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500+ Sports Research Topics

Sports Research Topics

Sports research topics cover a vast array of areas in the world of athletics, from the physical and psychological impacts of sport on athletes to the social and cultural implications of sports on society. Sports research can include studies on training techniques, nutrition, injury prevention, performance enhancement, and much more. It can also explore the societal impact of sports, such as the role of sports in shaping national identities, gender roles, and cultural values. As a result, the field of sports research provides a unique lens through which to understand the complex relationship between sports and society, and offers insights that can benefit athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts alike. In this post, we will explore some of the most fascinating and important sports research topics that are currently being investigated.

Sports Research Topics

Sports Research Topics are as follows:

  • The psychological benefits of participating in team sports
  • The impact of sports on academic achievement
  • The role of sports in promoting physical health and fitness
  • The impact of sports on mental health and well-being
  • The benefits and drawbacks of early specialization in youth sports
  • The relationship between sports and character development
  • The role of sports in building social capital and community cohesion
  • The impact of technology on sports training and performance
  • The influence of gender on sports participation and achievement
  • The impact of culture on sports participation and achievement
  • The economics of professional sports: salaries, revenue, and team valuations
  • The role of sports in promoting diversity and inclusion
  • The impact of sports on political and social change
  • The impact of sports sponsorship on consumer behavior
  • The impact of doping in sports on athlete health and performance
  • The role of nutrition in sports performance
  • The impact of weather conditions on sports performance
  • The influence of crowd behavior on sports performance and player behavior
  • The impact of sports injuries on athlete health and career longevity
  • The impact of sports on tourism and local economies
  • The role of sports in promoting peace and conflict resolution
  • The impact of globalization on sports and their respective cultures
  • The impact of sports on national identity and patriotism
  • The impact of sports media on fan behavior and athlete performance
  • The impact of sports on the environment
  • The influence of sports fans on team strategy and decision-making
  • The impact of sports gambling on sports integrity and athlete health
  • The impact of sports specialization on long-term athlete development
  • The influence of sports referees and officials on game outcomes
  • The role of technology in sports officiating and decision-making
  • The impact of sports on youth development and socialization
  • The role of sports in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment
  • The impact of sports on personal identity and self-esteem
  • The role of sports in promoting physical literacy and lifelong physical activity
  • The impact of fan behavior on athlete mental health and well-being
  • The influence of sports broadcasters on fan behavior and attitudes
  • The role of sports in promoting healthy competition and fair play
  • The impact of sports participation on academic performance in children
  • The influence of social media on athlete behavior and fan engagement
  • The impact of sports on international diplomacy and political relations
  • The influence of coach behavior on athlete mental health and performance
  • The role of sports in promoting cultural understanding and awareness
  • The impact of sports science on athlete training and performance
  • The impact of youth sports on parent-child relationships
  • The influence of sports team culture on athlete behavior and performance
  • The role of sports in promoting environmental sustainability
  • The impact of sports on social mobility and economic inequality
  • The influence of sports on global health issues
  • The impact of sports on regional and national identity
  • The role of sports in promoting positive youth development and resilience.
  • The impact of technology on sports performance
  • The effects of altitude on ball flight in sports like golf and tennis
  • The effects of sports on stress management
  • The impact of COVID-19 on the sports industry
  • The impact of technology on sports officiating and rule enforcement
  • The role of sports in promoting cultural heritage and preservation
  • The impact of sports on mental toughness and resilience among athletes
  • The effects of different types of recovery interventions on sports injury rehabilitation
  • The role of sports in promoting intergenerational connections and social capital
  • The effects of different types of sports psychology interventions on team dynamics and performance in professional sports
  • The role of sports in promoting peacebuilding and conflict resolution in divided societies
  • The impact of sports on career development and job satisfaction among sports journalists
  • The effects of different types of recovery interventions on injury prevention and performance in powerlifting
  • The role of sports in promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship among youth
  • The impact of sports on social identity and community building among refugees and immigrants
  • The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on brain health and cognitive function in older adults
  • The role of sports in promoting sustainable urban development and active transportation
  • The impact of sports on social capital and political engagement among LGBTQ+ athletes
  • The effects of different types of training interventions on injury prevention and recovery in equestrian sports.
  • The impact of sports on body image and self-esteem among female athletes
  • The effects of different types of sports equipment on performance and injury risk in extreme sports
  • The role of sports in promoting cultural diplomacy and international relations
  • The impact of sports on emotional regulation and mental health among adolescent athletes
  • The effects of different types of nutrition interventions on injury prevention and recovery in team sports
  • The role of sports in promoting civic engagement and political participation among athletes
  • The impact of sports on cognitive development and academic achievement in early childhood
  • The effects of different types of sports psychology interventions on sports performance and mental health
  • The role of sports in promoting environmental education and sustainability in schools
  • The impact of sports on career development and employability among retired athletes
  • The effects of different types of mindfulness interventions on sports performance and well-being
  • The role of sports in promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding
  • The impact of sports on emotional intelligence and leadership development among coaches
  • The effects of different types of sports supplements on performance and health outcomes
  • The role of sports in promoting disaster risk reduction and resilience in coastal communities
  • The impact of sports on social identity and group dynamics in fan communities
  • The effects of different types of sports training on injury prevention and recovery in power sports
  • The role of sports in promoting digital literacy and technological innovation in youth
  • The impact of sports on social-emotional learning and character development in schools
  • The effects of different types of nutrition interventions on sports performance and cognitive function in older adults
  • The role of sports in promoting gender equity and empowerment in sports organizations
  • The impact of sports on cultural identity and community building among Indigenous peoples
  • The effects of different types of training interventions on injury prevention and recovery in para-athletes
  • The role of sports in promoting global health and disease prevention
  • The impact of sports on social support and mental health among parents of youth athletes
  • The effects of different types of recovery interventions on sports performance and injury prevention in master athletes
