Sports Science trip to the University of Bath

Following a recent trip to the University of Bath’s Sport, Health and Exercise Science research facilities, within the Department for Health, Ella Royden, Lower Sixth, writes about a highly active and thoroughly engaging day:

“On Wednesday 10th May, 20 pupils set off to the University of Bath for a Sports-Science orientated day. Once we got there, we were split into two groups. My group went into their enormous sports hall for some fitness testing, such as a 20m sprint, the sit and reach test, the hand grip dynometer and, sadly, the dreaded Yoyo test.

While we were racing across the lines trying desperately not to be the first one out on the bleep test, the other group were up in the science lab doing some even tougher things.

One person had to do a VO2 max test, which is when you test the maximum oxygen delivery to the muscles, (this is an aerobic test; meaning oxygen is vital and constantly being used as the main fuel source) and the other test was something called a Wingate. This was the opposite of the VO2 max, meaning that it was anaerobic, thus no oxygen being used, with glycogen the main fuel source.

Following this we had lunch at the cafeteria, and then listened to a psychology lecture in one of the lecture halls. The lecture was related to anxiety and stress in sport, which was of course relevant and interesting to all of us as we all do sport and compete in competitive matches regularly at Teddies.

It was an extremely successful day out and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.”