Learning and development of performance in sports

The research group is a part of the research division Physical education, sports science and outdoor education.

The research group investigates sports performance multidisciplinary from disciplines like physiology, biomechanics, motor learning and control, Science of sports coaching. One of the main targets of our research group is, based on high quality experimental research work, to gain more knowledge about the aspects of sports performance and develop new and optimised training strategies to enhance this performance. In addition, all of our research projects aim to provide practical applications for sport and fitness coaching.

Our main research interests include:

• 3D analyses of fast discrete movements (soccer kicking and overarm throwing)
• Warm-up strategies and performance
• Strength and plyometrics training
• Endurance training (cross country skiing, athletics and cycling)
• Sprint and change of direction performance and training
• Physical performance profiles and competitive performance and/or their changes during the preparatory and competitive seasons in various athlete groups such as weightlifting, track and field athletes (endurance runners and sprinters), cross-country skiing, handball and soccer

Research in our group is often carried out in close cooperation with nationally and internationally recognized universities and research institutes and in collaboration with local clubs and athletes that play and inter / national level. In our research group we involve our bachelor and master students actively in our ongoing research projects, in which they are able to take advantage of our research conditions. Our goal is to educate experts in the field of sports and exercise training by providing scientific understanding of, for example, neuromuscular, psychological, physiological and biomechanical mechanisms.

• Members of the research groupCopy linkCopied

  Roland van den Tillaar, head of research group
  David McGhie
  Per Øyvind Torvik
  Guro Strøm Solli
  Stig Leirdal
  Arne Sørensen
  Knut Lyng Hansen
  Ove Erik Tronvoll
  Tina Piil Torabi
  Rune Talsnes
  Bjørn Johansen
  Stian Larsen
  Markus Haugen
  Hallvard Falch

  External members:
  Atle Sæterbakken, HVL, Sogndal
  Vidar Anderson, HVL, Sogndal
  Øyvind Sandbak, NTNU
  Gertja Ettema NTNU
  Jesper Bencke. Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
  Henrik Sørensen. University of Aalborg, Danmark
  Drew Harrison, University of Limerick
  Archit Navandar, University of Madrid, Spain
  Jesús Rivilla-García Ph.D. University of Madrid, Spain
  Mario Marques, University of Beira Inferior, Portugal
  Ricardo Ferraz, University of Beira Inferior, Portugal
  Daniel Marinho University of Beira Inferior, Portugal
  John Cronin, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
  Andrew Kilding, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
  Ignacio J. Chirosa Ph.D., University of Granada Spain
  Nick Ball, University of Canberra

  Masterstudenter:
  Vidar Vikestad
  Robin Mehus
  Sigve Knarbakk
  Lena Kristiansen
  Henrik Garnaas
  Jon-Olav Heggen
  Andrea Bao Fredriksen
  Lasse Bjørnstad
  Robin Lesniak
  Jim Gjertsen
  Simen Myrvang

Research Projects

• Active research projectsCopy linkCopied

  Effect of wearable resistance upon physcial ability in soccer player
  Prof. Roland van den Tillaar in collaboration with prof. John Cronin and research fellow Aaron Uthoff Ph.D. from Sport performance institiute in New Zealand, Auckland (SPRINZ).

  Effect of pole length upon cross country skiing performance
  Ass. Prof. Per Øyvind Torsvik in collaboration with Prof. Roland van den Tillaar

  Warming-up strategies in cross country skiing
  Prof. Roland van den Tillaar, Guro Strom Solli in collaboration with Sentif.

  Effect of sprinting intensity upon kinematics and muscle activation in master sprinters
  Prof. Roland van den Tillaar and Nick Ball from University of Canberra.

  Comparison of double poling capacity in successful long distance cross country skiers
  Ass. Prof. Per Øyvind Torsvik in collaboration with Prof. Roland van den Tillaar in collaboration with Sentif.

  Effect of resisted and aassisted sprint upon kinetics, kinematics and muscle activation in sprinters
  Prof. Roland van den Tillaar in collaboration with prof. Ryu Nagahara from National insitute of Fitness and Sport, Kanoya, Japan, Pedro, ass. prof. Jimenez-Reyes from University of Madrid,Spain and Prof. JB Morin from university of Nice, France.

  Effect of force-velocity based training
  Prof. Roland van den Tillaar in collaboration Ph.D. student Dylan Hicks from university of Adilaide.

  Monitoring throwing load measured with IMU in handball
  Prof. Roland van den Tillaar in collaboration with Ph.D. Shruti Bhandurge and Research Tom Steward from SPRINZ.

  Sticking region in strength training
  Prof. Roland van den Tillaar in collaboration with Ass. Prof. Atle Sæterbakken and Ass. Prof. Vidar Andersen from University college of Western Norway, Sogndal.

  Comparison of heavy and explosive strength training upon cycling performance in experienced cyclists
  M.Sc. student Tine Thomasli in collaboration with prof. Roland van den Tillaar, Ass. prof. Vegar Rangul and Prof. Bent Rønnestad from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Ph.d.-prosjekter

• Preparing for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics: knowledge translation from Norwegian XC-skiingCopy linkCopied

  PhD student: Rune Kjøsen Talsnes

  The overall objective of this PhD is to examine and describe the development process of Chinese athletes participating in an athlete-transfer program to XC skiers aiming for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, by living in Norway and applying best practice of Norwegian XC skiing. Their development of XC skiing specific capacities measured in the laboratory will be given special attention in combination with detaily examination of the characteristics describing the most successful athletes of the program.

  Supervisors:
  Prof. Roland van den Tillaar from Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, Norway
  Prof. Øyvind Sandbak from Center for Elite Sports Research (SenTIF), Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science (INB), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim.

• The Throwing Shoulder: The cause of shoulder injuries or pain in experienced handball playersCopy linkCopied

  PhD student: Tina Piil Torabi, PT, CMP, MSc in Physical Therapy

  The purpose of this project is to identify throwing techniques with the highest shoulder loading in elite team handball players with examination of forces (kinetic), joint movement (kinematic) and muscle activity.

  Main supervisor:
  Roland Van Den Tillaar, Professor. Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education at Nord University

  CO- supervisor:
  Jesper Bencke, Msc, Ph.D., Laboratory Manager of Human Movement Analysis Laboratory from University Hospital at Hvidovre.

• Training characteristics in the world's most successful cross country skierCopy linkCopied

  PhD student: Guro Strøm Solli

  The aim of this project is to investigate training over year of the world's most successful cross country skier.

  Supervisor: Prof. Øyvind Sandbak from Center for Elite Sports Research (SenTIF), Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science (INB), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim.