Anthony Weldon

Birmingham City University | BCU

Strength and conditioning (S&C) is applied across various sports and levels. However, more evidence is needed regarding the practices and perspectives of those delivering S&C, with recent evidence in particular sports and countries showing that sports coaches and support staff are often tasked with this responsibility. Therefore, this study aimed t...

This study used an online survey to investigate strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) demographic and job characteristics across different Chinese high–performance sports. Ninety-three SCCs from 44 high–-performance sports across 25 provinces/municipalities participated in this study (age 31.5 ± 6.9 yrs, experience as a SCC 5.5 ± 4.4 yrs). A bac...

Study aim : This study aimed to determine and compare the ‘optimum power load’ in the hexagonal (HBDL) and straight (SBDL) bar deadlift exercises. Material and methods : Fifteen novice strength-trained males performed three repetitions of the HBDL and SBDL at loads from 20–90% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). Peak power, average power, peak v...

Study aim : This study aimed to examine the effects of a six-week complex-contrast training (CCT) intervention on the physical fitness of male field hockey athletes. Material and methods: Participants were randomized into a CCT (n = 8) or control (CG; n = 6) group. Physical fitness was assessed pre- and post-six-week intervention using a 30 m linea...

The benefits of strength and conditioning (S&C) for improving judo performance and reducing injuries have been widely studied. However, the S&C practices employed and perspectives held by those delivering S&C have yet to be elucidated. Therefore, this study investigated the S&C practices and perspectives of judokas and S&C coaches working within ju...

To solve the research–practice gap and take one step forward toward using big data with real-world evidence, the present study aims to adopt a novel method using machine learning to pool findings from meta-analyses and predict the change of countermovement jump. The data were collected through a total of 124 individual studies included in 16 recent...

This study used an online survey to investigate the practices and perspectives of strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) across different high-performance sports in China. The survey comprised of the following sections: (a) background information, (b) muscular strength and power, (c) speed, (d) endurance, (e) plyometrics, (f) flexibility, (g) phy...

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of circadian rhythm on physical performance during a match-preparation training sessions (MD-1) in elite soccer players. Over a 28-week period, a standardised MD-1 training session was alternated between morning and afternoon start times. Physical performance (Total Distance, High Speed Running...

Olympic coaches are likely to have adequate knowledge and implement effective training programs. This study aimed to describe and critically examine the strength and conditioning practices adopted by Brazilian Olympic sprint and jump coaches. Nineteen Olympic coaches (age: 50.2 ± 10.8 years; professional experience: 25.9 ± 13.1 years) completed a s...

Complex contrast training (CCT) is an exercise modality that utilizes both high-load resistance activity and low-load plyometric activity in a set-by-set fashion within a single exercise session. Such a combination of exercises targets multiple aspects of the force–velocity curve and may thus lead to improvement of various components of physical fi...

The main aim of cricket fielding is to minimize runs scored by the opposing batting team. This is achieved through (a) collecting a batted ball and returning it to the wicket-keeper to prevent runs from being scored, (b) dismissing a batter by catching a batted ball, (c) running a batter out by throwing the ball to strike the stumps, or 4) preventi...

The landmine row is an upper-body pulling exercise using a barbell as a lever. This column provides the strength and conditioning coach with a summary of trained musculature, technique descriptions for common landmine row variations, suggested instructional cues for improving technique and performance, an overview of unique exercise biomechanics, a...

The current investigation aimed to understand the differing positional demands across two elite rugby union competitions, with special reference to high-intensity effort (HIE) and repeated high-intensity effort (RHIE) activity. Four hundred and forty-one (n = 441) individual game files from thirty-five competitive games from the European Rugby Cham...

Background Low-dye taping (LTD) is widely used by athletes and medical practitioners but the research regarding its impacts on athletic performance is lacking. This study investigated the effects of using low-dye taping on plyometric performance and muscle activities in recreational basketball players with overpronated feet. Methods Twelve collegi...

This study aimed to examine the most demanding passages of play in elite youth soccer for congested and non-congested fixture schedules. Seventeen elite youth male soccer players (18.2 ± 1.3 years old) participated in this study across 30 competitive matches. Assessed matches included congested (n = 12, three matches within eight consecutive days o...

This sytematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of complex contrast training (CT) on aerobic endurance, maximal strength, and repeated sprint ability (RSA) in soccer players. After an electronic search, nine peer-reviewed articles were considered, including soccer players from junior to professional-level (age 14 – 23 years). On...

World Lacrosse recently announced World Lacrosse Sixes, which aims to be a smaller, faster, and more accessible format of lacrosse, when compared with traditional field lacrosse. This investigation aimed to quantify the movement and physiological demands of World Lacrosse Sixes in male (n = 25) and female (n = 22) international players. Match data...

This study presents the perceptions and practices of fundamental movement skills (FMS) in grassroots soccer coaches. One hundred and twenty-eight coaches (123 males, 5 females) completed an online mixed-method survey comprising 32 questions relating to: participant demographics, education, and qualifications; FMS perceptions, practices, and assessm...

Strength and conditioning (S&C) is implemented across various sports and levels, but there is limited understanding of the personnel responsible for this, including their S&C practices and perspectives. Whereas recent evidence has shown that coaches and players are often tasked with the responsibility. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate: 1)...

Brazil is the leading global exporter of soccer players, with approximately 2,000 international transfers to different clubs per year. Although Brazilian players compete in the most prestigious soccer leagues worldwide, the habitual training methods, strategies, and routines of Brazilian soccer strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) are undocumen...

