Health & Movement Science Practical Workshop
During Study Week, Year 12 Health and Movement Science students had the privilege of participating in an engaging practical session with PhD researcher Ned Brophy-Williams from the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS). The session provided students with a unique opportunity to apply the theoretical concepts explored throughout the term to a real-world elite sporting context.
The practical workshop focused on the science behind athletic performance, particularly the relationship between training intensity, aerobic capacity, energy systems, and physiological responses during exercise. Students participated in an aerobic threshold testing session, incorporating blood lactate analysis and heart rate monitoring to investigate how athletes determine and optimise their individual training zones.
Through this hands-on experience, students developed a deeper understanding of how elite athletes use data-driven approaches to design effective training programs. They explored the preparation strategies used by Olympic-level athletes, including the importance of building aerobic capacity, improving lactic tolerance, and adapting training to meet the demands of varied pace racing.
A key component of the session was examining the “art and science” of training prescription, understanding that successful performance requires both physiological knowledge and strategic decision-making. Students were introduced to high-speed running exposure and varied-pace training methods, including cutdown and kickdown sessions, where athletes progressively adjust intensity within repetitions and sets to replicate the demands of competitive racing.
This experience allowed us to see the direct application of Health and Movement Science concepts beyond the classroom, highlighting how scientific testing and monitoring contribute to improving athletic performance at the highest level. The session was an invaluable opportunity for us to connect our learning with the practices used by elite sporting organisations and gain insight into the preparation, precision and dedication required in high-performance sport.
We acknowledge the Burramattagal People of the Darug Nation, the traditional custodians of the land in Parramatta. We acknowledge the Elders, past and present and their ancestors who have had a deep relationship with country.