The SSAC is primarily responsible for ensuring the BA High Performance Program is underpinned by sports science and that sports science / sports medicine services are an integral part of the overall program. The SSAC meets regularly to review program elements and ensures practices involved in training and testing are scientifically based. The SSAC provides specialist sports science advice to enhance sports performance outcomes.

The SSAC also has a key role in monitoring the latest research and innovation in technology in sport identifying how this could be applied to enhance performance in badminton. The SSAC identifies and prioritize research projects for badminton and assists in bringing together the resources to implement critical research projects for badminton with the aim of becoming leaders in badminton research and innovation.

Committee Members

• Dr Melissa Arkinstall, Exercise Research Australia - Chairperson
• Lasse Bundgaard, Assistant National Coach
• Rhonda Cator
• Luke Pryor, Strength & Conditioning Trainer
• Paul Brettell, CEO

Objectives

The objectives of the Badminton Australia SSAC are to:

1) Provide specialist advice on the integration of sports science / sports medicine in the Badminton Australia High Performance Program;

2) Ensure practices involved in training and testing are scientifically based.

3) Identify strategies and performance analysis tools to maximise physical / tactical / psychological and decision making components of performance;

4) Assist in setting goals and performance benchmarks for badminton in relation to high performance athletes in other sports;

5) Discuss specific player performance issues identified by coaching/training staff and recommend remedial actions to rectify individual performance needs;

6) Monitor the latest high performance / sports science research and innovation and determine how this can be applied to badminton;

7)  Identify and priorities research projects relevant to badminton and assist in identifying and securing partners and collaborators to undertake projects;

8) Liaise with key institutions / agencies including universities, the AIS, VIS and ASC on sports science, high performance and research matters.