Science for Sport Podcast
Behind the Scenes of Elite Performance – Unlocking the Science, Stories, and Strategies That Make the Best Even Better
Displaying 2 items of Science for Sport Podcast with the tag "fifa world cup 2026".
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339: Can a Playing Surface Change How an Athlete Moves?
September 28th, 2026 | 36 mins 57 secs
alan thomson, artificial turf, athlete performance, athletic field safety, biomechanics, elite football, elite sport, fifa world cup, fifa world cup 2026, football science, footwear surface interaction, green bay packers, hybrid grass, hybrid pitch, injury risk, john sorochan, lambeau field, metlife stadium, natural grass, nfl, nfl player safety, pitch technology, player safety, player surface interaction, playing surface research, playing surfaces, sis grass, sis pitches, soccer science, sport science, sports injuries, sports performance, sports science, sports turf, turf science, turfgrass science, university of tennessee, world cup pitches
Professor John Sorochan from the University of Tennessee and Alan Thomson from SIS Pitches join Richard Graves to explore how playing surfaces influence athlete performance and safety. They discuss the interaction between the athlete, footwear and surface, how elite pitches are tested, the differences between natural, artificial and hybrid turf, and the challenge of creating consistent playing conditions across modern multi-use stadiums. Drawing on their work around the 2026 FIFA World Cup and major US sports venues, they also examine the debate around artificial turf, player preference for natural grass and how hybrid technology could shape the future of elite playing surfaces.
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321: Preparing for the World Cup: Physical Performance Under Extreme Pressure
May 25th, 2026 | 46 mins 34 secs
292 performance, altitude training, athlete monitoring, athlete readiness, ben rosenblatt, dr ben rosenblatt, elite football performance, elite sport, england football, fatigue management, fifa world cup 2026, football sports science, gb hockey, heat acclimation, high-performance sport, international football, olympic performance, performance coaching, physical performance, pressure training, recovery, rehabilitation, return to play, richard graves, science for sport podcast, sports science, strength and conditioning, the football association, tournament preparation, world cup preparation
Dr Ben Rosenblatt joins Richard Graves to discuss the physical performance demands of preparing players for the 2026 Men’s World Cup. Drawing on his experience with England, Olympic athletes and GB Hockey, Ben explores tournament readiness, rehabilitation, recovery, heat and altitude preparation, individualised support and the importance of preparing athletes to perform under extreme pressure.