GBWR a credit at test event

Ross Morrison and Aaron Phipps.

Pictured here are Aaron Phipps and Ross Morrison back training at Southampton Solent University under the watchful eye of Dr Bruce-Low who is the sport scientist to the GB Wheelchair rugby squad. They have just returned from the test event at the Olympic Park where they both competed and performed magnificently. The squad were runners up to a very strong Australian team but both Phipps and Morrison put in outstanding performances against Canada where after extra time GB won in a dramatic climax! This showed just how far their fitness had progressed since the beginning of the year! They continue their physical preparation with Dr Bruce-Low here at Solent as they get ready for London in September.

BASES Student Conference April 2012

Whilst many students and staff were either completing their dissertations or taking a well-earned Easter break, some were busy at BASES student Conference at the University of East London on 11^th and 12^th April.

Senior Lecturer in Sports Conditioning and Fitness, James Fisher and Associate Lecturer Mark Adamoulas accompanied several Southampton Solent University students to the conference to present and catch up with the latest student-led research.

The conference had a notable Olympic and Paralympic theme (close to James’ heart as he is the GB Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Assistant Coach); and saw keynote lectures from the likes of Aki Salo and Keith Gilbert discussing their involvement and experiences in previous Olympic/Paralympic events.

Of the students, Jameson Mola, Jon Cooper and Dan D’Amario prepared oral presentations on their undergraduate research projects whilst Dan Smith prepared a poster presentation. Each of them saw this as the perfect opportunity to present to peers and potential postgraduate course tutors from other institutions as something that would separate them when they submit their CVs in the future. Catherine Platts was also accepted to present but was unable to attend due to competitive sailing commitments.

With 5 students from the Health, Exercise and Sport Science programme accepted to present, and 2 others from the Sports Studies programme, Solent continues to maintain the strong presence built up at the BASES student conference over recent years and looks to continue to do so. 

The students and their presentation topics are listed below:

Postactivation potentiation in professional soccer players: Optimal recovery time - Jameson Mola

The effect of coloured lenses on muscular endurance - Dan D’Amario

Visual perception within sailing: Is visual perception an appropriate variable for talent identification? - Jon Cooper

An investigation into the attitudes toward and preferences for male and female personal trainers - Catherine Platts

The effects of combining band resistance with free-weight resistance on lower body strength and power adaptations in adolescent athletes - Dan Smith

Health and Fitness Students Cruise to the Perfect Job

Students studying BSc Fitness & Personal Training, BA Fitness Management & Personal Training and BSc Health, Exercise & Physical Activity were treated to an inspiring guest presentation today by Donna Allen, the Regional Manager for Steiner cruise ships regarding employment opportunities as Personal Trainers aboard cruise ships. Steiner is responsible for some of the largest names in the cruise industry, including Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, with their ships carrying between 700 and 6000 passengers. 

During her talk, Donna presented a realistic insight into working aboard the ships, including the demands of the job, earning potential, travel opportunities and the specific qualities Steiner look for during the interview process. Course Leader, Martin Skivington commented, ‘it was an enthusiastic talk that even made the idea of sleeping in a bunk bed in cramped conditions for 9 months of the year sound appealing, especially when you consider the amazing travel destinations and experiences this career provides. It was also reassuring to hear an employer talk about the skills and qualities they look for in an employee, including the ability to speak confidently in public, professional qualifications and practical experience, all of which our students gain in abundance throughout their degrees’.

Three previous graduates from our health and fitness courses have been employed by Steiner over recent years, all of whom travelled the world and had fantastic experiences. Based on the reaction of the students who attended todays’ talk, it looks as if many more will follow the same path!     

Table Topping Guest Lecture

This week, final year students enrolled on the 'Sport Science Support' unit on the BSc Applied Sport Science and BSc Sport Coaching degrees were lucky enough to welcome Mr Nick Harvey, head of strength and conditioning at Southampton Football Club, who presented a guest lecture on interdisciplinary working in elite sport. The video clip below discusses what his role entails through to how he works with a large team of professionals all using their own approach to working with the athletes and how hard this is to co-ordinate and work through. He also describes the relationship that Solent has with Southampton FC and how our staff and students contribute to the success of Southampton FC.

Solent Fitness Degrees Help Clients Move More Freely

A deal has just been secured between Solent and Intelligent Training Systems that will provide final year students on the BSc Fitness & Personal Training and BA Fitness Management & Personal Training the opportunity to gain additional value-added qualifications to increase their employability. Students will undertake the Biomechanics Trainer award, a qualification that provides them with the skills and competencies to biomechanically assess a client prior to prescribing exercise. This ensures that clients are individually assessed and given exercises that will enhance their health, wellbeing and performance rather than simply prescribing a programme of exercise for a client with no knowledge as to whether that individual is biomechanically suitable for the prescribed intervention.

The qualification will be embedded into a new final year unit entitled Professional Practice in Personal Training which aims to bring together all elements of the course to ensure that our students leave university with the skills and experience to help raise standards of training and instruction within the fitness industry. Course Leader and qualified Biomechanics Coach, Martin Skivington, comments ‘this is the perfect qualification to offer to students as it not only raises their technical knowledge and professional competencies, it also makes them analyse each client and ensure that any exercise prescription is based on that individuals’ unique needs. Intelligent Training Systems share a similar philosophy to Solent in terms of trying to raise standards within the industry, and this partnership will enable Solent fitness students to further enhance their CVs and subsequently their employability potential’.

Sport Science Students Learn from Industry Practitioners

This week Chris Armstrong, head of sport science at Warwickshire County Cricket Club came in to present to students on our BSc Applied Sport Science and BSc Sport Coaching degrees. The students are undertaking the Sport Science Support unit in their third year and are starting to work with external clients so Chris gave them a wonderful insight into working in the elite sporting environment. In the video clip below, Chris goes on to give any potential students coming onto either the Applied Sport Science or Sport Coaching degree some advice on what they should be doing when they are here. He stresses the importance of building an impressive CV which is exactly what the Applied Sport Science and Sport Coaching courses help you to do.

Blackfield Primary School experience taste of Solent

The write up below is from a local school who visited the Sport Science facilities recently and clearly had a fantastic experience: 

VISIT TO SOLENT UNIVERSITY

Last week a group of our most talented scientists and mathematicians from Years 5 and 6 visited Solent University Sports Science Faculty to engage in a wide range of fantastically inspiring enquiries. The facilities were amazing and it was no surprise to note that the University is in the top three for this area of learning in the country.

We learned about physiology, experimented and tested our reaction times and applied the psychology of sport in a coaching model. Pupils actively assessed themselves and identified the responses their own body made to stimuli and heard an incredibly motivating and thought provoking speech given personally to them by Paralympian, Aaron Phipps. His journey to success, his outstandingly positive approach to all he does and his desire to drive himself to be the best he can was inspirational.