The Secret To Recovery?

This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…

• Tadej Pogačar’s secret to recovery
• Folarin Balogun’s youth athletic development
• Is the countermovement rebound jump a valuable athlete monitoring assessment?

Tadej Pogačar’s secret to recovery

Tadej Pogačar is already regarded as one of cycling’s greatest riders and is currently aiming to win his fifth Tour de France. A recent article by Cycling News provided an insight into Pogačar’s beliefs on recovery.

The article highlights the highly scientific approach his performance team takes to optimise his preparation. This includes strength training, altitude training, heat training, gut training to tolerate up to 120 g of carbohydrate per hour, and the use of AI to detect signs of fatigue and guide training decisions.

Despite this evidence-based approach, Pogačar’s own philosophy on recovery is refreshingly simple. He recently stated, “the best recovery can be to stay on the sofa and do nothing.” His comments serve as a reminder that, despite the ever-growing range of recovery technologies available, complete rest is often the most effective recovery strategy.

Folarin Balogun’s youth athletic development

U.S.A. footballer Folarin Balogun attracted plenty of attention during the FIFA World Cup for both his playing ability and athleticism. He also found himself at the centre of controversy after his suspension was lifted following a red card in the previous game, allowing him to feature against Belgium. We’ll leave that debate to FIFA and Donald Trump!

Anyway, back to Balogun’s playing ability and athleticism. A recent social media post (LinkedIn & X) by Des Ryan, former Head of Sport Medicine & Athletic Development at Arsenal Football Club Academy, shared an incredible clip of Balogun from his time at Arsenal as a 15-year-old.

In the video, Balogun can be seen performing three repetitions of heavy, full-range back squats with a spotter. While unfortunately there is still debate about whether youth footballers should lift heavy weights, this footage suggests that strength training did not hinder Balogun’s development!

Thanks to Des for sharing this. It is always fascinating to get an insight into the training environments of elite athletes during their teenage years, and to see first-hand the physical qualities and training methods that may have contributed to their long-term development.

If you would like to learn more about S&C for football, our courses, S&C for Football & Long Term Athletic Development, are definitely worth checking out!

Is the countermovement rebound jump a valuable athlete monitoring assessment?

A recent study has highlighted the potential of the countermovement rebound jump as an effective tool for monitoring neuromuscular fatigue in athletes. This jump involves performing an initial maximal countermovement jump, which is then immediately followed by a rapid rebound jump upon landing.

The research was conducted with 29 American football players who underwent a series of assessments measuring both countermovement jumps and countermovement rebound jumps before and after games. One of the most significant findings was that the countermovement rebound jump was more sensitive to acute fatigue compared to the traditional countermovement jump. Additionally, it’s important to note that the countermovement rebound jump engages both slow and fast stretch-shortening cycle capabilities.

Overall, the findings from this study underscore the countermovement rebound jump as a promising tool for monitoring, providing coaches with a quick and insightful understanding of an athlete’s neuromuscular status.

From us this week:

>> New course: Menstruation in Sport
>> New podcast: Blood Flow Restriction at the World Cup
>> New infographic: Wingate Anaerobic Test
>> New article: Hydrotherapy

Access to a growing library of sports science courses

SFS Academy is an all-access membership to premium sports science education.

With SFS Academy, you’ll learn from some of the best coaches around the world as they teach you how to apply the latest research and practice with your athletes.

The post The Secret To Recovery? appeared first on Science for Sport.