Centre for Sport and Health (CSH)

Back view of a person using a monitoring treadmill

The Centre for Sport and Health (CSH) at ARU Writtle is a research and consultancy service working within the fields of competitive sport and health related exercise.

It aims to give students the opportunity to gain experience in sports science consultancy whilst supporting the sports and exercise needs of the local community.

That might involve assisting a club athlete by providing objective fitness test data or helping a local cardiac rehabilitation group to broaden the range of physical activities it has to offer members.

It is led by student volunteers, who carry out the day-to-day work, with academic staff merely monitoring the Centre's overall management.

The Centre is involved in research in sport in the field of notational analysis, coaching, performance psychology and fitness testing. We are actively involved in research within the following areas:

  • Leadership gender and team performance
  • Team cohesion and performance
  • Coach verbal communication
  • Match analysis
  • Neuromuscular characteristics as determinants of endurance performance
  • Central governor theory of fatigue

Services for the public

Services offered by the Centre to the public are free of charge and include:

  • Wingate cycling power test
  • Running and cycling economy tests
  • A healthy walks initiative within ARU Writtle's idyllic rural setting
  • Maximal oxygen uptake test (VO2max test) in cycling and running

Consultancy

We are actively involved in consultancy, including coaching and sports science support. We welcome enquiries from athletes and teams interested in using sports science to improve their performance.

Contact

If you are interested in using the services of the Centre, or have enquiries or suggestions, call us on 01245 424200.

Staff

  • Laura Northeast
  • Mark Walker
  • Dr Gregory Deacon
  • Mark Williams
  • Philip Hillson
  • Charlotte Gowers