Global stage awaits Lincoln University researchers at sport science conference

Swapping Aotearoa’s cold, cloudy days for Scotland's slightly warmer ones, Lincoln University is proud to have students heading over to present at the prestigious European College of Sport and Exercise Science (ECSS) conference in Glasgow next week. 

This significant opportunity will showcase the innovative research from PhD students Hoani Smith and Nicole Spriggs, alongside their supervisor, Professor Mike Hamlin.

Hoani Smith, both a PhD student and lecturer at Lincoln University, will present his new and insightful research on load management in sports, specifically in basketball. His work on fatigue interventions, such as blood flow restriction training, aims to enhance performance over long seasons.

“It’s a hot topic at the moment, especially in America and Europe with a lot of teams competing in multiple competitions,” Hoani shares. "I’ve just submitted the manuscript for one of my papers, but anecdotally, it works, so I’m really keen to see the reception of it.” 

Hoani adds, "My professor, Mike Hamlin, he's great. He's been pushing me to get overseas, present and build networks. In the last couple of years, I've been fortunate enough to present in Paris at the European College, and now this year in Glasgow. So, feeling very lucky."

Hoani’s extensive experience in basketball fuels his passion for research and development within the University. He was previously the strength and conditioning coach for the LU sports scholarship programme and coached Lincoln’s premier teams internationally.

Nicole Spriggs, also in her final year of PhD studies, will present her research on brain health in high-school female rugby players. Her work examines the impacts of concussive and sub-concussive blows over a rugby season, research which she hopes relieves some of the sport’s misconceptions. 

"Ultimately, my goal is to make the game safer and have more people playing the sport instead of shying away because they’re unsure of the risks,” she says. "I’m excited to share my findings and hear from others in the field too." 

Nicole’s research is timely amid evolving discussions about rugby safety in young players, not just in Aotearoa but in England too, where there’s a push for it to be taken out of schools. 

“Currently there’s little to no research on high-school girls in rugby, so it's hard to compare them to anyone,” she says. "I'm hoping to show people that rugby isn't as scary as it’s portrayed in the media. On the other side of that, my research is also proposing how we can make it safer, such as how can we change tackle techniques and training to be safer and better protect our brains on the field.” 

Nicole’s study is currently in the analysis stage but says the findings so far are promising and might surprise some people, especially when comparing them to males. 

Lincoln University Professor Mike Hamlin, a seasoned member of ECSS, has guided Hoani and Nicole throughout their PhD journeys. With extensive conference experience, he emphasises the importance of these events in students’ research careers. 

"It’s so beneficial for students to get a taste for these international events, where making connections and conversing on the latest pieces of research in their sphere is so beneficial,” Mike says. “It’s no easy trip either, and these guys have worked for it. You have to submit an abstract to be accepted by the ECSS and secure funding.” 

Both Hoani and Nicole have been fortunate to receive the Claude McCarthy fellowship from Universities NZ along with PhD funds to support their hard work to go on this trip. 

Apart from networking, Professor Hamlin looks forward to exploring new research collaborations and pieces of technology for Lincoln's gym and sports science lab. 

“A lot of what we buy for the gym, we’ve seen at the conferences a few years earlier with the latest research," he explains. "Equipment like our specialist treadmill or cardiorespiratory kit has been brought over from Germany because of such trips." 

While focused on their research, the trip to Scotland will have some personal undertakings. Hoani has his sights set on a drive through the highlands and some tastings of fine Scottish scotch, while Nicole anticipates reconnecting with family and tiki-touring the UK before hunkering down into her last semester of her PhD. 

The Lincoln University community eagerly awaits the insights and experiences that Hoani, Nicole, and Professor Hamlin will bring back from Glasgow. Their participation in the ECSS conference supports Lincoln University’s commitment to advancing sport and exercise science globally.

For updates on their journey and ongoing research, stay connected to our Lincoln social channels.