  • The role of sports in promoting community-based health education and behavior change
  • The impact of sports on identity development and socialization among adolescent girls
  • The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on gut microbiota and health outcomes
  • The role of sports in promoting intercultural communication and language learning
  • The impact of sports on psychological well-being and job satisfaction among sports officials
  • The effects of different types of mindfulness interventions on injury prevention and recovery in endurance sports
  • The role of sports in promoting sustainable tourism and economic development in rural areas
  • The impact of sports on social integration and inclusion among individuals with disabilities
  • The effects of different types of sports equipment on biomechanics and performance in precision sports
  • The role of sports in promoting community resilience and disaster risk reduction in urban areas
  • The impact of sports on social-emotional development and academic achievement among at-risk youth
  • The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on immune function and health outcomes
  • The role of sports in promoting social justice and human rights in sport governance
  • The impact of sports on community development and social capital in post-conflict areas
  • The effects of different types of resistance training on injury prevention and recovery in endurance athletes
  • The role of sports in promoting intergenerational relationships and aging well-being
  • The impact of sports on social support and mental health among retired athletes
  • The role of sports in promoting civic activism and social change
  • The impact of sports on sleep quality and quantity in professional athletes
  • The effects of different types of stretching on recovery and injury prevention
  • The role of sports in promoting environmental justice and sustainability
  • The impact of sports on emotional intelligence and social skills among youth athletes
  • The effects of different types of resistance training on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting peace and conflict resolution in divided societies
  • The impact of sports on academic achievement and career success among athletes
  • The effects of different types of endurance training on injury prevention and recovery
  • The role of sports in promoting cultural diversity and inclusion
  • The impact of sports on team cohesion and communication
  • The effects of different types of dietary interventions on sports performance and recovery
  • The role of sports in promoting mental health and well-being in marginalized communities
  • The impact of sports on cognitive function and academic achievement in children
  • The effects of different types of cooling interventions on sports performance and recovery
  • The role of sports in promoting community resilience and disaster preparedness
  • The impact of sports on social capital and social mobility in low-income communities
  • The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on bone health and injury prevention
  • The role of sports in promoting global citizenship and intercultural competence
  • The impact of sports on personal and professional development among athletes
  • The effects of different types of training programs on sports performance and injury prevention in older adults
  • The role of sports in promoting human rights and social justice
  • The impact of sports on decision-making and risk-taking behavior in adolescents
  • The effects of different types of aerobic exercise on cognitive function and brain health
  • The role of sports in promoting sustainable development and social innovation
  • The impact of sports on social integration and belonging among refugees and immigrants
  • The effects of different types of sports equipment on injury risk and performance
  • The role of sports in promoting gender equality and empowerment in developing countries
  • The impact of sports on academic engagement and achievement among middle school students
  • The effects of different types of hydration interventions on sports performance and recovery
  • The role of sports in promoting community-based tourism and economic development
  • The impact of sports on identity formation and self-concept among athletes
  • The effects of different types of sports training on bone health and injury prevention in female athletes
  • The role of sports in promoting environmental conservation and climate action
  • The impact of sports on personal values and character development among athletes
  • The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on cardiovascular health and performance
  • The role of sports in promoting community-based disaster response and recovery
  • The impact of sports on social support and well-being among LGBTQ+ athletes
  • The effects of different types of recovery interventions on injury rehabilitation and return to play in professional athletes
  • The role of sports in promoting social entrepreneurship and innovation
  • The impact of sports on moral reasoning and ethical decision-making among athletes
  • The effects of different types of training programs on cognitive function and academic achievement in children
  • The role of sports in promoting social inclusion and equality in urban settings
  • The impact of sports on social identity and collective action among fans
  • The effects of different types of recovery interventions on sports performance and injury prevention in adolescent athletes
  • The effects of different types of recovery modalities on injury prevention in sports
  • The role of sports in promoting cultural diplomacy
  • The impact of sports participation on academic achievement among college students
  • The effects of different types of hydration strategies on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting social cohesion and community building
  • The impact of sports on physical and cognitive aging
  • The effects of different types of warm-down on sports performance and injury prevention
  • The role of sports in promoting positive youth development
  • The impact of sports on crime and delinquency among youth
  • The effects of different types of endurance training on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting gender equity and empowerment
  • The impact of sports on mental health among athletes
  • The effects of different types of carbohydrate intake on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting international relations and diplomacy
  • The impact of sports on body image and self-esteem among adolescents
  • The effects of different types of sports drinks on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting environmental sustainability and conservation
  • The impact of sports on cognitive function and brain health
  • The effects of different types of sports psychology interventions on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting social justice and human rights
  • The impact of sports on physical activity levels and sedentary behavior
  • The effects of different types of pre-game nutrition on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting economic development and tourism
  • The impact of sports on cultural and national identity
  • The effects of different types of footwear on injury risk in sports
  • The role of sports in promoting civic engagement and democracy
  • The impact of sports on sleep quality and quantity
  • The effects of different types of anaerobic training on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting intergenerational relationships and socialization
  • The impact of sports on body composition and weight management
  • The effects of different types of sports psychology interventions on injury prevention and recovery
  • The role of sports in promoting peacebuilding and conflict resolution
  • The impact of sports on self-efficacy and self-esteem among athletes
  • The effects of different types of protein intake on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting health equity and reducing health disparities
  • The impact of sports on social capital and community resilience
  • The effects of different types of high-intensity interval training on sports performance
  • The impact of sports on stress and stress-related disorders