This study aimed to describe professional soccer players' training responses during a competitive season and to investigate the relationship between these responses with wellbeing and recovery indices. Thirteen professional soccer players from the same Spanish Second Division team were monitored during a sixteen-week in-season period. Players' exte...

The COVID-19 pandemic has created substantial challenges across higher education, requiring academic institutes to conduct all teaching, learning, and assessments remotely online. To obtain a stronger understanding of the opinions of teachers and students in Hong Kong during this period, an anonymous online survey was distributed to all teachers an...

The practices of strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches have been reported in various professional sports. This study aims to comprehensively assess this available evidence to help establish whether theoretical, practical, and evidence-based guidelines align with the practices employed by these experienced S&C coaches. Three databases were searche...

This is the first study to report the whole match, ball-in-play (BiP), ball-out-of-play (BoP), and Max BiP (worst case scenario phases of play) demands of professional soccer players competing in the English Championship. Effective playing time per soccer game is typically <60 min. When the ball is out of play, players spend time repositioning them...

This study aimed to quantify and assess the relationship of young soccer players' off-training physical activity (PA) and training responses on sleep quality. Eleven adolescent soccer players (13 ± 0.5 years old) were monitored during weekdays for four consecutive weeks, throughout soccer practice days. Off-training PA and sleep quality were assess...

Despite the wide adoption of emergency remote learning (ERL) in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is insufficient understanding of influencing factors predicting student satisfaction for this novel learning environment in crisis. The present study investigated important predictors in determining the satisfaction of undergraduate...

The strength and conditioning (S&C) industry can appear as a saturated market, with a lack of balance between supply and demand of strength and conditioning coaches, with the former outweighing the latter. Job descriptions may be an effective tool for aspiring coaches to identify what current skill sets employers look for, in particular those deeme...

To the authors’ knowledge this is the first study to describe the strength and conditioning (S&C) practices and perspectives of volleyball coaches and players. In total, 30 volleyball coaches (mean age 34.47 ± 7.83 years and coaching experience 19.57 ± 8.28 years), and 30 volleyball players (mean age 22.03 ± 4.43 years and playing experience 10.43...

Quantifying the training content within elite professional soccer and analysis of tapering strategies has gained huge interest in recent times within the literature in order to maximise player performance. The formatting of training load tapering (TLT) appears to differ depending on the management in charge and microcycle coaching philosophy. The p...

Strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches are tasked with reducing injuries and optimizing physical and sports performance. Although various literature advises the practices of S&C coaches, relatively little is known regarding their views and opinions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the current issues, desired changes and perceived future...

This study describes the contemporary practices of strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches in professional cricket. Thirty-three S&C coaches working with international and professional club teams across seven countries completed an online survey. The survey consisted of 45 questions (35 fixed responses and 10 open-ended), with eight sections: (a) b...

INTRODUCTION: Meta-analysis (MA) is conducted via combining data from smaller studies that leads to greater statistical power and more robust answers to research questions. In sports science, a conventional MA can show the magnitude of effects from specific physical training method for a given population, but cannot necessarily predict the traini...

The aims of the present study were to: 1) determine the seasonal variation of physical performance in professional cricket players, 2) determine the seasonal variation of inter-limb asymmetries in the same cohort of professional players. Fifteen male professional cricket players (age: 20.60 ± 1.59 years; height: 1.82 ± 0.08 m; body mass: 78.70 ± 11...

This study describes the practices of strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) from different sports, countries, and expertise levels. One hundred fifty-six SCCs (31.9 ± 8.9 years old) completed an online survey, consisting of 40 questions (36 fixed response and 4 open-ended), with 8 sections as follows: (a) background information, (b) muscular str...

This study describes the contemporary practices of strength and conditioning coaches in professional soccer. Fifty-two strength and conditioning coaches from professional leagues across 18 countries completed an online survey, consisting of 45 questions, with eight sections: (a) background information, (b) muscular strength and power development, (...

Objective: This study aims to develop a physical profile of international cricketers, and investigate if positional differences exist between bowlers and batters. Methods: Nineteen, international male cricketers, eleven bowlers (age 24.1 ± 5.2 years; height 179.73 ± 5.27 cm; weight 73.64 ± 6.65 kg), and eight batters (age 22.9 ± 3.8 years; height 1...

Many studies have confirmed the training effects of post-activation potentiation (PAP) in explosive exercises due to the muscle adaptation in previous contraction, however there is limited research about using PAP in throwing. The study aimed to analyze the upper body PAP effects on throwing velocity in national cricket male players. Arm speed and...

This study compared the effects of eight-week tyre flipping training intervention using light and heavy tyres on physical fitness performance. Twenty-nine young physically active males were divided into light (n = 15) and heavy (n = 14) tyre flipping groups evenly according to body weight and height. Body-to-tyre weight ratios were 0.61 ± 0.06 for...

This study examined the effects of a work-integrated learning (WIL) placement on student's self-efficacy and perceived workplace skill levels. Twenty-eight participants volunteered for this study, in which 15 completed WIL and 13 did not (non-WIL). The Work Self-Efficacy Inventory (WS-Ei) and Workplace Skills Questionnaire (WSQ) were used to collec...

This study aimed to identify how playing basketball with two additional baskets influences the players' technical, physiological, physical and especially, positional performance. Fourteen youth players performed eight 5vs.5 simulated basketball games, four with the two official baskets and four with two-extra official baskets, each one placed in th...

This study examined the acute effects of NaHCO3 ingestion on repetitions to failure and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in the back squat and bench press in trained males. Eight resistance trained males took part in this double-blind, randomized cross-over experimental study whereby they ingested NaHCO3 (0.3gkg body mass) or placebo (sodium chlo...