Mike Ferrandino

Mike is an accredited strength and conditioning coach whose research focuses on the interaction of players with artificial turf surfaces (3G pitches) in rugby.

[email protected]

Background

While in the final stages of his PhD research, Mike joined ARU as a lecturer in sports sciences. He teaches on our Sports and Exercise Science and Sports Coaching and Physical Education degrees.

Here at ARU, Mike's research continues to focus on player-turf interaction in rugby, using motion capture techniques to capture and quantify the nature of the foot contact during kicking and scrummaging. He's also interested in strength and conditioning, and youth development.

Mike has worked as a strength and conditioning coach himself, most recently as a UKSCA-accredited coach Northampton County Cricket Club, and before that as lead S&C coach for the City of Leeds Swimming Club, and the University of Leeds sports performance programme.

Research interests

• Biomechanics of the player surface interaction
• Biomechanics of rugby 
• Biomechanics of strength and conditioning
• Performance sport environments
• Youth athletic development
• Coaching networks

Areas of research supervision

• Biomechanics
• Strength and conditioning

Teaching

Mike is the module leader for Applied Sports Pedagogy, Anatomy for Motion, Applied Kinesthesiology and Biomechanics, and Strength and Conditioning.

Qualifications

• PhD Artificial Turf Surfaces for Rugby (Biomechanics), Sports Technology Institute, Loughborough University (ongoing) 
• MSc by Research, The Biomechanical Effect of Strength & Conditioning on Ankle Joint Function (Biomechanics), School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Leeds
• BSc Sports Science with Physiology, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Leeds
• UKSCA-accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Sports Massage Tutor, Active Associates/University of Leeds

Selected recent publications

Ferrandino, M., Forrester, S. and Fleming, P., 2015. The player surface interaction of rugby players with 3G artificial turf during rugby specific movements. Procedia Engineering, Elsevier B.V., 112, pp308–313. doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.249.

Fleming, P., Ferrandino, M. and Forrester, S., 2016. Artificial Turf Field-A New Build Case Study. Procedia Engineering, Elsevier Ltd, pp836–841.