  • The effects of different types of dietary supplements on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting human development and well-being
  • The impact of sports on emotional regulation and mental health
  • The effects of different types of strength training on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship
  • The impact of sports on social identity and belonging
  • The effects of different types of cognitive training on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting disaster resilience and preparedness
  • The impact of sports on academic engagement and achievement among high school students
  • The effects of different types of stretching on injury prevention and sports performance.
  • The effects of different types of training on athletic performance
  • The effectiveness of different coaching styles in sports
  • The role of nutrition in athletic performance
  • The psychology of injury rehabilitation in sports
  • The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports
  • The role of sports in promoting physical and mental health
  • The impact of social media on sports marketing
  • The effectiveness of sports marketing campaigns
  • The effects of gender and ethnicity on sports participation and performance
  • The impact of sports sponsorship on athlete performance
  • The role of sports in promoting teamwork and leadership
  • The effects of environmental conditions on sports performance
  • The impact of sports on community development
  • The psychology of winning and losing in sports
  • The effects of sleep on sports performance
  • The use of virtual reality in sports training
  • The impact of sports injuries on athletes’ careers
  • The effects of altitude on athletic performance
  • The use of data analysis in sports performance assessment
  • The role of sports in reducing stress and anxiety
  • The impact of sports on academic performance
  • The effects of different sports on cardiovascular health
  • The use of cryotherapy in sports recovery
  • The impact of social media on sports fans and fandom
  • The effects of different types of footwear on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting physical activity among children and adolescents
  • The effects of different types of stretching on sports performance
  • The impact of sports on social and cultural values
  • The effects of hydration on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting global understanding and diplomacy
  • The effects of different types of surfaces on sports performance
  • The impact of sports on economic development
  • The impact of sports on mental toughness and resilience
  • The effects of different types of recovery methods on sports performance
  • The use of mindfulness in sports performance and injury recovery
  • The impact of sports on environmental sustainability
  • The effects of different types of warm-up on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting tourism and travel
  • The impact of sports on crime reduction and community safety
  • The effects of different types of sports equipment on performance
  • The impact of sports on job creation and employment opportunities
  • The effects of different types of physical activity on mental health
  • The role of sports in promoting social mobility and equality
  • The impact of sports on identity formation and socialization
  • The effects of different types of pre-game rituals on sports performance.
  • The role of sports in promoting healthy aging
  • The impact of sports on conflict resolution among youth
  • The effects of sports on job satisfaction and productivity
  • The role of sports in promoting environmental conservation
  • The impact of sports on language proficiency and communication skills
  • The effects of sports on the development of social skills
  • The role of sports in promoting peaceful coexistence and tolerance
  • The impact of sports on community building and cohesion
  • The effects of different types of sports on hand-eye coordination
  • The impact of sports on personal growth and self-discovery
  • The effects of sports on cultural competency
  • The role of sports in promoting social and emotional learning
  • The impact of sports on community health
  • The effects of different types of sports on reaction time
  • The role of sports in promoting social justice and equity
  • The impact of sports on academic motivation and achievement
  • The effects of sports on the development of grit and resilience
  • The role of sports in promoting civic engagement and social responsibility.
  • The impact of sports on tourism
  • The role of sports in promoting physical activity
  • The effects of playing sports on cognitive development
  • The impact of sports on political identity
  • The effects of sports on self-esteem and body image
  • The role of sports in promoting teamwork and collaboration
  • The effects of different coaching styles on athlete performance
  • The impact of sports on national security
  • The role of sports in promoting cultural exchange and diplomacy
  • The effects of sports on language acquisition
  • The impact of sports on family dynamics
  • The role of sports in promoting conflict resolution
  • The impact of sports on social mobility
  • The effects of different types of training on injury prevention
  • The role of sports in promoting global health
  • The effects of sports on decision-making and risk-taking behavior
  • The role of sports in promoting physical and mental well-being
  • The impact of sports on social justice
  • The effects of sports on academic achievement among at-risk youth
  • The role of sports in promoting cultural heritage
  • The impact of sports on personal identity
  • The effects of sports on emotional intelligence and empathy
  • The role of sports in promoting gender equality
  • The impact of sports on identity formation
  • The effects of different types of sports on balance and coordination
  • The role of sports in promoting social capital
  • The impact of sports on social integration and inclusion
  • The effects of training at high altitudes on athletic performance
  • The psychological factors that contribute to athlete burnout
  • The relationship between sleep and athletic performance
  • The effects of music on sports performance
  • The effects of caffeine on sports performance
  • The impact of climate on sports performance
  • The use of supplements in sports performance
  • The role of genetics in sports performance
  • The effects of aging on sports performance
  • The impact of sports injuries on athlete’s careers
  • The relationship between sports and mental health
  • The effects of gender on sports performance
  • The impact of social media on sports
  • The effects of sports fandom on mental health
  • The use of technology in sports coaching
  • The impact of team culture on sports performance
  • The effects of sports specialization on athlete development
  • The role of sports psychology in athlete performance
  • The effects of plyometric training on athletic performance
  • The impact of climate change on outdoor sports
  • The effects of team dynamics on sports performance
  • The impact of sports participation on academic achievement
  • The effects of sports sponsorship on athlete performance
  • The role of biomechanics in sports performance
  • The effects of stretching on sports performance
  • The impact of sports equipment on performance
  • The effects of altitude training on endurance sports performance
  • The effects of different types of training on sports performance
  • The role of nutrition in injury prevention
  • The effects of mental preparation on sports performance
  • The effects of climate on indoor sports performance
  • The role of sports in cultural identity
  • The impact of sports participation on youth development
  • The effects of strength training on sports performance
  • The role of coaches in athlete development
  • The impact of sports on national identity
  • The effects of different playing surfaces on sports performance
  • The role of recovery in sports performance
  • The impact of sports on local economies
  • The impact of sports on gender and racial equality
  • The effects of team size on sports performance
  • The role of sports in promoting social inclusion
  • The effects of sports on personal development
  • The impact of sports on conflict resolution
  • The effects of sports on leadership development

