42 My list of the top 5 sports psychology stories from 2016: 5. The death knell for brain games? 4. Deliberate practice fights back! 3. What to do about the relative age effect? 2. Advances in teamwork research 1. Somebody’s watching (or monitoring) me Download link Articles/links: Do “Brain-Training” Programs Work? Peak: The New Science…

41 A look at visual channeling theory and its consequences for perception. Why are some people blind to approaching objects in certain areas of their visual field and what implications does it have for sport? Download link Articles/links: The Charles F. Prentice Award Lecture 1990: specific tests and specific blindnesses: keys, locks, and parallel processing…

40B My report from the Sports Biometrics Conference held from Nov 13-15, 2016. Issues discussed include validity of analytics data, whether athletes are going to agree to be continuously monitored and the frequent disconnect between science and practice. Download link Articles/links: http://sports-biometrics-conference.com/ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2097866-the-sleeve-that-could-save-baseball-exclusive-look-at-new-mlb-technology More information: My Research Gate Page (pdfs of my articles) My ASU…

40A News: A look at a few recent articles examining the effects of anxiety and pressure on performance and methods for counteracting these effects. Does pressure effect the planning or online control of movements? Could increasing anxiety in practice benefit motor learning? What are holistic goals and how can they reduce pressure effects? Download link…

39B Which is better: specific or variable practice? How does it depend on what you are trying to achieve in terms of retention and transfer of skill? The ultramarathon as a complex system and my report on surviving my first one! Download link Articles/links: A sensorimotor basis for motor learning: evidence indicating specificity of practice…

37D Thinking aloud about some sports science issues as I prepare for my first 50K ultra. What is the optimal focus of attention for a runner and how does it change as you switch from road to trail? How can one best acquire the skill of downhill running? Does it depend on where you look?…

37C A discussion with Kylie Steel Senior Lecturer in the School of Science and Health at Western Sydney University in Australia. In the interview we discuss biological motion: what is it and how can we apply it to sport, how important is it to be able to quickly recognize a teammate on the field or…

37B What is stereotype threat and how can it affect sports performance? Is it possible that being challenged by a statement like “girls can’t play sports” could make a female athlete perform better in some situations? Download link Articles: On the causal mechanisms of stereotype threat: can skills that don’t rely heavily on working memory…

37A A discussion with Joe Baker, Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University in Canada. Topics include: how good are we at identifying talent, early specialization vs diversification, designing effective learning environments, retention and transfer of sports skills, and are sports good for our long term health? Download link More…

36C A discussion with Costas Karageorghis, Reader in Sport Psychology from Brunel University and author of the new book “Applying Music in Exercise and Sport”. We discuss topics including how music can make athletes perform better and for longer, how music effects an athlete’s attentional focus and perceived effort, how to choose the best music…