Women playing hockey on a grass pitch

5 March 2019

3 min read

School of Sport, Health, and Exercise Science Faculty of Science and Health Sports and exercise science Improving Health and Life Sciences

Jumping and balancing could be the secret to sporting prowess, according to a new model being taught for the first time in the UK.

The Athletic Skills Model (ASM) is to be taught at a two-day conference at the University of Portsmouth on 11-12 April.

Organiser Dr Martina Navarro said: “The Athletic Skills Model is a different way of thinking about movement, sports, physical education and healthcare. As an example, if PE teachers and coaches encouraged us to practise a range of basic skills, such as jumping and balancing embedded in a wide variety sports, people are more likely to become better sportsmen and women."

The Athletic Skills Model is a different way of thinking about movement, sports, physical education and healthcare. As an example, if PE teachers and coaches encouraged us to practise a range of basic skills, such as jumping and balancing embedded in a wide variety sports, people are more likely to become better sportsmen and women.

Dr Matina Navarro, Department of Sport and Exercise Science

Dr Martina Navarro explains what science tells about ASM (multi-lateral movement approach):

  • Fewer injuries, resulting in longer athletic life and higher tolerance to training
  • Same performance by training fewer hours, or better performance by training the same number of hours than traditional approaches
  • Increased creativity, stability and adaptability
  • Fewer dropouts and burn-outs resulting in lifelong pleasure in sport and less social isolation

The event includes a talk by strength and conditioning coach of the Dutch national football team Rene Wormhoudt, who founded the model.

Other speakers include Dr Geert Savelsbergh, youth sports expert from Amsterdam; Dr Keith Davids, skills acquisition expert from Sheffield Hallam University; Jan Kasper, the former director of Royal Netherlands Football Association; and Dr Navarro, former Olympic athlete, now a researcher at the University of Portsmouth.

Sports coaches, PE teachers, parents and others are welcome.

To find out more, visit: https://onlinestore.port.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/science/sports-and-exercise-science/athletic-skill-model-workshop