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How to do Research on Sports

Academic Writing Service

Today, the sports business is a billion-dollar industry and an integral part of American and world culture. Interest in sports has hardly waned from the most watched Super Bowls, to the greatest World Series, to record-breaking accomplishments of sports stars. Yet there is a dark side; widespread controversies about steroid use, long-term contracts ruining the sport, and franchises relocating to other cities when the revenues dry up.

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Whether you love sports, have a difficult research question or a desire to learn more about a particular sport, athlete, or controversial issue, many sources provide information to suit your needs for research paper writing. Among them are almanacs and general reference works, abstract and citation indexes, popular periodicals and journals, and countless print and electronic sources.

The following sources describe the selected references in the above categories to get you started.

Selected Subject Headings

Listed below is a sample of a few broad Library of Congress subject headings—made up of one word or more representing concepts under which all library holdings are divided and subdivided by subject—which you can search under and use as subject terms as well when searching online library catalogs for preliminary and/or additional research, such as books, audio and video recordings, and other references, related to your research paper topic. When researching materials on your topic, subject heading searching may be more productive than searching using simple keywords. However, keyword searching when using the right search method (Boolean, etc.) and combination of words can be equally effective in finding materials more closely relevant to the topic of your research paper.

Suggested Research Topics for Sports

  • Coaching (athletics)
  • College Sports
  • Doping in Sports
  • Mass Media and Sports
  • Outdoor Life
  • Physical Education and Training
  • Professional Sports
  • Recreation Sport
  • Sporting Goods
  • Sports for Women
  • Sports—Administration/Management
  • Sports—History
  • Sports—Medicine
  • Sports—Psychology
  • Television Broadcasting of Sports
  • Violence in Sports

Selected Keyword Search Strategies and Guides

sports research guide 2

If your topic is “steroid use in professional sports,” for example, enter “steroids” and “professional sports” with “and” on the same line to locate sources directly compatible with the primary focus of your research paper. To find research on more specific aspects of your topic, from your list of keywords that you developed alternate with one new keyword at a time with “and” in between (for example, “steroids and athletes and professional sports,” “steroids and ban and professional sports,” “steroids and performance and professional sports,” “steroids and suspensions and professional sports,” etc.).

For additional help with keyword searching, navigation or user guides for online indexes and databases by many leading providers—including Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, EBSCO, H.W. Wilson, OCLC, Ovid Technologies, ProQuest, and Thomson Gale—are posted with direct links on library Web sites to guides providing specific instruction to using whichever database you want to search. They provide additional guidance on how to customize and maximize your searching, including advanced searching techniques and grouping of words and phrases using the Boolean search method—of your topic, of bibliographic records, and of full-text articles, and other documents related to the subject of your research paper. Many libraries, under the “Help” sections of their Web sites, post their own tutorials on subject and keyword searching, which you can also consult.

Selected Source and Subject Guides

As part of your preliminary research to find appropriate resources for your research paper, information source and research guides are available at most public and academic libraries and are keyword searchable through your library’s online catalog (to search and locate guides, enter your “subject” followed by these keywords one search at a time: “information sources,” “reference sources,” and “research guide”). Printed guides available for this subject area include

Information Sources in Sport and Leisure , edited by Michele Shoebridge, 345 pages (London; New York: Bowker-Saur, 1992)

Sport, Leisure, and Tourism Information Sources: A Guide for Researchers , edited by Martin Scarrott, 267 pages (Oxford and Boston: Butterworth Heinemann, 1999)

Sports, Exercise, and Fitness: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources , by Mary Beth Allen, 287 pages (Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 2005)

Sports History: A Guide to Scholarship, the Literature and Sources of Information , by Richard William Cox (London: Frank Cass, 2002)

Women in Sport: A Guide to Information Sources , by Mary L. Remley, 139 pages (Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., 1980)

In addition to these sources of research, most college and university libraries offer online subject guides arranged by subject on the library’s Web page; others also list searchable course-related “LibGuides” by subject. Each guide lists more recommended published and Web sources—including books and references, journal, newspaper and magazines indexes, full-text article databases, Web sites, and even research tutorials—you can access to expand your research on more specific issues and relevant to your research paper subject.

Selected Books and References

ESPN Sports Almanac 2009 , edited by Gerry Brown and Michael Morrison, 976 pages (New York: Ballantine Books, 2008)

Called by its publisher “the most authoritative sports reference book ever published,” this best-selling almanac annually recaps the major sports stories and sports moments of the previous year. Featuring hundreds of photographs and thousands of graphics and tables, it offers year-by-year and sport-by-sport coverage, including facts and statistics, “Top Ten Moments” from each sport, plus essays and analysis by popular ESPN on-air personalities including Tim Kurkjian, Rick Reilly, Bill Simmons, Dick Vitale, and others.

Sports Illustrated 2009 Almanac , by the editors of Sports Illustrated, 576 pages (New York: Time, Inc., Home Entertainment, 2008)

Originally published annually by Little, Brown & Co., from 1992 to 2002 this book provides extensive coverage of the year in sports for 19 major sports, including baseball, football, biathlon, and figure skating. Included is a wealth of statistics, records, and essays by Sports Illustrated writers.

Dictionaries

Churchill Livingstone’s Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science and Medicine , 3rd ed., compiled by Michael Kent, 624 pages (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2007)

Written for athletes, coaches, medical professionals, and students, this third revised and updated edition includes more than 7,500 cross-referenced terms in all major areas of sports science and medicine. Subjects covered include anatomy, exercise physiology, nutrition, sports sociology, sports injuries, and scientific and training principles.

Dictionary of Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine , edited by Sheila Jennet, M.D. 496 pages (St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier, 2008)

Easy-to-use dictionary that covers all sports and exercise sports sciences. Entries feature clear and concise definitions of terms for such areas as adapted physical education, biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control, motor development, motor learning, sport pedagogy, sport psychology, and sport sociology.

Encyclopedias

Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sport , edited by David Levinson and Karen Christensen, 4 vols., 1,816 pages (Great Barrington, Mass.: Berkshire Publishing Group, 2005)

Information about hundreds of sports from around the world since ancient times is well detailed and nicely chronicled in this informative four-volume encyclopedia. Entries cover not only each individual sport and how it’s played but also the history and evolution, human experience, emotion, and influences that shaped them.

