Insights from an Embedded PhD: #3 - Andy Guard
Who are you ?
My name is Andy Guard, and I completed my PhD from the University of Glasgow in 2016. The thesis was focused on training load assessments in elite youth football, specifically in relation to the use of GPS and inertial sensors to quantify training load provision. Prior to that I completed a master’s degree from the University of Hull before spending a season as a sports science intern at Celtic Football Club. I was then fortunate to begin my PhD in 2012 whilst working as a full-time sports scientist with the elite development squad at the club.
Embarking on a PhD
I knew undertaking a PhD would be a much bigger undertaking than the master’s degree I had done two years earlier. However, it would be a massive opportunity to engage in more in-depth reading around exercise physiology and sports science in football. Furthermore, a PhD would serve to develop my research and scientific writing skills whilst implementing new strategies in my day-to-day role with the team.
Phd topic
Although the use of GPS and other micro-electromechanical systems has become widespread in elite sport in recent years, at the time of undertaking the PhD GPS technology was still in its relative infancy in sporting applications. The premise was to be able to understand further how exactly the technology worked and how it could help guide the training process in football. Specifically, how does varying the external load (training conditions and prescription) affect physical (and perceptual) outputs and the ensuing internal training load, the subsequent stimulus for adaptation (Impellizzeri, Rampinini, and Marcora, 2005). In this respect the manipulation of player numbers, absolute and relative playing area and indeed game strategy in small-sided soccer games can produce the desired kinematic, mechanical and physiological outputs as part of an appropriately periodised training cycle (Rampinini et al., 2007; Owen et al., 2012).
Context surrounding my Phd context
My research was through the University of Glasgow, with funding provided by Celtic Football Club, where I was an embedded PhD student. I was supported by two supervisors, Professor Niall MacFarlane, and Dr. Kenny McMillan, Head of Sports Science at the football club. The club had recently renamed the previous reserve team to be the elite development squad, that would now compete in the Scottish Premiership U20 league as well as participate in the UEFA Youth League in Europe along-side the first team. Funded by the football club, the PhD studentship was created to enable the implementation and analysis of GPS technology within the football club. This would help quantify the training processes of both the first team and development squad, specifically in commonly used small-sided game and possession formats.
An Embedded PhD: The positives and negatives
Overall, the process was thoroughly enjoyable and gave me an enormous amount of experience and additional skills both practically and academically with which to draw on in my career. Undertaking a considerable amount of reading to produce the literature review, although time-consuming, was key in strengthening my understanding of the physiological, psycho-social and technical requirements in soccer. As a result, this also underpinned my delivery with the development squad players and when implementing new strategies (objective and subjective physical and wellbeing monitoring, nutrition and recovery modalities). Additionally, I was fortunate to have the support of the two first team sports scientists in exposing me to more practical experiences as time went on with the first team as well as highlighting the nuances and soft skills necessary in an elite training ground environment. Lastly, in working as the sports scientist for the development squad, I was largely able to adopt a similar working week to the players, whereby I could go into the University campus to meet (for several hours!) with my supervisor while the players had a day of mandatory education. I therefore was lucky to have a good routine whereby I could maintain momentum of working on my study designs and writing progress with my supervisor throughout the football season which was vital.
There were some frustrations along the way, which I believe is normal amongst PhD students! Initially, there were some changes to the progression of studies the thesis would contain and logistical constraints which perhaps I did not foresee. However, I came to learn these were part of the research process and ensured the data I was collecting, and eventual series of studies were more valid and reliable, and I needed to be patient with things coming together. Lastly, I think it is worth reiterating that PhD study is a significant undertaking over several years. Planning, collecting data and writing the thesis is relentless and seems never-ending, all the while still working in professional football. Consequently, there are periods of being more/less productive with PhD work due to the busy working days and weeks where fatigue accumulates across the season. I would say it is important to keep things in perspective, manage your time well but also take time to step away, relax and focus on other things before re-engaging with work.
