Sleep success: How to make ZZZs = memory@new scientist
Catherine Siengsukon of the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City reviewed the evidence for "offline practice" – practising skills during sleep – earlier this year. She reckons that motor learning – training brain areas that control muscles - during sleep could help rehabilitate young, brain-damaged patients.
EM sleep seems to be important for perceptual memory, "like when you're learning to play darts", while the consolidation of "declarative" memories – facts and events – happens during deep slow-wave sleep.
26 November 2009
25 November 2009
MOU between Loughborough University and Waseda University in Japan
Loughborough joins Japan in global $14m sports science programme@Loughborough University
Loughborough University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Waseda University in Japan as part of a global $14m programme designed to increase collaborative research in sport sciences and physical activity.
An initial three areas of research have been identified between the two Universities: the use of physical activity to prevent chronic disease, muscle physiology and sport performance, and the role sport plays in a socio-cultural context.
Loughborough University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Waseda University in Japan as part of a global $14m programme designed to increase collaborative research in sport sciences and physical activity.
An initial three areas of research have been identified between the two Universities: the use of physical activity to prevent chronic disease, muscle physiology and sport performance, and the role sport plays in a socio-cultural context.
24 November 2009
Singapore's Foreign Sports Talent Scheme
Foreign athletes welcomed if they raise standard of Singapore sports@CNA
Singapore will continue to embrace talented foreign athletes who want to represent the country, as long as they raise the standard of sports here, according to Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan.
Dr Balakrishnan revealed that the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) Schemes currently make up 4.6 per cent of the total number of athletes among the development and national squads of the seven key sports in the country.
There are currently 19 FSTs out of 97 badminton players, and 11 FSTs out of 85 table tennis players.
Dr Balakrishnan also laid down the three principles that guide the FST policy: openness to global talent, fairness in treatment of FSTs and local-born athletes, and ensuring the integration of the foreign-born athletes into society.
Singapore will continue to embrace talented foreign athletes who want to represent the country, as long as they raise the standard of sports here, according to Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan.
Dr Balakrishnan revealed that the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) Schemes currently make up 4.6 per cent of the total number of athletes among the development and national squads of the seven key sports in the country.
There are currently 19 FSTs out of 97 badminton players, and 11 FSTs out of 85 table tennis players.
Dr Balakrishnan also laid down the three principles that guide the FST policy: openness to global talent, fairness in treatment of FSTs and local-born athletes, and ensuring the integration of the foreign-born athletes into society.
SIngapore athletes preparation for YOG
S$2.6m disbursed to prepare Singapore athletes for YOG@CNA
S$2.6 million out of over S$6 million set aside for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games has already been disbursed to prepare Singapore athletes. The remaining amount will be given out over the next few months.
The 26 National Sports Associations (NSAs) whose sports will be competing in the Games were also given more details about the qualification criteria.
Singapore can send up to 130 athletes – both individual and teams – for the Games, but not all sports will have automatic qualifications.
S$2.6 million out of over S$6 million set aside for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games has already been disbursed to prepare Singapore athletes. The remaining amount will be given out over the next few months.
The 26 National Sports Associations (NSAs) whose sports will be competing in the Games were also given more details about the qualification criteria.
Singapore can send up to 130 athletes – both individual and teams – for the Games, but not all sports will have automatic qualifications.
17 November 2009
3D swim modeling to enhance performance
Maths to speed swimmers@CSIRO
CSIRO and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) are creating computer models of swimmers that can swim through virtual water.
The goal is to help individual swimmers find their ideal stroke techinique.
Once the virtual model is created, its performance will be compared to the real person, to make sure it matches reality.
CSIRO and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) are creating computer models of swimmers that can swim through virtual water.
The goal is to help individual swimmers find their ideal stroke techinique.
Once the virtual model is created, its performance will be compared to the real person, to make sure it matches reality.
AUS talent 'hot spots' study
Sports talent 'hot spots' being studied@SMH
Queensland's Griffith University is leading research into identifying potential elite athletes, which could be the key to improving Australia's international sporting success.
Rather than the standard biophysical measures, the university hopes to uncover reasons why some towns and regions like Wagga, which they call "hot-spots", produce more elite athletes than others.
The university is working with the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Institute of Sport, Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia and the Australian Football League following a $300,000 grant last month from the Australian Research Council.
Over the next three years researchers would study factors such as the family support for elite athletes, whether there was a strong club system, socio-cultural factors, psychological factors, how recruiters perceived talent, home-town advantage and whether the hot-spots have strong socio-capital.
Queensland's Griffith University is leading research into identifying potential elite athletes, which could be the key to improving Australia's international sporting success.
Rather than the standard biophysical measures, the university hopes to uncover reasons why some towns and regions like Wagga, which they call "hot-spots", produce more elite athletes than others.
The university is working with the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Institute of Sport, Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia and the Australian Football League following a $300,000 grant last month from the Australian Research Council.
Over the next three years researchers would study factors such as the family support for elite athletes, whether there was a strong club system, socio-cultural factors, psychological factors, how recruiters perceived talent, home-town advantage and whether the hot-spots have strong socio-capital.
no funding boost for AUS
No funding boost for sport: review@Brisbane Times
The federal government-commissioned report has dismissed the AOC's calls for an extra $100 million a year for 10 years for elite sports, saying that money would be better spent elsewhere.
It also takes issue with the AOC's quest to reclaim "top five" status on the medal table at the 2012 London Olympics and future Games, saying that target is not sensible and not an appropriate measure of Australian performance.
The federal government-commissioned report has dismissed the AOC's calls for an extra $100 million a year for 10 years for elite sports, saying that money would be better spent elsewhere.
It also takes issue with the AOC's quest to reclaim "top five" status on the medal table at the 2012 London Olympics and future Games, saying that target is not sensible and not an appropriate measure of Australian performance.
16 November 2009
NZ budget for 2010
SPARC ramps up high performance investment to new level@SPARC
SPARC is investing a record $6.3 million in 19 national sport organisations’ high performance programmes and projects following the 2010 contestable investment round.
In addition to the contestable high performance programme investment, $816,500 is being provided to national sport organisations for 2010 in service credits. Service credits cover the cost of sports medicine, sports science and athlete development services provided through the New Zealand Academy of Sport.
SPARC is investing a record $6.3 million in 19 national sport organisations’ high performance programmes and projects following the 2010 contestable investment round.
In addition to the contestable high performance programme investment, $816,500 is being provided to national sport organisations for 2010 in service credits. Service credits cover the cost of sports medicine, sports science and athlete development services provided through the New Zealand Academy of Sport.
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