieces, and how the player density, game speed, number of touches per minute, player fitness levels, length of stop periods, among other things, are all increasing. Why does this matter? It can help us see what the game will ‘look’ like in the future and give us a guide for selecting and developing talent that will be better suited to the future game.Horizontal rule

Associate Professor Derek Leinweber, Department of Physics, University of Adelaide.

Derek is a researcher in subatomic physics as well as an expert in ball dynamics. He helped make the soccer science DVD "Veer it like Viduka" that aims to uncover the secrets of the perfect free kick.

He can comment on how the new Teamgeist ball, made especially for the World Cup, could dramatically change the game. David Beckham is said to be ‘drooling’ over it, and it could be the answer to improving the international goal average of that Australian bender of balls, Mark Viduka. It is lighter, has less air resistance making it smoother and faster. It could prove a challenge for Mark Schwarzer though, as goalkeepers report some unusual effects. Fascinating stuff!

Horizontal rule

Peter Brukner, Associate Professor in sports medicine, Centre for Sports Medicine Research and Education, University of Melbourne

Peter is a world-renowned sports medicine doctor and appears weekly on Fox Footy and is part of the ABC Radio football commentary team. He also writes a weekly injury column and regular feature articles for The Age. His particular expertise is in overuse injuries particularly stress fractures, but he has also published widely in areas such as groin pain, exercise-related lower leg pain, and fatigue. So any issues to do with the team's fitness, give Peter a call.Horizontal rule

Kenneth Graham, Head of Sport Science, NSW Institute of Sport. Also on the Science and Medicine panel for the Football Federation of Australia.

Kenneth has overseen the provision of sports science support to elite athletes such as Brad McGee and Ian Thorpe and his football credentials include providing advice to the team during that famous Socceroos flight back from Uruguay last year. (Who can forget what followed? That dramatic 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over the South Americans at Sydney's Olympic stadium that lead to the berth in the World Cup) The chartered plane included some interesting enhancements to help the team recover and prepare for the Sydney game.

Kenneth is currently researching hydration programs for elite athletes. This includes the science behind drinks to target different circumstances. The Socceroos have been training hard but have to be in peak condition to take on the world. The right drink helps maintain the sweat processes, leading to optimum recovery.
Horizontal rule

Dr Jeff Steinweg, Head of Medical Services for Football Federation Australia and the PGA Tour of Australasia. Visiting Lecturer at UNSW (Sports Medicine Programs).

Jeff is a sports physician who has been a team doctor for all the football codes. He appoints the medical staff for Football Australia’s teams including the Socceroos. He has all the inside info on Tim Cahill’s knee and Harry Kewell’s groin as well as on injuries and injury management in general. So if any of the boys fall over and limp off, he’s your man! Incidentally, Jeff was also on that Uruguay charter flight overseeing the Socceroos post match recoveryHorizontal rule

Justin Kemp, Exercise Physiologist at Australian Catholic University, Melbourne.

Justin is the author of “It's True: Sports Stinks” and co-author of "Run Like You Stole Something" and "Why Dick Fosbury Flopped". He writes regular columns in The Age and AFR. He also hosts a sports science radio show called "Run Like You Stole Something" on 3RRR-FM, now in its 10th year.

If you want to talk to someone about strategy, tactics, penalty shoot-outs, or even the characteristics of a winning team versus a bunch of also rans, Justin is across the latest research. He’s also an all round interesting person on most aspects of the game.

Horizontal rule

Damian Farrow, Skill Acquisition Specialist, Science Medicine Education & Technology, Australian Institute of Sport.

Damian is responsible for providing evidence-based sports science support to coaches and athletes and is the other half of the co-authored general interest sports science books “Run Like You Stole Something” and “Why Dick Fosbury Flopped”. He is also an expert on the penalty kick. He can talk about the demands on goalkeepers when trying to anticipate a penalty kick (what they look at etc), as well as what are the characteristics of an expert decision maker – how do they read the play so well, and general skill related issues."Horizontal rule

Kate Vrljic, Community Football Programs Coordinator for Football Australia and Sport Psychologist.

Kate is running “Telstra Football Anytime”, a national program to encourage more kids to play the game so that they develop ball skills from an earlier age. She can talk about the enormous boost the Socceroos are giving the game at grassroots level and why Australia has fallen into line with the rest of the world so it’s now officially called “football”, not soccer.

On the psychology side though, Kate can talk about the importance of routine to the Socceroos as well as overcoming anxiety, team dynamics and peaking at the right time. She’s also a huge footy fan and is leaving for Germany tomorrow and has tickets for all three first round matches. However you can still talk to her on her mobile.

Horizontal rule

Adam Hewitt, Sport Scientist specialising in football in the Department of Biomechanics & Performance Analysis at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

With 13 of the current squad having come through the AIS, Adam can talk about the developing science of football and how it’s has been applied to the Socceroos. He can comment on the systematic approach to scouting the opposition and the emerging holistic technologies involved in every aspect of performance that’s currently being tried out on the Matilda’s and the young Socceroos. For instance GPS is used to track distances covered by any player during the game, including the percentage at sprint pace. The data can be analysed to discover whether the player was running because they had possession or because they tended to lose the ball.