Key success factors
After initial proposals by my supervisor within the club, I brainstormed various research avenues of interest that would potentially be beneficial to the environment I was embedded in. After review meetings with both my supervisors (academic and applied), we narrowed down areas which would be most beneficial to the philosophy and needs of key stakeholders in the sports science department, and indeed the head coach. It is good to start with a broad map in your head but be ready for discussion and compromise as it (inevitably) evolves, and the research focus is refined and may be adapted over time and new information is gleaned. I do think it is important to be realistic in what you are undertaking and what you would constitute a successful outcome. Wherever you find yourself consider what is feasible in that environment and with the resources at your disposal, whilst still being able to produce high-quality, impactful data (Bishop et al., 2006).
Figure 1 highlights themes that I learned were key considerations to be cognizant of as an embedded research student, and in my subsequent career. These elements made me think about my work through different lenses in terms of data quality (signal and noise) (Coutts, 2014; Malone et al., 2017) extent of impact on the team(s), potential flaws and any confounding factors to appreciate (training and game schedules, environmental, individual variation) (Castellano, Blanco-Villasenor and Alvarez, 2011) Another thing to remind yourself about during the process is whether it is having impact on developing yourself as a practitioner as well as the environment you are in (the Team!).
As mentioned above, there may be obstacles along the way and a change in the direction of a study, for example. It is therefore important to be adaptable during study, whilst being accepting of any ‘uncontrollables’ that are inherent in elite sport settings (changes in team schedules, players moving between squads, coach preference). These are important soft skills to have when embedded in the environment and are only beneficial in being able to adapt as a practitioner.
In such a high-pressure environment, the way you conduct yourself is important, and especially in a unique position where you are working full-time whilst also an active researcher. Taking the time to engage with players and staff about why you may be asking certain things of them and the rationale pertaining to theirs and the team’s ultimate performance will aid understanding and buy-in from them to comply with your requests (Bishop et al., 2006).
Finally, I would encourage others not to be afraid to ask questions of supervisors and support staff to help the research process. Suggesting new ideas to compliment your studies, discussing advantages and disadvantages can be healthy in enhancing your skills as a scientist
What to avoid
It is easy to get lost down a rabbit hole and list off a myriad of research concepts and ideas to potentially follow. However, assessing whether there is true efficacy in the idea is important. Do the themes lend themselves to your PhD work, and more importantly impact players performance, the needs of the club and even the wider sporting community.
Secondly, as previously mentioned, it is a large undertaking, and the workload should not be underestimated. Long days, sometimes involving team travel, 6-7 days a week, can be relentless in an eleven-month long season. Take the opportunity to be away from the training ground if not essential and devote time to yourself. Self-care and time management are vital to maintain a high work ethic and standards.
Next steps for Andy.
I am currently employed by the US Soccer Federation, where I have worked across youth and senior national teams across both genders. I hope to continue to learn from experiences of others in sport in America and continue to develop new support strategies and research projects with my colleagues in the high-performance department. We put large focuses on the objective and subjective monitoring of load, wellness and fatigue as well as effects of environmental conditions and frequent travel for our national team players.
List of publications during the course of the PhD:
Barrett, S., Guard, A. and Lovell, R. (2012). U-SAFT90 simulates the internal and external loads of University-level soccer match-play. Science and Football VII: The Proceedings of the Seventh World Congress on Science and Football. London: Routledge.
Guard, A.N., McMillan, K. and MacFarlane, N. (2021). The influence of relative playing area and player numerical imbalance on physical and perceptual demands in soccer small-sided game formats. Science and Medicine in Football. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2021.1939408
Guard, A.N., McMillan, K. and MacFarlane, N. (Under Review). Influence of game format and team strategy on physical and perceptual intensity in soccer small-sided games. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching.
References
Bishop, D., Burnett, A., Farrow, D., Gabbett, T. and Newton, R. (2006).Sports-Science Roundtable: Does Sports-Science Research Influence Practice? International Journal of Physiology and Performance, 1, 161-168.
Castellano, J., Blanco-Villasenor, A. and Alvarez, D. (2011). Contextual variables and time-motion analysis in soccer. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 32, 415-421.
Coutts, A. (2014). In the Age of Technology, Occam’s Razor Still Applies. International Journal of Physiology and Performance, 9, 741.
Malone, J.J., Lovell., R., Varley, M.C. and Coutts, A. (2017). Unpacking the Black Box: Applications and Consideration for Using GPS Devices in Sport. International Journal of Physiology and Performance, 12, S2-18-S2-26.
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