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FERCC The order of the day at Worcester
The FIBA Europe Referee Coaching Certificate (FERCC) was the order of the day in a recent visit by Alan Richardson of the FIBA Europe Referee Department to the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Worcester.
The FERCC is designed to be an accredited qualification for FIBA Europe Referee Instructors and it is part of the FIBA Europe UNIVERSITAS project. In the meeting the University of Worcester were represented by Mick Donovan, Head of the Institute of Sport and Exercise and Gareth Jones, Head of Curriculum.
The final design of the 2-year course will include modules on teaching and learning both classroom and activity based, distance learning assignments, basketball theory and practice and the qualification will be recognised by the European Qualifications Framework. The generic core of the course may encourage other sports to follow basketball.
The University of Worcester has become the UK partner of a newly established European basketball research centre.
The FIBA European Centre for Basketball Research will be hosted by the University of Worcester, along with the Lithuanian Academy for Physical Education and the Lithuanian Basketball Federation. It will aim to lead the development and delivery of world class basketball research and bring together academics and coaches from around Europe to engage in and disseminate performance relevant research findings.
There will be a bi-annual basketball research conference, a regular online journal and a research resource. The Centre will also develop funded PhD students to work on selected research topics for FIBA Europe.
The University of Worcester, which has long been at the forefront of sport education and research in the United Kingdom, aspires to play an active role in the future development of basketball.
Mick Donovan, Head of the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Worcester, said: “The European Basketball Research Centre will transform the development and delivery of world class basketball research with a clear aim to enhance all aspects of coaching and performance. The Centre will bring academics and coaches together to share their findings and expertise. “The University of Worcester is honoured to be a part of such an exciting initiative with FIBA Europe.”
FIBA Europe Universitas Management Commitee at the launch of the FIBA
Europe Centre for Basketball Research
Motion and Performance Centre achieves CMAS accreditation
The biomechanics facility within the MPC has been accredited by the Clinical Movement Analysis Society of UK and Ireland for its work on gait analysis and 3d motion capture. This demonstrates that the laboratory meets required standards in several areas including; resources and facilities, equipment calibration, data collection, reliability, processing and interpretation, reporting, document control and auditing.
The MPC is a long-term contributor to CMAS and this represents a significant milestone in the development of clinical work at the Centre.
Stroke Survivors Could Benefit from Listening to Regular Beat
A joint project between the University of Birmingham and the University of Worcester is looking into how listening to a regular beat could help stroke survivors improve their walking and reduce the risk of a fall.
The new study has been launched to find out how the use of a metronome, a device used by musicians to keep to a beat, could aid stroke patients. According to the Department of Health every year approximately 110,000 people in England have a stroke, which is the single largest cause of adult disability. About 80% of people who have had a stroke suffer a degree of muscle weakness associated with one side, which could lead to an uneven walking pattern.
Dr Rachel Wright, Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham’ s School of Psychology, said: “An uneven walk can lead to a greater risk of a fall, and once someone has suffered a fall they can be fearful of falling again. This can prevent people from participating in activities that they once enjoyed because they are so worried about falling over. “Through this research we hope to look at how the use of a metronome can help to regulate a stroke patient’s walk and help them to achieve symmetry.”
Dr Wright is carrying out the research using the University of Worcester’s state-of-the-art Motion Performance Centre. Participants are analysed using the latest motion capture equipment to analyse how they walk before and after the introduction of a regular beat. “This is a three-year project funded by The Stroke Association,” said Dr Wright. “We hope that the results will be used to design a home-based exercise programme which stroke survivors can use as part of their rehabilitation.”
Dr Wright is currently looking for stroke survivors to assist in the research and would like to hear from anyone in the Worcester area who is willing to take part. For more information call 01905 857523 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01905 857523 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email r.wright.1@bham.ac.uk
Motion & Performance Centre staff help Warriors' Matt Mullan to recover
The Bromsgrove School-educated England-capped prop had torn a hamstring during a Warriors game .
He was helped in his recovery by staff at the University’s Motion and Performance Centre (MPC), who carried out detailed assessments and analysis of his condition. Staff used a Cybex Isokinetic Dynamometer, a specialist piece of equipment which measures joint strength, power, fatigue and imbalance.
Mick Donovan, Head of the University’s Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, said: “Detailed analysis provided by the Motion and Performance Centre aided Matt’s recovery process. Our staff are highly experienced and the technology we use is state-of-the-art. We were only too happy to help on this occasion.”
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