339: Can a Playing Surface Change How an Athlete Moves?

Science for Sport — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0100

How much does the surface beneath an athlete’s feet really affect performance and injury risk?

This week, Richard Graves is joined by Professor John Sorochan from the University of Tennessee and Alan Thomson, USA Sales Director at SIS Pitches, to explore the science behind the playing surfaces used at the highest levels of sport.

From natural grass and artificial turf to the growing use of hybrid pitches, John and Alan explain what actually happens when an athlete interacts with a playing surface – and why the relationship between the player, their footwear and the surface itself matters.

John takes us inside the testing process, explaining how researchers measure factors such as surface hardness, traction, stability and consistency, and how those measurements help inform decisions around player performance and safety.

The conversation also explores the rapid development of hybrid surfaces. Alan explains how introducing a small percentage of synthetic fibre into natural grass can reinforce the pitch, reduce surface damage and help maintain more consistent playing conditions across demanding schedules.

The pair also discuss one of the biggest challenges in modern sport: creating elite-level natural playing surfaces inside stadiums that are increasingly expected to host football, American football, concerts and other major events throughout the year.

Drawing on their work around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they reveal how surfaces were developed to perform consistently across hugely different environments – from the heat and humidity of Miami to altitude in Mexico and cooler conditions in Canada.

They also look at the debate around artificial turf in the NFL, what research can tell us about hybrid alternatives, and where playing-surface technology could go next.

In this episode you will learn

Why player safety depends on the interaction between the athlete, footwear and playing surface
What researchers actually measure when testing elite sports pitches
How surface hardness, traction and stability can influence player movement
The difference between natural grass, artificial turf and hybrid playing surfaces
Why hybrid pitches are still predominantly natural grass despite their synthetic reinforcement
How hybrid systems can create greater stability and consistency as a pitch begins to wear
How playing surfaces were developed for very different climates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Why achieving consistent ball and player interaction across different stadiums is so important
How multi-use stadiums are changing the demands placed on grounds teams and playing surfaces
Why shallow hybrid stitching has opened up new possibilities for temporary and replaceable surfaces
What elite sport can learn from the ongoing debate around artificial turf and player safety
How research, technology and experienced pitch managers work together to produce elite surfaces

About Professor John Sorochan and Alan Thomson

Professor John Sorochan is Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management at the University of Tennessee and one of the leading researchers in sports turf and athletic-field safety.
His career in turfgrass science stretches back more than 30 years, including working as a student on the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Today, his research examines the relationship between playing surfaces, player biomechanics, turf performance and safety.
John has worked with organisations across elite sport including the NFL, Major League Baseball and professional football, and has played a leading role in research designed to deliver safe and consistent pitches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Alan Thomson is USA Sales Director at SIS Pitches and has spent his career working with elite sports surfaces.
After beginning his career in golf-course management in Scotland, Alan moved into the construction, renovation and maintenance of football pitches before joining SIS Pitches. He now works across the United States helping venues implement hybrid playing-surface technology across sports including football, American football, baseball and lacrosse.
His recent work has included major stadium projects across North America and the installation and development of hybrid surfaces used during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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322: The Performance Demands of a World Cup with Dr Dave Hancock

Science for Sport — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves welcomes Dr Dave Hancock back to the show.

Dave has spent more than three decades working in elite sport, including roles with Chelsea, Leeds United, the England national team and the New York Knicks. He is now CEO of Apollo, where his work focuses on helping performance teams use data, technology and AI to better understand player availability, injury risk and performance.

Dave begins by sharing the latest developments in his Blind Screen approach, which looks beyond traditional testing by examining movement quality, control and rotational demands. He explains how Apollo is combining screening information with AI-generated insights, practitioner feedback and individualised exercise recommendations.

The conversation then turns to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Drawing on his experience of working with England at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, Dave discusses the challenges facing performance and medical teams across a long international tournament: heat, travel, accumulated club workload, recovery, sleep, mental freshness and the need to bring a squad together around one common goal.

This is a practical discussion about the margins that matter at the highest level of sport, from interpreting data more effectively to preparing players and staff for the demands of tournament football.

In this episode you will learn

How Dave’s Blind Screen approach is developing and being used with elite athletes and teams.
Why rotational movement may be an important missing consideration in traditional screening methods.
How AI can help practitioners combine objective data with coaching and clinical insight.
The key physical demands facing players heading into the 2026 World Cup.
Why player preparation must become increasingly individualised after a demanding club season.
The importance of sleep, recovery monitoring, travel planning and heat acclimatisation during a major tournament.
Why mental freshness, squad togetherness and staff culture can influence performance at international level.
What Dave learned from working with England at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

About Dr Dave Hancock
Dr Dave Hancock is the CEO of Apollo and an experienced performance director, chartered physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach.

Across a career spanning more than three decades in elite sport, Dave has worked as Head Physiotherapist at Leeds United and Chelsea, served on the medical staff of the England national team at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, and spent seven years as Performance Director of the New York Knicks in the NBA.