In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Luke Roberts, author of Leading Schools and Sustaining Innovation: How to Think Big and Differently in Complex Systems, joins host Martin Foster to discuss systems change.

If you’ve been involved in the sport, physical activity, health, education, business, or any other sector, you’ll likely have heard people talk about systems change. You may have seen attempts to create change, but more often than not, the outcomes don’t match expectations.

In today’s podcast, we explore what systems change really means. We begin by defining the concept and discussing the common challenges people face when trying to bring about meaningful change, using real-world examples. We then shift focus to what is required to create and sustain systems change over time.

We hope this episode inspires anyone looking to make a positive impact and become a systems change leader of the future.

Intros: 0:00
What is Systems Change?: 3:42
Purpose of the system: 10:32
Examples: 15:45
Systems Mapping: 29:32
Getting the system ready for change: 36:00
Maintain and Sustain: 42:23
Changing the icing not the cake: 45:35
What's next?: 52:24

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Serhat Yilmaz and Lerina Bright (Mission 89) join host Martin Foster to discuss Human trafficking in the global sports ecosystem.

Loughborough University, in partnership with Mission 89 and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch of the British Parliament, has released the first-ever comprehensive global thematic report on sport trafficking.

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published.  

The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly.

https://mission89.org/

Intro 00:00
The issue 6:21 
Definitions 11:06
In and through sport 22:42
Around sport 34:47
Recommendations 43:20
Summary 53:18
Outros 1:06:31

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Professor Mark Williams joins host Martin Foster to discuss How Elite Athletes Are Made. 

Professor Mark Williams has researched Sports Science for over 30 years, he has published hundreds of academic articles, written, and edited over 20 books and has worked at leading organisations around the world. In this podcast we focus on his book "The Best. How Elite Athletes are Made." We discuss a wide range of topics from how siblings and the environment we live in can impact our sporting success, the truth about the 10 000 hour rule, the power of coaching and much more. If you want to learn more about how elite athletes are made, then this podcast is a great place to start.

Intro 00:00
How Elite Athletes Are Made 3:25
Most important aspects 6:12 
Siblings 7:32
Helicopter parenting 9:24
Location 10:39
Age and academies 20:24
Early specialisation and 10000 hours 31:23
Born or made? 35:31
Practice 38:50
What makes the best coaches? 48:01
Next steps 1:03:48
Outros 1:06:09

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Dr Janine Coates (expert in inclusive PE and school sport), Tammy and her mum Lynn (stars from the 'Equal Play' documentary), and Helen Derby (Strategic Lead, Programmes, Activity Alliance) join host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) to discuss how physical education can be improved to make it inclusive for everyone who takes part.

Intros 00:00
The research 2:51
Tammy's experience 5:55
Activity Alliance 10:17 
Examples 18:40 
The future 21:17
Wheelchair tennis 29:14
Outros 33:51

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Steven Bradbury joins host Martin Foster to discuss Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Leadership. 

Intro 00:00
Equality and equity 1:49 
Leading the way: the background 3:19 
Levels of representation 6:52 
Benefits of a diverse workforce 9:55
Challenges 14:27
Barriers 23:15
Examples of good practice 26:02
Recommendations 34:12
Next steps 41:27
Outro 46:17

Physical activity levels of children in England and around the world remain stubbornly low. 

Research has shown that Physical Education can inspire children to embrace physical activity and sport, yet the curriculum that is delivered nationwide remains narrow with a heavy focus on skill development for sport.  

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Professor David Kirk and Professor Ash Casey discuss Models-based practice with host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead). The trio cover what models-based practice is, the potential benefits and the best way to apply Models-based practice within schools. 

Professor Ash Casey is the Programme Director for the MSc and PGCE in Education with QTS (Physical Education) at Loughborough University. Ash maintains an active presence on X (formerly Twitter) (@DrAshCasey) and operates a blog (www.PEPRN.com), dedicated to translating research into practical applications Physical Education and Pedagogy. His research explores pedagogical models, teacher development through social media, and pedagogies of technology.  

