Five Research Grant Programme projects selected for UEFA backing
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
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Each of the projects focuses on producing findings to improve decision-making in European football
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The UEFA Research Grant Programme jury has selected five new projects for the 2020/21 season.
The Research Grant Programme (RGP) provides invaluable funding for academics working in partnership with UEFA member associations to produce findings that improve strategic decision-making in European football.
Each of the five projects, detailed below, is eligible for a grant of up to €15,000, with joint projects receiving up to €20,000 for a nine-month research period.
The 2020/21 UEFA Research Grant Programme projects
• “Clearing the confusion from concussion: A multidisciplinary approach to examine heading” by Bert Bond (University of Exeter, England; supported by the Football Association of Wales)
• “Mental health, wellbeing and coping with the everyday: An examination of what elite coaches endure” by Charles Crosby (Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales; English Football Association and Football Association of Wales)
• “Integration and optimization of diversity within multinational women sport teams: Practical implications for professional football coaches”by Manon Eluère, (Université Grenoble Alpes, France; French Football Federation)
• “High-velocity hamstring muscle training strategy” by Sigitas Kamandulis (Lithuanian Sports University, Lithuania; Lithuanian Football Federation), in collaboration with Joan Cadefau (National Institute of Physical Education and Sport of Catalonia, Spain)
• “The value of volunteering in grassroots football” by Pamela Wicker (Bielefeld University, Germany; supported by German Football Association), in collaboration with Larissa Davies (Sheffield Hallam University, England)
Aiding growth and development
The RGP was established in 2010 to support visionary academic research, with anybody working on or holding a PhD who is analysing European football eligible to apply.
Once completed, research is shared with the 55 UEFA member associations and is used for growth and development purposes.
Grant applicants must submit a recommendation letter from a UEFA member association, thus ensuring that their project is undertaken in line with contemporary issues and has the highest practical value possible.
In order to foster cooperation between its member associations and European universities, UEFA allows up to three researchers based in the territories of three different national associations to submit joint applications.
Who makes up the UEFA Research Grant Programme jury?
Representatives of the European football community:
Michel D’Hooghe (chairman of the UEFA Research Grant Programme Jury)
Michele Uva (UEFA vice-president)
Alfred Ludwig (former chief executive of the Austrian Football Association)
Ivančica Sudac (head of international affairs and licensing at the Croatian Football Federation)
Hannu Tihinen (sports director at the Football Association of Finland and a former international player)
University representatives:
Prof. Susan Bridgewater (University of Liverpool, England)
Prof. Paul Downward (Loughborough University, England)
Prof. Dr. Tim Meyer (Saarland University, Germany, and chairman of the UEFA medical committee)
Prof. Jan Ekstrand (UEFA Elite Club Injury Study lead expert)
Prof. Jürgen Mittag (German Sport University Cologne, Germany)
Prof. Fabien Ohl (University of Lausanne, Switzerland)