Horizontal rule

Dr June Senyard, Department of History, University of Melbourne

June is an expert in Australian sporting culture and in particular, football spectators. She says it will be interesting to see how the Australian fans behave overseas. Will the hooligan element prevail and how will they use the Australian flag? Will it be a reflection of the Cronulla riots or waved aloft to celebrate our unique Australian character? June will also be using the World Cup to reflect on some fundamental issues for the game such as how far it will develop into a global sport and will it supersede cricket and the other footy codes.

Horizontal rule

 

 

 
  Latest releases | Archive corner graphic
     
 

CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI
RAPID ROUNDUP:
An 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Chile, causing major damage and a tsunami. Experts from Australia, New Zealand and the UK respond.
Sun 28 Feb 10

CLIMATE CONFUSION - SCIENTISTS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
RESOURCE PAGE:
After conversations and emails from a number of journalists, we have put their most pressing questions about climate change to a panel of climate scientists.
Thu 25 Feb 10

TROPICAL CYCLONES AND CLIMATE FEEDBACK (NATURE)
RAPID ROUNDUP:
Experts comment on a new paper from Nature about the relationship between tropical cyclones and climate - a topic which has been a subject of much debate.
Thu 25 Feb 10

BAN ON MEAT FROM BSE AFFECTED COUNTRIES SET TO END
RAPID ROUNDUP:
From next week countries where mad cow disease has been discovered will be able to export beef to Australia provided they comply with new regulations. Experts respond.
Wed 24 Feb 10

NEW RADIOACTIVE WASTE BILL TO BE INTRODUCED
RAPID ROUNDUP:
Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson has announced the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010. Experts respond.
Tue 23 Feb 10

PAN FRYING WITH GAS MAY BE WORSE THAN ELECTRICITY FOR RAISING CANCER RISK
RAPID ROUNDUP:
New research suggests frying meat on a gas cooktop may be more harmful to health than using an electric cooktop, because of the type of fumes it produces. Experts respond.
Thus 18 Feb 10

PROTECTING SPACE HERITAGE
SCIENCE BLOG:
Dr Alice Gorman (Flinders University) discusses space archaeology and how to protect historic sites such as the moon landing site.
Tues 9 Feb 10

LAUNCH OF NATIONAL SCIENCE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
RAPID ROUNDUP:
Senator the Hon Kim Carr today launched Australia’s new National Science Communication Strategy, Inspiring Australia.
Mon 8 Feb 10

WATER, CLIMATE CHANGE AND TREES
SCIENCE BLOG:
Professor Derek Eamus discusses the role of trees and tree planting in carbon sequestration and some surrounding issues.
Mon 8 Feb 10

WA DROUGHT UNIQUE FOR 750 YEARS (NATURE GEOSCIENCE)
RAPID ROUNDUP:
New Australian research suggests the past few decades of serious drought in the southwestern corner of Australia may be highly unusual compared with the past 750 years.
Mon 8 Feb 10

LANCET RETRACTS WAKEFIELD PAPER ON MMR/AUTISM
UK & NZ SMC ROUNDUP:
The Lancet has formally retracted the paper in which Andrew Wakefield claimed that the MMR vaccine can be linked to autism - see comments from UK and New Zealand based experts.
Wed 3 Feb 10

COALITION'S CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY
RAPID ROUNDUP:
The Coalition has announced their climate change policy under the leadership of Tony Abbott. Experts respond.
Tue 2 Feb 10

STAIN REPELLENT CHEMICAL LINKED TO THYROID DISEASE
RAPID ROUNDUP:
Experts comment on new research out of the UK linking thyroid disease with exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
Fri 22 Jan 10

EXPERTS RESPOND TO GLACIER MELT DOUBTS
RAPID ROUNDUP:
NZ and Aus SMC round-up of reaction to news The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is reexamining a report it issued that suggests Himalayan glaciers could vanish by 2035.
Thu 21 Jan 10

ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY AFFECTS GENE EXPRESSION
RAPID ROUNDUP:
Experts react to new Australian research showing alcohol consumed during pregancy can effect fetal gene expression
Fri 15 Jan 10

EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
RAPID ROUNDUP:
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti is feared to have resulted in the deaths of at least 170,000. Experts respond.
Thu 14 Jan 10

TV TIME MAY CUT LIFE SHORT
ONLINE BRIEFING:
Australian researchers have tracked the TV viewing habits of 8,800 adults and found that every hour spent in front of the TV each day increased the risk of death.
Tue 12 Jan 10

 
  Hot topic archive  
 
Spacer This page was last modified on April 3, 2009
© Copyright 2005-2010 | Australian Science Media Centre | Credits | Disclaimer
Street Address: The Science Exchange 55 Exchange Place Adelaide South Australia 5000
corner graphic