Professor David Kirk is an educational researcher with teaching and research interests in educational innovation, curriculum history, and physical education and sport pedagogy. He is the founding editor of the peer reviewed journal Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy (Routledge) and editor of Routledge Studies in Physical Education and Youth Sport. He has held academic appointments previously in universities in England, Australia, Ireland and Belgium and is currently Honorary Professor of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland. 

Intro 00:00
Background of P.E 3:04 
What is the purpose of P.E.? 12:59 
Models based practise 22:30
An Activist Approach 34:53
In practise 36:49
What’s next? 48:39

Safeguarding and interpersonal abuse in sport – the development and potential impact of the IOC consensus statement. 

Last month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed its commitment to safe sport by announcing the release of its third consensus statement on safeguarding and interpersonal violence in sport. 

In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, hosted Martin Foster is joined by those involved in delivering this initiative. 

The panel, featuring Prof Daniel Rhind (Loughborough University), Prof Yetsa Adebodunde Tuakli-Wosornu, (Stanford University), and Kirsty Burrows (Head of the IOC's Safe Sport Unit), discuss the background to the consensus statement, its development, the overarching recommendations and what this means for wider stakeholders. 

Intro 00:00 
Consensus statement importance 2:52  
Research rationale 7:42  
Definitions 9:14 
Methodology 16:31 
Findings 18:06 
Sport and society 28:27 
Intentional interpersonal violence 34:43 
Recommendations 41:28 
What changes do you want to see? 52:02 
Outros 56:01 

In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Professor Paul Downward to discuss the UK’s low levels of sport participation. 

The podcast includes discussions on government policy and its impact on participation rates, and what needs to change to encourage more people to become active.

Intro 00:00
Participation rates 7:10 
History of monitoring 12:19 
How have things changed? 17:27 
General trends 22:46
Specific trends 25:57
Fitness industry 30:27
Biggest impact 37:18
Future of policy 39:29
What are we trying to achieve? 50:06
The future 55:04

Axel Dopfer, Professor Duncan Walker, Dr Richard Ferguson, and Josh Cresswell join us to discussHow Loughborough University's world-class sports ecosystem helped alumnus Axel Dopfer break the German hour record.

Intros 0:00 
University approach 6:55  
Training as a Loughborough student 11:20  
Memorable moments 14:26  
Interdisciplinary aspect 16:37  
Heat acclimation 27:52  
Training smart 32:02  
Build up to the day 39:34  
Methodology 48:29  
The Event 52:24  
What next? 56:47  
How to find out more 1:03:22  

Professor Jonathan Folland and Dr Tom Balshaw join host Stuart McErlain-Naylor to break down the anatomy of Strongman Champion Eddie Hall and highlight the key characteristics that enabled him to break world records in the deadlift. 

Time Stamps: 
00:00 Intros 
1:04 An evening with Eddie Hall 
5:16 Scope of research 
10:13 Why Eddie Hall?
11:55 Preparation 
16:50 What did the day entail?
22:19 Main findings of the case study
26:24 Under or over developed? 
28:43 Tendon adaptation 
34:44 Injury risk 
37:07 Inherited characteristics 
42:11 Limiting factors in human performance 
43:43 What else is there to know about Eddie? 
45:58 Current and future research 
49:27 Where to find out more
50:55 Outros  

Journal: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00342.2024

Professor Vicky Tolfrey chats to host Dan Trussell to discuss the Paralympics in Paris, wheelchair sport and what's to come after the Games. 

Intros 0:00
Wheelchair configuration in tennis 0:43 
Competitive edge 4:28
Athlete collaboration 5:26
What to expect from wheelchair sport 7:10
Wheelchair basketball at Loughborough 8:11
The future of parasport 9:41
Parasport and society 14:11
Outros 19:29

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, discusses research within Para sport at Loughborough and its potential across the landscape of sport with guests, Vladyslava Kravchenko, Alasdair Donaldson, and Jennifer Wong, of Loughborough University.

