A new Bond University podcast targeted at young athletes has hit the airwaves.
“So your kid wants to play sport…” is hosted by Bond University’s Broadcast Manager, Matt Webber, and taps into the university’s sporting and health science excellence.
You can listen to Episode 1 here.
Each episode is designed to give developing athletes a better understanding of the science of performance.
Webber says the format is a logical extension of Bond University’s expertise.
“Bond Sport has established itself as an epicentre of sporting success in recent times,” he said.
“More and more we are seeing young athletes seek out pathway opportunities not only across the traditional Bond pillars of swimming, netball, men’s and women’s rugby and AFL and AFLW, but also more broadly through the Bond Elite Sport Program.
“When you add all that to the enormous array of health and sport science academic talent at Bond University, you have a foundation stone of some really interesting and insightful conversations.”
The first episode of the podcast features Dr Adam Walker, a Doctor of Physiotherapy graduate whose recent PhD was on the optimisation of knee injury rehabilitation.
With Australians between the age of 16 and 26 more likely to rupture their Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) than just about anywhere else in the world, knee health among young local athletes seemed a good place to start.
“I was staggered at how prolific ACL injury has become, particularly among young female sporting participants,” Webber said.
One of those participants – Bond University Bull Sharks netballer Brie Reichman - shares her personal experience in the podcast’s first episode.
The talented midcourter was just four days out from the opening round of what would be her comeback season after a few years away from the sport when she sustained a third ACL rupture.
“Brie is an extraordinarily capable, dedicated and fit athlete,” Webber said.
“Sometimes you can’t defeat horrible luck, but Brie’s insights into the realities and mental and physical struggles of rehabilitating and recovering make a really compelling argument for young athletes putting time and effort into being better informed about doing everything they can to make injury prevention a priority.
“That’s exactly the sort of thing I hope this podcast achieves longer term.”
Upcoming episodes will focus on nutrition for young athletes, youthful sporting mindset, rest and recovery, weight training for teens, and iron deficiency.