International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports , 3 vols., edited by Karen Christensen, Allen Guttmann, and Gertrude Pfister (New York: Macmillan Library Reference, 2001)

In the words of one critic, “No other encyclopedia treats the field of women in international sports with such currency, depth, and detail” as this three-volume reference set does. It features more than 130 biographies, 170 individual and group sports overviews, and 75 country profiles, all related to women and sports. Articles up to 4,000 words long examine cultural, ethical, health, and societal issues, as well as non-Western sports, extreme sports, and outdoor recreation, generously supplemented by photographs, charts, informative sidebars, and bibliographies.

Rules of the Game: The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of all the Sports of the World , by the Diagram Group, 320 pages (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1995)

This concise, color-illustrated volume details the rules and procedures, equipment required, and methods of scoring for more than 150 sports—including darts and jai alai—for over 400 related events.

General Reference

Sports: The Complete Visual Reference , by Francois Fortin (New York: Firefl y Books, 2003)

Fully revised color-illustrated reference guide to more than 125 sports played around the world, such as baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, BMX, and diving, grouped by category. Clear, concise explanations detail the origin, method of play, the kinds of equipment and environments, and physical and training requirements of each sport. Charts of world records and legendary competitors of the past are also included.

Handbook of Sport Psychology , 3rd ed., edited by Gershon Tenenbaum and Robert C. Eklund, 960 pages (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2007)

Authored by leading experts, this third, revised edition, featuring 22 chapters, documents the psychological aspects, discipline, and training of competitive sports, including new research and approaches to exercise, motivation, pain management, and performance.

Sports Nutrition: Olympic Handbook of Sports Medicine , edited by Ronald J. Maughan and Louise Burke, 200 pages (Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Science, 2002)

This book offers practical nutritional information. Subjects covered include nutrition needs, exercise and energy demands, recovery time between training sessions, and nutritional strategies for training, as well as other related topics, such as weight management, limitations to exercise performance, sports foods, and other supplements vital to training and performance.

Selected Full-Text Article Databases

Academic Search Premier  (Ipswich, Mass.: EBSCO Publishing, EBSCOHost, 1972– )

Full-text articles from more than 4,650 publications, including an index of articles found in 1,000 other academic publications, for information on a wide range of topics in art, computer science, education, engineering, ethnic studies, humanities, language, literature, medical sciences, social sciences, and more.

Education Abstracts Full Text  (Bronx, N.Y.: H.W. Wilson Co., Wilson Disc, WilsonWeb/OCLC Education Abs/Ovid Technologies, Inc./ProQuest/Thomson DIALOG, 1983– )

Indexes, abstracts, and provides selected full text of articles in more than 400 education-related periodicals and yearbooks. Includes journals that cover physical education and sports in schools. Indexing begins in June 1983, and abstracts and full-text articles in August 1994, with most full-text articles beginning in 1996. Also produced under the name of Wilson Education Abstracts, both on CD-ROM and online.

Health Source: Consumer Edition  (Ipswich, Mass.: EBSCO Publishing, EBSCOHost, indexing/abstracting: 1984– , full text: 1990– )

Provides full text of 300 consumer-health, international health and nutrition journals—largely English-language materials—plus indexing and abstracts from newsletters, pamphlets, reference books, and other information. Useful for researching topics such as biomechanics, food sciences, physical fitness, sports and sports medicine, and wellness. Dates of coverage vary by title; full text from 1990 to the present.

InfoTrac OneFile  (Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale InfoTrac, 1980– )

Features citations, abstracts, and full-text articles from more than 6,000 scholarly journals, popular magazines, and newspapers in nearly every academic discipline, including the arts and humanities, social sciences and science and technology, as well as business, law, current affairs and general interest topics, from 1980 to the present updated daily.

LexisNexis Academic Universe  (Dayton, Ohio: LexisNexis, 1970– )

Good source for finding current articles and information on professional and amateur sports and athletes featuring full-text newspaper and journal articles more than 5,600 news, business, legal, medical, and reference publications. Includes national and regional newspapers such as the San Francisco Chronicle and The New York Times, broadcast transcripts, wire services, international news and non-English language sources. Stories are searchable under the “General News Topics” category, and under “News/Arts and Sports.”

ProQuest Research Library  (Ann Arbor, Mich.: ProQuest, index: 1971– , full text: 1986– )

Useful for researching such as topics as athletes, exercise, physical fitness, and sports injuries, ProQuest Research Library (originally Periodical Abstracts Research II) indexes current articles, some 2,500 full-text journals, in nearly every academic discipline, as well as current affairs and general interest topics. Citations and abstracts are from selected publications since 1972, with more complete coverage beginning in 1996. Updated daily, this multidisciplinary database mixes scholarly and popular journals, with full-text coverage of nearly 15 exercise and sport science titles from 1988 to the present.

PsycARTICLES  (Washington, .D.C.: American Psychological Association PsycINFO, 1894– )

Online database of full-text articles published by the American Psychological Association, APA Educational Publishing Foundation, the Canadian Psychological Association, and Hogrefe and Huber Publishers covering all aspects of psychology. Covers such areas as sports psychology, leisure, and rehabilitation.

SBRnet: Sport Business Research Network  (Princeton, N.J.: Sports Business Research Network, 1993– )

Major online research database featuring articles, consumer surveys, government data, market research reports, and news releases, some in full text, covering all facets of the sports industry, from archery to youth sports. This comprehensive database provides immediate access to market research from the National Sporting Goods Association, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and sports governing bodies, full-text articles from 14 magazines and newsletters published by Miller Freeman, the world’s largest sporting goods trade publisher, and newsletters provided by leading independent industry experts. In mid-1999, SBRNet added buyTRACK, a new database created by Harris Interactive, which tracks the sporting goods purchasing habits of consumers on the Internet.

SPORTDiscus  (Ottawa, Canada: Sports Information Resource Centre [SIRC], 1830– )

Contains more than 700,000 citations and abstracts, with links to full-text articles, to periodical literature in physical fitness, recreation, sport management, sport science, and related areas. Coverage includes worldwide scientific and practical literature, such as articles, audiovisual material, conference proceedings, dissertations, monographs, and research reports for both individual and team sports. Also indexed is literature on coaching, conditioning, officiating, and training, and additional sport- and fitness-related topics, including biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, international sports history, sport psychology, and much more. Most sources are in English and French.

