Improving athletic and sporting excellence is a collaborative effort. Whether you’re an elite athlete or simply aiming to reach your personal fitness goals, the right sports science and medical support can be a crucial asset. The challenge lies in choosing someone who not only has the requisite expertise but is also the right fit for you. Here are six qualities and one expert tip to consider when selecting a sports scientist.
1. Accredited and Certified
Accreditation and certification from reputable organisations are more than just titles; they are validations of a practitioner’s qualifications. Make sure that your sports scientist has been accredited by recognised bodies to ensure that you are dealing with a verified expert who follows professional standards.
When choosing support staff, look for reputable certifications in a practitioner profiles!
2. Rich in Experience
Credentials and qualifications are important, but so are real-world results. Always ask for case studies, testimonials, or references. These offer a more complete picture of what a sports scientist can actually achieve and how effective they are. An experienced sports scientist brings to the table years of expertise acquired through working with different kinds of athletes. Such practitioners are skilled at identifying unique challenges and offering personalised, effective solutions.
When choosing support staff, see who, what, when a practitioner has worked with others!
(Justifying the Cost)
While experienced sports scientists often have higher fees, the benefits they provide often outweigh the costs. Their insights can save you time and money in the long term and often lead to quicker, safer, and more effective outcomes. We recognise that some upcoming staff can be an effective saving, we’ve labelled those on the journey to accreditation as “in-training“
3. Evidenced-based support
A credible sports scientist, therapist or medic should use an evidence-based approach rather than relying on pseudoscientific practices. This ensures that their advice is grounded in scientifically-validated research, providing you with more reliable and effective strategies for improvement. Make sure to ask about their research sources, methodologies, and how they keep up-to-date with the latest scientific findings in the field.
We’ll be providing more content on practices that fall outside the bounds of credibility in the future!
4. Trust and Rapport
Trust is crucial when forming a partnership with a specialist support. You want someone who you can count on for consistent, ethical, and high-quality advice and guidance. It’s essential to find a sports scientist, therapist or medic with whom you can build a strong rapport. After all, you’ll be working closely with this person to achieve your athletic goals. The better your interpersonal relationship, the more comfortable and productive your sessions will be, making the entire process more enjoyable and effective.
Look for a practitioner that offers a free call to meet, connect and align your needs!
5. Effective Communicator
Good communication is key in any relationship, and this holds true for sports science as well. An effective communicator can simplify complex topics and help you better understand your training regime, allowing you to be an active participant in your own athletic journey. Ask for more information about the way a practitioner will be supporting you and their approaches. let them know if you are familiar with the technical terms often used in the area or not and if they are able to flex their style to suit your needs they will be a better performance partner for you. You have to be able to understand what’s going on so that you are better able to work with the ideas!
Expert Tip: Look for solutions focus
Our expert tip for choosing a support professionals is to find someone who is clear how they can help and support you. An open and clear approach about what working with them will involve, what solutions they’ll offer, and what results you can expect is invaluable. If a practitioner profile is all ‘quals’ but no ‘goals’, beware. It is better to work with people who are focused on creating results for you and this should show up in their profile. It not only sets the stage for a productive relationship but also allows you to enter the partnership with well-defined expectations.
Conclusion
Selecting the right specialist support is a significant decision that can profoundly impact your athletic performance and overall well-being. While it might require a higher investment to opt for experienced and accredited professionals, the benefits they offer justify the costs. By keeping these qualities and our expert tip in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to make a choice that could redefine your athletic potential.