Summary of the impact

Sports Integrity is focused on supporting the development of infrastructure by governments, sports bodies, betting operators and law enforcers, internationally, for identifying and addressing vulnerability to corruption in professional sport, demonstrating the following impact:

• Informing the development of nationally consistent approaches to and codes of conduct for deterring and dealing with match fixing;
• Facilitating networks for information sharing between governments, sports bodies, betting operators and law enforcers to improve integrity in sport;
• Supporting international policy development to combat corruption in sport.

Summary of the impact

Research at the University of Bath has had a significant impact on reducing the burden of injury and illness in military training and sport. We have engaged practitioner communities in evidence-based approaches to injury and illness prevention. Our research has contributed directly to reducing the burden of musculoskeletal injuries and heat illness by informing military personnel selection, training and healthcare policies. This affects approximately 20,000 military trainees per year and has resulted in reduced morbidity and estimated training/medical costs of over £60 million per annum. Our injury surveillance research has helped shape the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) medical safety policy and, based on our research, the International Rugby Board (governing 5 million players worldwide) announced in May 2013 a global trial of new scrum laws designed to reduce the incidence/severity of neck injuries.

Summary of the impact

Over the past 20 years, racism in sport, particularly football, has been recognised as a significant problem, on the pitch, in the stands and within clubs. The issue is being proactively addressed at multiple levels, from national initiatives by sports governing bodies to policies implemented by individual clubs and fans, all designed to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices, and work for positive change.

The University of Leicester pioneered research into sports spectator statistics and analysis and later specialised in assessing the effectiveness of anti-racism and social inclusion strategies. Its research has been used by sports organisations to identify the scale of the problem and to guide and inform work to combat it.

Summary of the impact

The main applied outcomes of this body of research have been: (i) the objective quantification of individual player demands during competitive match play to better understand the typical internal and external loads imposed on rugby players; (ii) identification of fatigue characteristics and pacing strategies of interchange and whole-game players to inform training practices and tactical strategies; (iii) the design of appropriate training practices to ensure players are conditioned to tolerate the most demanding passages of play during competitive matches; and, (iv) the development of match simulation protocols for the objective evaluation of player performance.

Summary of the impact

This well established research conducted by members of Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (Loughborough University) is seen as an integral part of the support provided for Paralympic wheelchair athletes and has impact in 3 key areas:

1. To help identify the fundamental characteristics of elite wheelchair athletes and assist with athlete profiling by supporting the Paralympic `performance pathways' to refine their talent identification and confirmation procedures
2. With the refinement of the testing and monitoring procedures used to assess the physiological and biomechanical demands of wheelchair sport performance
3. Supporting the education of high-performance coaches by enabling them to gain a better understanding of the technical variables that affect wheelchair mobility performance

Summary of the impact

O'Callaghan's research on Munster rugby has been the subject of frequent discussion outside of academia. It has, therefore, had an impact on public discourse surrounding an institution of popular cultural acclaim in Ireland (the Munster rugby team). This impact has been achieved through press coverage, broadcast media interviews and the research has been a topic for discussion on online forums and blogs. It has influenced the manner in which people perceive an institution of popular acclaim (the Munster rugby team) in Ireland.

Summary of the impact

This case exemplifies leading-edge practice in the coaching and management of elite sports teams in the UK, USA and Australia. Professor Bill Gerrard is one of the first to apply statistical analysis to the management of `invasion'/tactical team sports. This original contribution has been to practices in both the boardroom and the locker room. The approach affects day-to-day decision-making in a range of areas, including recruitment of players, training priorities, team selection and game tactics. Application of the approach now extends to three continents and is applicable to all invasion team sports including football/soccer, rugby union and rugby league.

Summary of the impact

The Birkbeck Sport Business Centre has been involved in research examining governance within the sport industry since 1999. Findings from research into the football industry have contributed to policy debate through parliamentary enquiries while research on the broader sports sector has been used by the Sport and Recreation Alliance to improve governance practices across national governing bodies of sport (NGBs). In particular, the research informed the development of the Voluntary Code of Good Governance for the Sport and Recreation Sector, a best practice guide that has been adopted by more than 60 National Governing Bodies of Sport in the UK.