Maturity status influences perceived training load and neuromuscular performance during an academy soccer season

Commonly we see large within-age-group variations in physique, including body mass, stature, and percentages of predicted adult height, which suggests that age-specified training loads are flawed. Aims were to investigate how maturation impacts training load and neuromuscular response within academy soccer and, to provide recommendations for practitioners. Fifty-five male soccer players (age 14.5 ± 1.2 years; stature 172 ± 10 cm; body mass 59.8 ± 10 kg; 94.1 ± 1.8 % predicted adult height) reported differential ratings of perceived exertion (AU) across a season. Neuromuscular performance (countermovement jump, reactive strength index, absolute and relative leg stiffness) was measured using at three timepoints across the season. Perceived exertion and neuromuscular performance were examined using linear mixed modelling, supplemented with non-clinical magnitude-based decisions. Analysis indicates every 5% increase in maturity status results in players perceiving overall session intensity 6.9 AU lower and 13.9 AU lower for a 10% maturity shift. Both 5% and 10% changes in maturity most likely resulted in higher countermovement jump, with likely to very likely differences observed for RSI and ABS. Maturity substantially influences neuromuscular performance over the season. Therefore, maturity-specific load prescription may prevent significant within age-group differences in accumulated load, possibly reducing injury risk and/or burnout

Understanding retail supply chain during COVID-19: A systematic review

Purpose– The aim of this paper is to identify the themes that emerged from retail supply chain (RSC) literature during the COVID-19 pandemic that inform future mitigation and recovery strategies. Design/methodology/approach– This study analyses contributions in the RSC literature using four databases: Emerald, Elsevier (Science Direct), Wiley, and Taylor & Francis. The systematic review approach resulted in identifying 74 articles covering 2020 to 2022. Findings– Four themes emerged from RSC literature on COVID-19. The first theme highlighted factors that exacerbated the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the RSC. The second theme focused on the types of disruptions that occurred in the RSC during the pandemic. The third theme demonstrated the recovery strategies used to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the RSC. The fourth theme identified proposed mitigation strategies for the RSC post COVID-19 outbreak. Practical implications–The study provides a deeper understanding of how retail supply chain managers could successfully reduce the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by dealing with interruptions. Based on the reviewed studies and the four themes that evolved from RSC literature on COVID-19 throughout 2020-2022, eleven key RSC strategies and lessons have been recommended to decision makers in the retail industry. Originality/value– This is the first study to identify the themes that emerged from RSC literature during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future mitigation and recovery strategies. The resulting themes add to the existing body of knowledge and established the need for further research into other sectors that might be affected by future pandemics. Keywords: Retail Supply Chain, Supply Chain Disruptions, Mitigation Strategies, Recovery Strategies, Covid-19, Systematic Review

Feasibility of OpenPose markerless motion analysis in a real athletics competition

This study tested the performance of OpenPose on footage collected by two cameras at 200 Hz from a real-life competitive setting by comparing it with manually analyzed data in SIMI motion. The same take-off recording from the men's Long Jump finals at the 2017 World Athletics Championships was used for both approaches (markerless and manual) to reconstruct the 3D coordinates from each of the camera's 2D coordinates. Joint angle and Centre of Mass (COM) variables during the final step and take-off phase of the jump were determined. Coefficients of Multiple Determinations (CMD) for joint angle waveforms showed large variation between athletes with the knee angle values typically being higher (take-off leg: 0.727 ± 0.242; swing leg: 0.729 ± 0.190) than those for hip (take-off leg: 0.388 ± 0.193; swing leg: 0.370 ± 0.227) and ankle angle (take-off leg: 0.247 ± 0.172; swing leg: 0.155 ± 0.228). COM data also showed considerable variation between athletes and parameters, with position (0.600 ± 0.322) and projection angle (0.658 ± 0.273) waveforms generally showing better agreement than COM velocity (0.217 ± 0.241). Agreement for discrete data was generally poor with high random error for joint kinematics and COM parameters at take-off and an average ICC across variables of 0.17. The poor agreement statistics and a range of unrealistic values returned by the pose estimation underline that OpenPose is not suitable for in-competition performance analysis in events such as the long jump, something that manual analysis still achieves with high levels of accuracy and reliability

“If we’re wrong, take us to court”: An analysis of special police services (SPS) arrangements for the policing of football in England and Wales

Under the Police Act 1996, Special Police Services (SPS) allow the police in England and Wales to partially cost recover for resources deployed to police events such as football, horse racing and music festivals. Historically, there have been numerous legal cases about SPS charges involving police forces and event organisers. Most recently Ipswich Town Football Club Company Limited vs. The Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary [2017] EWCA Civ 1484, resulted in clarification on points of law and a more restricted area within which police forces can charge for SPS. This qualitative research interviews police officers engaged in policing football, football club representatives and other key stakeholders involved in the SPS negotiation process. It finds that there are divisive approaches by both parties, which can result in compromising public safety. The notion of SPS being abolished is explored, despite potential benefits of this, further research is recommended to examine this further

Board characteristics and sustainability in higher education institutions: The case of the United Kingdom

We explored the relationship between board characteristics and sustainability of higher education institutions in the United Kingdom (UK). We analysed 153 UK universities using data for the year 2019. Our analysis revealed that board size, the number of students on the board, and the number of academic members on the board were found to have significant and positive relationships with sustain-ability. Also, the composition of the sustainability commit-tee was shown to have a significant and positive impact on sustainability score. However, the relationships between board gender diversity, the number of external members on the board, and the number of board meetings held during the year with sustainability score were not significant. The results provide guidance to universities for developing their sustainability practices

Do you see what I see? Variation in detection, identification and enumeration of mammals during transect surveys