Selected Periodicals

American Track and Field  (Madison, Wisc.: Shooting Star Media, 1994– , five times yearly)

Aimed principally at high school, college, and club track and field and cross-country coaches, this professional periodical is a source of training information, new techniques, and approaches meant to improve “the performance of American athletes in the disciplines of track and field, cross country, and race walking.” An official partner with the U.S.A. Track and Field organization, American Track and Field was first published in 1994 and is issued five times yearly. Each issue profiles top athletes and coaches, reviews major world athletic events, reports on U.S. championships, and offers informative articles on related topics, including individual event training, sports nutrition, and sports psychology.

Baseball America  (Durham, N.C.: American Sports Pub., 1981– , weekly)

Perhaps the best baseball weekly in its class, this popular tabloid provides complete coverage of high school, college, and professional baseball. Highlighting each issue are expertly written articles, columns, and features covering the latest news, the top names and up-and-coming players in the game, plus statistics and scores of the most recent games. Past issues are available in microform from January 1991 through the end of the previous year.

Basketball Digest  (Evanston, Ill.: Century Pub. Co., 1973– , six times yearly)

Published six times yearly since November 1973, this entertaining tabloid provides an insider’s perspective on NBA, NCAA, and WNBA basketball, and the world of hoops in general. Every issue contains informative and timely features, player profiles, statistics, schedules, and more. The editors also publish special sections every year featuring their selections of the “NBA Player of the Year,” “All-NBA Teams,” “All-Rookie Teams,” and “All-American Teams.”

Football Digest  (Evanston, Ill.: Century Pub. Co., 1971– , eight times yearly)

From the publisher of Basketball Digest and Hockey Digest, this photo-packed magazine has since 1971 delivered comprehensive coverage of happenings in NFL and college football, including in-depth season previews, informative interviews with players and coaches, the latest news, NFL and college schedules, NFL rosters and directories, and relevant statistics on players and teams. Special issues are also devoted annually to the “NFL All-Pro” and “College All-American” teams.

Golf Digest  (Evanston, Ill.: Golf Digest, 1950– , monthly)

Published monthly since 1950, this glossy magazine provides practical advice and in-depth coverage of the game of golf for both amateur and semiprofessional golfers alike. Coverage includes “how-to” articles and lessons, feature stories, and reviews of the most recent championship opens, equipment reviews, and much more.

Hockey Digest   (Evanston, Ill.: Century Pub. Co., 1972– , six times yearly)

Since its first issue, published in November 1972, for more than 30 years this popular tabloid has provided the most extensive coverage of hockey, from the game’s top stars and Stanley Cup championships to college hockey. A wide range of articles is included in each issue, including interviews with professionals, in-depth features, and expert analysis of the latest trends and game action.

Journal of Sport History  (Radford, Va.: North American Society for Sport History, 1974– , quarterly)

A project of the Amateur Athletic Association of Los Angeles and the North American Society for Sport History, this scholarly publication offers articles in each issue devoted to the study of all aspects of sport history. Most articles and back issues of the journal are available online as PDF files from 1974 to 2001, and are fully searchable.

The NCAA News  (Shawnee Mission, Kan.: National Collegiate Athletic Association, 1900–2007, biweekly, online: 2008– )

The NCAA News is the official publication of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a voluntary organization with members from nearly 1,200 colleges and universities, athletic conferences, and sports organizations nationwide. Published biweekly in print through 2007, this leading authority on college athletics covers the latest news regarding the business and administration of college athletics throughout the year. Beginning in January 2008, The NCAA News discontinued its print edition, becoming a daily online publication instead. To access, visit  http://www.ncaa.org/  and click on “NCAA News.”

Pro Football Weekly   (Chicago, Ill.: Pro Football Weekly, Inc., 1967– , weekly)

Devoted exclusively to pro football, this weekly tabloid newsmagazine provides complete coverage of the NFL, Canadian, Arena, and European football leagues. Each issue features award-winning columns and features, inside information, game previews, scouting analysis, investigative reporting, rosters and injury reports, and complete scores and statistics of the previous week’s action. Some content is published online and accessible at  http://www.profootballweekly.com/ .

Runner’s World  (Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Press, 1970– , monthly)

First introduced nationally in 1970, this long-running monthly magazine publishes informative and helpful articles of interest to runners of all ages. Issues contain timely articles on medical and training advice, sports medicine and nutrition, shoe evaluations, profiles of running personalities, and coverage of important races and upcoming events designed to educate and inform its readers.

The Sporting News  (St. Louis, Mo.: Sporting News, 1886– , weekly)

Long known as the “bible of baseball” and “America’s sport authority,” this weekly sports publication, published since 1886, provides weekly analysis and reviews of every major sport, including baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. Every issue combines in-depth articles, team-by-team capsules, and the latest news and statistics covering American professional and college sports. The Sporting News also provides online access to archival material covering all sports through its Web page called The Vault. Included are sports histories, virtual scrapbooks of legendary sports figures, special features on sports anniversaries, and other resources. To access, visit  http://www.sportingnews.com/ .

Sports Illustrated  (New York: Time, Inc., 1954– , weekly)

Perhaps “the most recognized periodical of American sports,” this popular weekly magazine has provided coverage of American sports since 1954. Combining commentary and analysis with action-packed photography, every week articles include profiles of past and current sports legends, weekly wrap-ups of recent competitions in professional and college sports, major sport news, and primers of upcoming college and pro sport seasons. Full-text articles are also found in the library database Expanded Academic ASAP (1980– ).

Tennis  (Trumbull, Conn.: Miller Sports Group LLC, 1965– , 10 times yearly)

In print since 1965, this popular publication is a primary source of information and instruction for fans and avid tennis players of all levels of expertise. Articles cover every facet of the game with a primary emphasis on improving skill and enjoyment of the game. Contents of the most current issue are retrievable online at  http://www.tennis.com/ .

