Department of Sport and Recreation

The Lab is an online library of research on sport and recreation issues.

Related topics: resource

The Lab includes a broad range of opinions. Not all of these are supported or endorsed by the department, or reflect DSR policy. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, but we are not responsible for the content of external websites. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) in the provision of much of this material.

Coaching Lab

How to use the beach to maximise training performance

Finding that extra energy

Winning a soccer penalty shootout: Cheering convincingly increases chances of success

Sports psychology: Developing a positive attitude towards pressure will improve performance

The athletic performance of collegiate football players improved by extra sleep

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Community Lab

Denver's highly rated parks generate economic value

Hawkes Bay trail receives $1.89 million from New Zealand cycle trail project

Does social capital promote physical activity? A population-based study in Japan

Effects of perceived neighborhood characteristics and use of community facilities on physical activity of adults with and without disabilities

Guidelines for outdoor access published

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Education Lab

Improved Learning Through Physical Activity

Physical activity enhances children's learning capabilities and leads to better performance in the classroom.

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Facilities Lab

Sculpting a new park for Brisbane, Australia

Rotorua Aquatic Centre first in country to take gold environment award

New Zealand Urban Design Toolkit (Third Edition)

The Urban Design Toolkit is a compendium of tools that can be used to facilitate high-quality urban design. The Toolkit supports the implementation of the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol.

SA World Cup Stadiums complete

South Africa has completed the 10 World Cup venue stadiums, which were approved by a final, 10-day FIFA inspection tour on Friday. (SportBusiness International)

Facility Management in Tough Times

Simon Weatherill, Chief Executive of the Victorian State Sport Centres Trust, believes that the current economic climate demands that recreation and sport facilities adopt business models with a lower cost base, while also looking at lower cost strategies

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Health Lab

Head trauma in pro athletes linked to motor neuron disease

Athletes undergoing tissue transplant surgery for knee damage have bright future

Save your knees by landing on your toes

Low-load high volume resistance exercise stimulates muscle protein synthesis more than high-load low volume resistance exercise in young men

Sports science update: Take a load off

Past research has shown that runners who land harder get injured more often. Two newly published studies provide evidence that runners can make simple changes to soften their landing when they run and thereby potentially reduce their injury risk. (Competi

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Officials Lab

Automated scoring system for boxing begins to hit its mark

Officials make time to be at their best

Angie Calder, Applied Sports Knowledge

Hi-tech study launched to detect illegal bowling action

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) will fund Griffith University and Australia's elite sporting bodies to develop a wearable, real-time electronic sensor to record and monitor the bowling action during delivery.

Managing activation levels for officials

Dr Michael Lloyd, Performance Psychologist

Staying at the top of your game

Dr Michael Lloyd, Performance Psychologist

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