Effective monitoring, management and conservation of wildlife axiomatically depend on accurate data but causes of variation, including inter-observer variation, are rarely explicitly quantified. Here, under controlled conditions, we demonstrate considerable variation in detection, identification and enumeration of (theoretically) readily-identifiable African mammals at a reserve with a known species assemblage. Detection: 97.8% of sightings were missed by ≥1 observer; frequency of detection was affected by observer ID, detection distance, visibility, and animal group size. Identification: just 3/14 species were identified consistently at all sightings. Enumeration: lack of consensus for 60.5% of sightings; consensus likelihood was affected by visibility and group size

The opportunities and challenges to co-designing policy options for tree health with policy makers, researchers and land managers

We describe experiences between 2018 and 2021 co-designing tree health policy options linked with the UK’s evolving land use policy post EU-Exit within the Future Farming and Countryside Programme. Policy makers, researchers and more than 250 land managers took part in a series of co-design engagements in a three-phase iterative co-design process that culminated in a new Tree Health Pilot. After defining the components of co-design, we describe how relationships between policy makers, researchers and land managers were built, the methods researchers introduced into the process to build capability and support participation, and the outcomes in terms of the key opportunities and challenges for policy co-design. We conclude that it is possible to move policy design beyond user focused research and into co-design. However, this relies on adequate time and resources required to build trust and fully engage all parties in a meaningful way, including the development of tools and techniques that include experimentation, different knowledge types, and moving from research and evidence collection into design. Having policy makers with participatory mindsets in the same space as land managers was important to facilitating active learning between all of those involved in the collective. Researchers played a critical role in the co-design, balancing the views and understandings of the policy community with those of the land manager community, facilitating learning, and selecting tools and techniques to make design options explicit. We conclude that policy co-design in the land-based and environmental sector is a real opportunity at an early stage of realisation, but the effectiveness and range of positive and negative outcomes and impacts will need to be evaluated in the future

Exploring the Methodological Benefits and Challenges of Utilising a Photovoice Methodology With Individuals in Recovery From Problem Substance Use

Photovoice is a type of visual research method which supports participants to reflect upon their experiences by capturing digital images. It is a methodology that is routinely used with groups that could be considered vulnerable, as a way of allowing participants to tell their stories for themselves. This article details the process of conducting a Photovoice study with individuals in recovery from problem substance use and reflects on the methodological benefits and challenges of utilising a visual research methodology with this population. Researchers wishing to conduct a Photovoice study with individuals in recovery should be mindful of striking a delicate balance between respecting an individual’s autonomy and ensuring their wellbeing. Although ethically complex, Photovoice is an ideal method for research with this population as it allows participants to convey meaning and introduce narratives for themselves in an engaging way

International consensus statement on the design, delivery and evaluation of sport-based interventions aimed at promoting social, psychological and physical well-being in prison

Objective To develop an international consensus statement to advise on designing, delivering and evaluating sport-based interventions (SBIs) aimed at promoting social, psychological and physical well-being in prison. Design Modified Delphi using two rounds of survey questionnaires and two consensus workshops. Participants A multidisciplinary panel of more than 40 experts from 15 international jurisdictions was formed, including representation from the following groups and stakeholders: professionals working in the justice system; officials from sport federations and organisations; academics with research experience of prisons, secure forensic mental health settings and SBIs; and policy-makers in criminal justice and sport. Results A core research team and advisory board developed the initial rationale, statement and survey. This survey produced qualitative data which was analysed thematically. The findings were presented at an in-person workshop. Panellists discussed the findings, and, using a modified nominal group technique, reached a consensus on objectives to be included in a revised statement. The core research team and advisory board revised the statement and recirculated it with a second survey. Findings from the second survey were discussed at a second, virtual, workshop. The core research team and advisory board further revised the consensus statement and recirculated it asking panellists for further comments. This iterative process resulted in seven final statement items; all participants have confirmed that they agreed with the content, objectives and recommendations of the final statement. Conclusions The statement can be used to assist those that design, deliver and evaluate SBIs by providing guidance on: (1) minimum levels of competence for those designing and delivering SBIs; (2) the design and delivery of inclusive programmes prioritising disadvantaged groups; and (3) evaluation measures which are carefully calibrated both to capture proposed programme outcomes and to advance an understanding of the systems, processes and experiences of sport engagement in prison

Exploring the potential of long-term agreements for achieving landscape-scale environmental recovery

This systematic review examines existing literature on environmental long-term agreements (LTAs), such as conservation covenants, to identify the enablers and barriers to adoption and thus their potential for use in new contexts such as across land boundaries. In order to achieve environmental and societal targets, there is a clear and urgent need for more ambitious, longer-term agri-environment funding mechanisms which operate at a large scale. This is, in part, due to recognition by national governments that shifts in policy for long-term sustainability are needed since many existing agri-environment schemes have not had the desired outcomes. The recent inclusion of conservation covenants in the UK’s Environment Act demonstrates one such attempt to address this issue. Through critically analysing the use of LTAs across the world using a systematic rapid evidence assessment approach, this paper assesses the potential of these agreements to deliver landscape-scale environmental benefits and public goods that are increasingly being sought by national governments as they strive for transformative policies to prevent and mitigate environmental and climate catastrophes. Exploring the enablers and barriers to adoption, alongside examples of successful LTAs, we provide an overview from which interested parties – policymakers, land managers and private enterprises, among others – can begin to understand the opportunities and barriers which surround these agreements. Overall, this literature review identifies several factors likely to affect the uptake of LTAs, including concerns around land managers’ and stakeholders’ real/perceived capacity to engage, a need for flexibility, finance structures, and how monitoring and evaluation is managed