USA Today Sports Weekly  (Arlington, Va.: Gannett Co., 1991– , weekly)

Formerly known as Baseball Weekly, this newspaper-style tabloid, first published on April 11, 1991, in partnership with USA Today, provides comprehensive coverage of current sports in season. Each publication includes articles, features, commentaries, photos, statistics, and box scores of the previous week’s games. An electronic version is available by subscription. To subscribe and access, visit  http://www.usatodaysportsweekly.newsstand.com/ .

Selected Web Sites

Sports Videos, Articles, Player Biographies and More!  ( http://www.sporthaven.com/ )

Provides news and scores from all major professional sports, including the Canadian Football League (CFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), Professional Golf Association (PGA), racing, tennis, and more.

American Statistics Association—Sports Data Resources  ( http://www.amstat.org/sections/sis/Sports%20Data%20Resources/ )

Comprehensive online directory provided by the American Statistics Association featuring links to Web sites for a number of sports, including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer.

CBS Sports  ( http://www.cbssports.com/ )

A free service of CBS Broadcasting, Inc., offering full-text articles, scores, columns, and a search engine for information on baseball, NFL, NBA, NHL, golf, tennis, auto racing, and other sports.

SI  ( https://www.si.com/ )

Delivers full-text articles from Sports Illustrated, plus individual sections on baseball, pro and college football, pro and college basketball, golf, hockey, motor sports, soccer, tennis, and women’s sports, and scoreboards and team pages.

ESPN SportsZone  ( http://espn.go.com/ )

Offers regularly updated full-text articles on the NFL, college football, the NHL, the NBA, college basketball, and other sports.

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174 Fantastic Sports Research Topics For Best Results

sports research topics

As much as sports are exciting and fun, writing an essay on the same may prove to be an uphill task. Many students struggle completing research papers on sports, yet they have several sports accolades in their cabinets? Are you one of these students, and do you wish to make a difference? Read this post to the end.

Sports Research Paper: Definition

There is a lot that goes into a research paper about sports. Such projects come with intense research to bring to various light aspects of sports. For instance, a professor may require his students to discuss why specific training sessions are necessary for a particular sport. As such, you will have to dive into the topic by unpacking various perspectives.

However, you do not have to be a sports enthusiast to crack such a project. I know of students who do not participate in any sporting activity, yet they crush such papers like a crispy piece of chicken wings. Students only need to understand the question and what the supervisor expects from them to complete such assignments.

When we talk about sports, do not fix your mind on football alone. Although it is a common sport with the highest percentage of spectators, remember that other sports are. Understanding the dynamics of the whole sporting industry will help you write an outstanding paper that will earn you places in the top ranks.

Characteristics Of A Good Thesis Paper On Sports

Every academic paper is unique and, as such, follows a particular structure or format. When you are writing a sports paper, some essentials will make it stand out from the rest. Here are some of those great pointers that will give your sports paper a professional look:

In-depth research: An excellent sports paper should show an element of intensive research detailing the topic’s background. For instance, if you are tackling why football stadiums are always full, you would bring in the psychological and social factors. Sports jargon: Such papers should communicate clearly with sports jargon at the core. However, they should not be so technical as to turn off an amateur reader who knows nothing about sports. In the case of technical jargon, use examples to illustrate them. Tone and mood: When you compare a sports paper with a science paper, you will note that a science paper sets a more serious tone and mood. However, a sports paper should have that relaxing and entertaining feel that excites the reader. You do not expect a football enthusiast to go over three or so pages full of intricate details. Proper structure: Every supervisor outlines the instructions for a particular paper. Therefore, following such a structure from the title, introduction, and conclusion will increase your chances of scoring top-level grades. Correct citing and format: This is one of the most overlooked aspects of a sports paper. Many university students pay little attention when it comes to citing sports papers. However, to succeed in these papers, you should stick to the format and mention relevant and applicable styles. Supported statements: Always back up the arguments in your sports paper with realistic examples. These can be case studies or bytes from various athletes depending on the article you are handling. There are times when illustrations in the form of diagrams or even statistics may come in handy.

Make every effort to present an exciting and exciting sports paper despite the topic you choose. With the correct outline, you will complete your form in less than two hours. Numerous thesis help writers will help you in case you get stuck. So, forget about your past failures and brace for a world-class paper with high-end sports research paper topics.

Here are some of the top-class sports topics provided by professional thesis writers to boost your journey to academic success:

High-Quality Sports Topics To Write About

  • Discuss the effects of coronavirus on sporting activities
  • What is the relationship between weather and various sports?
  • Evaluate why long-distance runners thrive well in mountainous regions
  • How does the media contribute to the growth and development of sports?
  • Explain the role of the internet in furthering sports
  • Is it okay to participate in sports only during leisure time?
  • Why is it essential for students to engage in sports early enough?
  • Discuss the relationship between sports and body development
  • Debunk the myths surrounding sports and gender
  • Analyze the role of taking water among sportsmen
  • Discuss the differences in sporting activities between developed and developing nations

Sports Psychology Research Topics

  • How does psyching up before a game affect a team’s performance?
  • Evaluate reasons behind demoralized players
  • What is the role of spectators in a football stadium?
  • Discuss reasons why sports are a means of relaxing
  • How do emotions affect one’s performance in sports?
  • Evaluate the effects of prolonged training sessions on one’s mind
  • Discuss the various social aspects that affect sports participation
  • Elaborate on the developmental foundations of sport psychology
  • Techniques used in the assessment of the mental health of sportsmen
  • Effects of counseling and clinical sessions among athletes
  • Understanding the cognitive and behavioral characteristics of sportsmen

Exercise Research Paper Topics

  • Explain why many people prefer jogging early in the morning
  • Is it necessary to have a trained coach during personal physical exercises?
  • What are the effects of the exercise sessions aired on TV?
  • Discuss why a physician should be involved when choosing a physical exercise plan
  • Evaluate various health conditions that necessitate frequent exercises
  • Effects of adverse weather conditions on exercise patterns
  • Why do most people listen to music while exercising?
  • Discuss the implications of irregular exercise sessions
  • How often should one visit the gym?
  • Explain the impact of diet on the effectiveness of physical exercise
  • The role of Physical Education sessions in school