Time stamps:
0.00-4.03 - Introduction
4.04- 8.31 - Why Loughborough?
8.32- 10.49 - Development of Para sport at Loughborough
10.50-12.32 - Examples of Para sport development
12.33-17.32 - Developing the workforce
17.33-24.05 - Opportunity at Loughborough
24.06- 28.34 - International relations 
28.35-34.04 - Para sport against stigma 
34.05-42.37 - London 2012 Legacy
42.38-45.53 - Barriers and stigma
45.54-48.25 - Making noise toolkit
48.26-49.54 - Diplomacy and international governance PhD
49.55-51.25 - Outros 

Loughborough University alumna, Paula Radcliffe MBE, joins host, Martin Foster, in this episode of the Experts in Sport Podcast to discuss her experience as a student athlete at Loughborough and her successful career within athletics.

Timestamps:
0.00-1.23 - Intro
1.24-7.14 - Experience as a student at Loughborough University
7.14-9.57 - Combining academia and sport
9.58-12.34 - Student life
12.35-15.22 - Partnered running
15.23-17.51 - Loughborough traditions
17.52-25.06 - Preparation for competition as a student
25.07-31.22 - Changes in practice and training
31.23-34.57 - Menstrual cycle
34.58-42.52 - Androcentrism vs women in sport & training during pregnancy
42.53-47.08 - Further work
47.09-51.02 - Getting into running
51.03-51.47 - Outro

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor of Psychology Sophia Jowett to break down coach-athlete relationships and their benefits in athletes having the edge on the biggest stage, seen in the relationship between Mel Marshall and Adam Peaty.

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor Liam Heaney, who provides an insight into how athletes are tested on the biggest stage and the work that Loughborough University is carrying out in the area. 

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, joins host, Dan Trussell, to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the importance of legacy that exists within major sporting competitions.

A Loughborough University study found that top sprinters, whilst being generally more muscular, had a very specific pattern to their muscularity, with some muscles far bigger. Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, talks to Professor Jonathan Folland, from the School of Sport Exercise, and Health Sciences, to discuss research findings in the area.

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, is joined by guests, Dr Richard Ferguson and Dr Dave Nichols, to discuss research around elite cycling and performance.

Timestamps:
0.00-2.23 - Intro
2.24-8.59 - Competing at an elite level and training
9.00-12.29 - Individual or team sport and hierarchy
12.30-17.14 - Research to understand level of performance
17.15-21.38 - Interdisciplinary research at Loughborough University
21.39-24.47 - Real-life applications of cycling
24.48-27.19 - Potential use of online tools in elite training
27.20-33.51 - Beneficial research at Loughborough
33.52-42.16 - Loughborough Lightning 
42.17-48.29 - Issues around androcentric research
48.30-54.24 - Upcoming research
54.25-57.11 - Outro

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Donald Barron (Loughborough University), Austin Fuller (Product Director of Football and Rugby business at Hudl, former FA insights and analysis) and Robin Jackson to discuss performance analysis, artificial intelligence, and football penalties.

Timestamps:
0.00-2.23 - Intro
2.24-6.40 - Performance analysis and development
6.41-11.07 - Advent of AI
11.08-17.36 - Analyst’s job before game
17.37-20.30 - Coach comparison between team and their opposition
20.31-27.25 - Preparation prior to competition
27.26-36.59 - Use of data and metrics in decision-making
37.00-53.32 Penalties and analysis of Euros
53.33-1.00.12 - Lack of top corner saves
1.00.13-1.01.14 - Outro

0.00-2.59 - Intro and performance analysis overview
3.00-8.53 - Constraints-led approach within sport
8.54-15.18 - Tailoring training for elite athletes
15.19-18.57 - Performance analyst, coach, and athlete relationships
18.58-20.57 - Technological advancements informing data collection
20.58-30.29 - Research and metric development
30.30-37.22 - Unexpected findings within research
37.23-46.45 - Real-life applications of findings
46.46-59.23 - Encouraging development in younger players
59.24-1.04.52 - Further research
1.04.53-1.05.39 - Outro

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Stuart McErlain-Naylor is joined by guest Judd Kalkhoven, from Western Sydney University, to discuss common misconceptions within the scope of sports injury research.

