CRYSTAL PALACE FOOTBALL CLUB SPONSORED PHD STUDENTSHIP IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CARNEGIE SCHOOL OF SPORT, LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY

Funding will consist of UK full tuition fees for three years and the award of an enhanced living stipend at UK Research Council rates (£20,609 per annum pro-rata into 12 monthly payments). Funding will be subject to satisfactory progress.

A laptop will be provided and the opportunity to apply for funding to support the research project.

Title: Modelling the training-match-fatigue relationship in elite soccer players

Supervisory team: Dr Stacey Emmonds

Elite soccer players complete a range of activities (e.g., locomotor and resistance based exercise) across a congested training and match schedule. Over time, this leads to fluctuating fatigue (acute training effects) and fitness (chronic training effects) statuses of players. As a result, practitioners collect a multitude of measures to monitor this overall process and inform the daily decision making of individual players. Frequent measurement of the activities of players during every training and match has been achievable using microtechnology (e.g., global positioning systems and accelerometers) devices for a number of years. However, historically, the monitoring of training effects has been either invasive, expensive or time inefficient within the constraints of senior professional soccer (e.g., regular fixtures) making it difficult to perform assessments at regular intervals for a large squad of players (Leduc et al., 2020)

Developments in methods to the evaluate players fatigue and fitness statuses through  standardised submaximal runs (Leduc et al., Buchheit et al., 2020), maximal sprints (Lacome et al., 2020) or during training drill assessments (Lacome et al., 2018) have been proposed. The less invasive and time efficient nature of the assessments has increased the practical feasibility to collect fitness and fatigue responses at more regular time intervals during the season. However, the validity, reliability and sensitivity of these ‘invisible’ assessments across longitudinal time periods across the season has not been explored. Furthermore, it has not been considered how they are mediated by other factors, such as the current fitness status of the player (Johnston et al., 2014). Therefore, the purpose of this project is to explore the holistic measurement and modelling of the training process within elite soccer players, with consideration of how robust measurements of fitness and fatigue can be monitored as part of the normal daily training processes assessed through invisible monitoring methods. Secondly the project aims to explore how a range of factors may affect those responses (mediator) and ultimately influence match performances

Highly competent using programming languages, ideally R.
Highly competent using data visualisation software, ideally Power BI.
Previous experience using GPS technology to monitor locomotor demands of training and matches, ideally Statsports.
Previous experience using the following hardware/software: ForceDecks, GroinBar, Nordbord, and the ValdHub.
Previous experience using athlete monitoring systems, ideally Smartabase.
A strong interest in football, the ideal candidate will have a sound technical and tactical understanding of the sport (strategies, systems, philosophies, game models).
Sound inter-personal skills in order to develop good relationships with both playing staff and members of the multi-disciplinary team.

The studentships primary research location will be at Crystal Palace Football Club.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals and the project with Dr Stacey Emmonds

Buchheit M, Lacome M, Cholley Y, Simpson BM. (2018). Neuromuscular responses to conditioned soccer sessions assessed via GPS-Embedded accelerometers: Insights into tactical periodization. Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 13(5):577-83.

Buchheit M., Simpson B., Lacome M. (2020) Monitoring cardiorespiratory fitness in professional soccer players: is it worth the prick? Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 1;15(10):1437-1441. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2019-0911.

Jeffries, A. C., Marcora, S. M., Coutts, A. J., Wallace, L., McCall, A., & Impellizzeri, F. M. (2021). Development of a Revised Conceptual Framework of Physical Training for Use in Research and Practice. Sports Medicine, 1-16.

Johnston, R.D., Gabbett, T.J., Jenkins, D.G. (2015). Influence of playing standard and physical fitness on activity profiles and post-match fatigue during intensified junior rugby league competition. Sports Medicine Open, 1(1), pp. 18. doi: 10.1186/s40798-015-0015

Lacome M, Simpson B, Broad N, Buchheit M. Monitoring Players' Readiness Using Predicted Heart-Rate Responses to Soccer Drills (2018). Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2018;13(10):1273-1280. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2018-0026.

Lacome, M., Owen, C., Peeters, A., Picione, P., LeMeur Y., Leduc, C. (2020). Force velocity profiling with GPS: is it reliable? Sport Perf Sci Reports.

Leduc, C, Tee, J, Lacome, M, Weakley, J, Cheradame, J, Ramirez, C, Jones B. (2020). Convergent validity, reliability and sensitivity of a running test to monitor neuromuscular fatigue. Int J Sport Physiol Perform, 8;1-7. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2019-0319.

As part of your application, please provide a CV, cover letter and research proposal. The proposal should align to the above theme and include a brief literature review related to this project, with an outline of the studies that you would propose to the answer the aims of the PhD (maximum 5 pages single spaced).

We can only consider complete applications. The research degree application is complete once you have uploaded all of the following:

1. Your application form (include the project reference CP)
2. Your research proposal, statement of purpose and CV on the Research proposal template
3. Copies of your bachelors and master certificates, including transcripts
4. Copy of your IELTS (or equivalent) certificate (if applicable) further information can be found on our Graduate School FAQs
5. Copy of your passport

Email the documentation above) to researchadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 

The deadline for applications is midnight on 18th April 2022