Welcome Messages
Message from Professor dr. Awie Kotze, Executive Dean Faculty of Health Sciences of the North-West University in South Africa
The Inaugural Spring Sport Science Summit (SSSS) 2024, themed “Innovations in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention – Cutting-edge Sport Science,” will be hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University from September 16 to 19, 2024. The primary objective of this Summit is to invest in academic excellence and promote professional development within the fields of Sport and Coaching Sciences.
During the two-and-a-half-day conference, taking place from September 17th to 19th, there will be a lineup of 3 International Keynote Speakers and an additional 8 Invited Speakers. On the 2nd day of the conference, participants can engage in sport-specific workshops focusing on netball, soccer, hockey, rugby, and athletics. Pre-conference workshops will be held on September 16th.
The overall format of the three-and-a-half-day summit is designed to blend thought-provoking group sessions with opportunities for colleague interaction and spontaneous dialogue exchange in informal settings.
The Summit aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- Academic enrichment by providing exposure to cutting-edge research.
- Networking opportunities with professionals, researchers, and peers.
- Potential for collaborative projects and partnerships to be explored and developed.
Empowerment, education, research, and collaboration in sports and coaching sciences are essential for our colleagues in South Africa and Africa. Through this international event, we aim to facilitate exchanges between researchers and students from diverse countries. Our goal is to support young scholars and graduate students in conducting applied research in sports and coaching sciences, providing them with a platform to showcase their work.
Your participation would be highly valued and appreciated and the Faculty of Health Sciences would like to welcome you on our beautiful campus.
Looking forward to meeting you,
Yours sincerely,
Awie F. Kotze
Message from Professor dr. J. Hans de Ridder, Chair of the Spring Sport Science Summit 2024 and President of the BRICSC Council of Exercise and Sport Science, North-West University, South Africa
Sport science plays a crucial role in modern sports by providing a scientific approach to optimizing athletic performance, preventing injuries, and enhancing overall well-being. Through the application of biomechanics, physiology, nutrition, psychology, and other disciplines, sport scientists work to understand the physical and mental demands of various sports and develop strategies to improve athletes’ performance.
They utilize advanced technologies such as motion analysis systems, physiological monitoring devices, and performance analytics software to gather data and insights that inform training programs and coaching decisions. This holistic approach not only helps athletes reach their full potential but also contributes to the evolution and innovation of sports at both the elite and grassroots levels.
With the Inaugural Spring Sport Science Summit (SSSS) 2024, themed “Innovations in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention – Cutting-edge Sport Science,” we want to provide networking opportunities for professionals, researchers, and peers to experience enrichment by providing exposure to cutting-edge sport science research. The Summit wil be hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University from September 16 to 19, 2024. The primary objective of this Summit is to invest in academic excellence and promote professional development within the fields of Sport and Coaching Sciences.A variety of pre-conference workshops will be presented on September 16thwith the mainstream conference starting on the 17th with a lineup of excellent national and international Keynotes and Invited Speakers.
The Spring Sport Science Summit of 2024 is poised to be an exceptional event, and our goal is to ensure that all participants, both national and international, have an unforgettable experience. We envision that in the years to come, the memories of our time in Potchefstroom in 2024 will be synonymous with a transformative perspective on sports and coaching science—one that is innovative and insightful. We encourage you to carve out time in your busy schedule to join us at the 2024 Sport Science Summit in Potchefstroom.
Kind regards,
Hans de Ridder
Message from Professor dr. M. Andries Monyeki, Chair of the Scientific Committee for Spring Sport Science Summit 2024 and a Research Director of Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation (PhASRec) Focus Area within the Faculty of Health Sciences, in the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University.
I warmly welcome you all to the Inaugural Spring Sport Science Summit (SSSS) 2024, themed “Innovations in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention – Cutting-edge Sport Science,” will be hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University from September 16 to 19, 2024.
This conference provides value for the researchers, students, practitioners, and sport industries in the inter-related fields opportunities to network, knowledge exchange, and social network among us. To this point, we are calling for papers in the current issues in the areas of sport science and coaching sciences, sport and nutrition science, sport psychology, biomechanics.
With this fields of studies, the conference is aiming to contribute scientific knowledge to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), Goal 3: Good health and well-being targets, National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 targets like sport as an integral part in promoting wellness and social cohesion hence the National Sport and Recreation Plan’s imperatives.
Papers presented at Inaugural Spring Sport Science Summit (SSSS) 2024 conference will undergo rigorous peer review for publication consideration in the African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences (AJPHES) (approved and listed in DHET) under the guest editorProf MA Monyeki. Delegates will be required to submit papers of between 4000 and 5000 words. The paper layout should follow the guidelines and reference style of AJPHES. Full length articles should be submitted on or before the 9 September 2024. Please note only papers that are suitable to the scope of AJPHES Editorial Journal will be considered for publication.
I am confident that as representatives of your countries, universities, and sports industries you will all enjoy learning from each other and establishing lasting friendships at Inaugural Spring Sport Science Summit (SSSS) 2024. We hope that you will enjoy the conference and your stay in Potchefstroom. If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to get in touch with the Spring Sport Science Summit (SSSS) 2024 committee.
Yours sincerely,
Andries Monyeki
Message from Professor dr. Pieter Kruger, Consultant Clinical Psychologist (HPCSA) and Director of the Centre for Health & Human Performance (CHHP), North-West University, South Africa.
Welcome to the Inaugural Spring Sport Science Summit 2024. It is always a pleasure to have like-minded individuals coming together and exchanging ideas on ways to enhance the work that we all do in sport. The theme around “Innovations in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention – Cutting-edge Sport Science,” seems especially relevant in an Olympic year, where we get to see the best athletes in the world competing, pushing themselves to the edge in pursuit of glory.
Although not all clubs, teams or organisations will have the funding and infrastructure available to replicate the preparations that Olympic athletes do to perform optimally, we can still learn from the principles of performance enhancement and injury prevention that they apply. At the Centre for Health & Human Performance (CHHP) our aim is to find scientific, sustainable and practical ways to help teams and individuals across all levels of sport to maximise their performance,
enhance their health & wellbeing and focus on injury prevention. Bringing the best of sport science, biokinetics and performance psychology together, our team of experts are always looking for cutting-edge ways to support athletes to optimise performance, in whichever sport they do. This includes creating opportunities for professional networking, brainstorming, challenging the status quo and exchanging ideas around best practice in performance enhancement and injury prevention.
This summit will provide a great opportunity to explore the latest developments and cutting-edge innovations in sport, allowing practitioners, athletes and coaches to engage in debate and find practical solutions to current challenges in sport. It will bring the best of local and international talent together to maximise the experience and practical application value to all involved. We look forward to the occasion and walking away from it with fresh new ideas of how to keep on striving for sustainable success.
Kind regards,
Pieter Kruger
