Practitioner Blog: Raising the bar in Sport Coaching. Written by Jamie Taylor.

As it has been established, the role of both sleep and nutrition is of utmost importance when it comes to recovery and the risk of injury in athletic populations. It is crucial to understand that maturation is a process that requires a significant amount of energy, especially considering the high energy demands and training requirements of adolescent athletes. Additionally, it is well-known that there is an increased risk of injury during periods of peak growth and/or training intensity. Therefore, it is imperative to not underestimate the significance of the recovery process.

Research suggests female athletes experienced greater risk and burden from the injury, there were numerous gaps in this population within the literature, and these athletes are often under-resourced compared to their male counterparts. Our systematic review found female rugby union, association football (soccer), and Gaelic football had the highest sport-related concussions (SRC) rates in published literature.

It all begins with an idea.

My research project examines how the sleep, performance, and menstrual cycle of female athletes are associated with each other. With the incredible growth in the popularity of female sports and the expected greater retention of female athletes in sports, the research focusing on female physiology needs to advance in both quantity and quality.