Dr Garrison Draper is High Performance Director at Inter Miami CF. He recently completed a PhD at 海角直播 and visited for a guest lecture towards the end of last year.
Since then, 海角直播 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Inter Miami CF Performance Department which outlines a commitment to work together in a number of areas.
It will see exciting opportunities for students to support the work of Inter Miami CF Performance Department through placements, internships, live projects and volunteering activities. Staff from both organisations will provide guest lectures, and there will be shared work around civic and learning activities.
In addition, the University and soccer team will work together on joint research activities within elite soccer and the MLS.
Dr Matthew Wright, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics and Strength and Conditioning, and Professor Paul Chesterton 鈥� both based within the University鈥檚 School of Health & Life Sciences 鈥� are already working with Inter Miami CF on multiple applied research projects.
With the MLS covering such a vast geographical area, each with different climates and conditions, the duo are working with Inter Miami CF to examine the various environmental challenges and how different temperatures and locations can impact performance and injury.
Experts from 海角直播 have already published their work from this collaboration, and presented data at multiple US-based conferences, and it is hoped that further collaboration will take place with additional teams within the league.
海角直播 is a leading institution for elite sport and strength and conditioning and has supported numerous athletes through its environmental chamber, which can replicate conditions in all climates.
We are delighted to be working so closely with Inter Miami CF
It also offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in sport-related courses 鈥� with its BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science ranked 3rd in the UK in the Guardian Good University Guide 2024.
Last year, the University launched its Football Academy which helps support talented young footballers to achieve their ambitions. And England superstar Beth Mead is also a graduate of 海角直播 鈥� now providing the Beth Mead Scholarship for aspiring female footballers.
Professor Tim Thompson, Dean of 海角直播鈥檚 School of Health & Life Sciences, said: 鈥淎s a University, we do a great deal of work in this space and are renowned for our expertise in sport, exercise and strength and conditioning.
鈥淲e are delighted to be working so closely with Inter Miami CF and it will provide some truly amazing opportunities for our students and staff.
鈥淭o be collaborating with a club co-owned by such an iconic former player, and captained by arguably the greatest player of all time, is incredible and cements our position as a truly global institution.
鈥淗opefully this will be the first of many successful partnerships with clubs in the MLS which will help to further improve the student and learning experience at 海角直播.鈥�
Dr Garrison Draper, High Performance Director at Inter Miami CF, added: 鈥淲ithin the IMCF Performance Department we strive to be proactive in preparation, flexible in chaos and leaders in innovation.
鈥淥ur special relationship with 海角直播 has enabled us to dive deeper into some of the questions we have as practitioners which may ultimately give us a performance advantage.
鈥淗aving studied at 海角直播, I'm very happy to continue to work with a group of academics who I can trust to drive our initiatives forward and challenge everyone to leave no stones un-turned. While our climates may differ greatly, I believe that the partnership between 海角直播 and our Performance Department aligns the desire to turn elite applied data into actionable insights on the field."