High Performance Sport

Background

We know Australians share in a proud and rich history of elite sporting performances. Our elite and high-performance athletes showcase the highest levels of skill, mastery and competitiveness inspiring many Australians [Pride and Inspiration Index 2022, Community Perceptions Monitor, Australian Sports Commission].

What is less clear is how to establish a solid national base and create inclusive pathways for developing high-performance talent (athletes, coaches, officials, and performance staff) in Australia.

What we do know can be found in our evidence base topic:

Proposed Research Focus

National Science Research Priorities for High Performance Sport

Supporting athletes

Organisations should give priority to scientific initiatives, research and innovations that address:

• Advancements in athlete identification and development, including the ways in which the physical growth and maturation and psycho-social development of young people impacts involvement and progression in HP pathways.
• Athlete physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing to support sustained, successful sport performances.
• The needs of a diverse athlete population, with a particular focus on areas with identified knowledge gaps.

Performance optimisation

Organisations should give priority to scientific initiatives, research and innovations that address:

• Optimising training, based on athlete needs and on the specific requirements and complexity of sport competitions.
• Monitoring and management of training load and fatigue to improve competition performance.
• Performing in challenging environmental conditions.
• Interdisciplinary approaches to providing tailored solutions to sport-specific challenges.
• Deep dives into discipline-specific solutions, supporting specific areas of performance.

Strategic insight

Organisations should give priority to scientific initiatives, research and innovations that address:

• Determinants of successful competition performance, performance predictors, performance modelling.
• Real time and strategic analysis of training and competition, including: data-informed technical and tactical decision-making during competitions; data-informed design of future training and practice; performance analysis and strategic insight.
• Ethical and lawful opponent analysis, including during competition and long-term performance trends.
• Competition environment intelligence, including understanding and predicting competition environment and potential conditions on race day (e.g., climate, venue layout, course profile, travel to and from, altitude, wind, water conditions, crowd).

Competitive equipment

Organisations should give priority to scientific initiatives, research and innovations that address:

• Equipment design and optimisation, balancing innovation robustness, manufacturing and regulatory requirements. Considerations include aerodynamics, materials, travel requirements, etc.
• Sport-specific components, such as pedals, footpegs, handles, wheels, rackets, bats, etc.
• Custom-built equipment, tailored to the individual athlete. Considerations include effective and rapid manufacturing.
• Competitive garments, for training and competitions. Considerations include, but are not limited to, aerodynamics, sustainable materials, cooling properties.
• Technology integration, incorporating advanced technologies, such as sensors and smart materials, into sports equipment, for accurate and valid measurement of relevant variables.

Better practice

Organisations should give priority to scientific initiatives, research and innovations that address:

• Coach development and coaching science, including a focus on the coaching profession, women in HP coaching, and enhancing learning design.
• Dissemination, translation and implementation of trustworthy research results into practice.
• Appropriate program evaluation practices, including impact assessment.