Timestamps:
0.00-4.50 - Intro
4.51-13.34 - Research and inspiration - causal models
13.35-22.53 - Implications for research findings
22.54-26.14 - Exploratory research to show statistical relationships
26.15-28.18 - Transitioning research from the lab to the field
28.19-30.11 - Do intended applications influence lab work?
30.12-33.55 - Including practitioners in research
33.56-45.44 - Need for research prior to practical application 
45.45-54.10 - Prediction vs. causation
54.11-56.44 - Outro and further work

Dr Tom Webb, Associate Professor in the Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University, joins Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor to discuss officiating within sports and the challenges that face referees and other officials across the landscape. 

Throughout the episode, conversations around the role and purpose of a sports official are centred, alongside the perception of sports officials as athletes, embracing the introduction of technologies such as VAR, and debating what constitutes a successful outcome.

Timestamps:
0.00-4.30 - Introduction and background
4.31-7.49 - How does lack of research affect the representation of sports officials
7.50-13.45 - Referee and Sports Official Research Network and further projects
13.46-23.50 - Role and purpose of a sports official
23.51-27.15 - Embracing and working with technology to officiate
27.16-33.00 - Perception of the official as an athlete
33.01-36.02 - What does a successful outcome look like? 
36.03-40.40 - Errors, re-refereeing and the introduction of VAR
40.41-47.47 - Issue of recruitment and retention within sports and solutions
47.48-50.53 - Examples outside of sport to improve experience
50.54-54.04 - Outro and further work

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, a doctoral prize fellow at Loughborough University, Ruth Hollis, and Amy Finch join Experts in Sport host Martin Foster to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on UK populations.

Timestamps:
0.00-5.04 - Introduction
5.05-8.14 - Formation of Spirit of 2012 
8.15-10.43 - Providing opportunities for societal change
10.44-14.42 - Catering to different demographics during the event
14.43-21.38 - Achievements since 2012 and convening people from different sectors
21.39-29.04 - Biggest challenges within the landscape
29.05-32.00 - Lasting legacy on the UK population
32.01-37.00 - Should every event attempt to achieve societal change
37.01-45.35 - Partnerships including Loughborough University and others
45.36-47.49 - Advice for future event organiser
47.50-49.55 - Conclusion and outros

Racism is an integral issue in the arena of sport, but how can its history and mediated culture assist in breaking down barriers for athletes moving forward?

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, hosted by Martin Foster, Dr Nik Dickerson, from Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, features as a guest to discuss the wider issues surrounding racism and its entwinement with masculinity in sport media.

Highly contested issues within sport are decoded, including Colin Kaepernick’s explicit protest (taking the knee during the national anthem at an NFL game) to highlight racial injustices facing African American men, as well as incidences of police brutality.

Dr Enora Le Flao (Postdoctoral Scholar, The Ohio State University), Dr Lizzy Williams (Senior Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University) and David Powell (PhD student, Swansea University) discuss concussions in Rugby Union and instrumented mouth-guards, which have embedded sensors to measure linear and angular kinematics of the head.

Time Stamps:
0:00-4:20 Intros
4:20-5:09 What is the rationale behind all this?
5:09-11:23 How has this been previously done and where are we now?
11:23-12:59 Is the mouthguard a replacement for visual monitoring – medical threshold?
12:59-14:44 False positives and negatives
14:44-17:59 What causes concussion?
17:59-22:58 How do the mouth guards work? What are they monitoring?
22:58-26:17 Training and workload
26:17-30:25 Sex differences
30:25-32:03 Misconceptions and eventual aims
32:03-40:00 Further research
40:00-42:52 Other sports
42:53-46:20 Further information
46:20-47:28 Outro and goodbyes