Athletic Training Research Topics From Experts

  • Discuss the various forms of injury prevention in athletic training
  • Evaluate the role of clinical evaluation and diagnosis for an athlete
  • Explain conditions that facilitate rehabilitation and reconditioning of injured athletes
  • Why every sports ground should have an immediate and emergency care unit
  • Discuss the role of an electrotherapy area in an athletic training facility
  • How to prevent injuries using anatomical expertise
  • Why it is important to give first aid to an injured athlete
  • Discuss the policies that regulate athletic trainers
  • Elaborate on the importance of therapeutic exercises and nutrition for athletes
  • Compare and contrast the efficiency of middle-aged and older athletes
  • Discuss the effects of sports-related injuries on athletes

Sports Medicine Research Paper Topics

  • How do physical therapists help athletes recover from injuries?
  • How do sporting activities influence weight loss and gain?
  • The role of dietary advice to athletes from nutritionists
  • When should you go to a sports medicine specialist?
  • Effects of surgeries on the performance of an athlete
  • How do torn tissues or broken bones affect the health of an athlete?
  • Discuss the development of exercise-induced asthma
  • Effects of resistance training on the body composition of sportsmen
  • Evaluate the aerobic and strength training for skeletal muscles
  • A systematic review of cardiorespiratory fitness
  • How does the Ramadan intermittent fasting affect players?

Custom Research Topics In Sport

  • Effects of announcing sporting activities as final news items
  • Evaluate how different people identify with their sporting activities
  • Discuss the impact of online games on physical performance
  • Why do most neighborhoods have basketball courts?
  • Why should you participate in one sporting activity in school?
  • Should workplaces also introduce sporting activities for their staff?
  • Effects of long working hours on physical fitness and productivity
  • Discuss addiction in the line of football fans
  • The role of sporting activities is to bring people together
  • Should athletes take energy drinks before a match?
  • Evaluate the psychological importance of track and field sporting events

Good Sports Research Topics For Degree

  • How does brain concussion affect athletes?
  • Why acute and chronic overstrain may be detrimental to athletes
  • Discuss the effects of varicose veins on sports personalities
  • Why is anti-doping control necessary in the sports industry?
  • Effects of overtraining and undertraining for football players
  • What is the motivation behind the success of a soccer match?
  • Evaluate the causes of sudden deaths on the pitch among football players
  • Discuss the effects of political interference in sports
  • How do sporting activities create a sense of national identity?
  • Effects of solar strikes during a football match
  • How does masculinity determine one’s vulnerability to injuries?

Interesting Sports Research Paper Topics

  • Discuss the threats that female athletes face in the sporting industry
  • What determines the proper management of a sports club?
  • Can one earn a living from engaging in sporting activities?
  • Evaluate community awareness of sports among developing nations
  • Explain factors that inhibit career development among women in the sporting industry
  • Does global warming have anything on sports?
  • Discuss how sporting activities contribute to the economy of a country
  • Effects of religion on the sporting activities practiced in a particular country
  • Are there any loopholes in the sports regulations worldwide?
  • Is empathy necessary for an athlete?
  • Explain how animals are used for sporting activities

Controversial Sport Science Research Topics

  • Do genetics affect the performance of a sports person?
  • Explain why more men are attracted to football than women
  • Discuss the role of societal pressure when it comes to sports
  • Should men engage in sports such as volleyball or badminton?
  • Evaluate whether the media serves to heighten sports or reduce them
  • Impact of betting on the efficiency of sporting activities
  • Does the education curriculum cater for sporting activities effectively?
  • Why should more ladies engage in football than men?
  • Evaluate the infection rate of coronavirus among sports personalities
  • How does racism affect sporting activities in the US?
  • Discuss the role of coaches in the making of a player

Hot Sports Research Topics Ideas

  • Why the mind and the body are necessary for sports
  • Reasons why people with disabilities can engage in sporting activities like anyone else
  • The role of training sessions in strengthening body muscles
  • How do coaches achieve self-control among their players?
  • Effects of sporting activities on the internal organ functioning
  • How does the relationship between the trainer and player affect their productivity?
  • Discuss why rugby needs both speed and stamina
  • Why are cheerleaders necessary in any football match?
  • Discuss the relationship between psychopaths and football
  • How does fame affect the performance of a particular sports personality?
  • Similar tactics between football and rugby players

First-Class Sports Thesis Topics

  • Evaluate the role of aggressiveness in some sporting activities
  • Are hockey injuries more severe than those in football?
  • What determines the strength of a football player?
  • The role of team chants in helping them play better
  • Why athletes should have a robust and swift character
  • Discuss the role of hygiene in sports
  • Explain how losing a match can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts
  • The role of self-esteem in the performance of an athlete
  • Why extreme sporting activities are unnecessary
  • Discuss the role of sports in mental health treatment
  • How sporting activities do impact one’s school performance

Top Research Topics In Sports Science

  • Why are there few research papers on sports science?
  • The impact of technological advancements on the development of sports
  • Why should a sports person check their friends?
  • Effects of drinking and drug abuse on athletes
  • Discuss how transgender affects sporting activities
  • Should athletes be role models to school-going children?
  • Why people should start considering sports as a reasonable career
  • Explain the psychological consequences of pressure among athletes
  • Discuss why sporting activities reduces the chances of people committing a crime
  • Evaluate the relationship between sports and social development
  • The role of sporting activities in creating unity despite the diversity

Powerful Sports Issues To Write About

  • Should sports personalities advertise for food products?
  • Discuss the history of soccer in the United States of America
  • The development of the Olympic games over the years
  • Effects of coronavirus on how people perceive sporting activities today
  • Discuss some of the rituals of unnecessary sports globally
  • How to make the Paralympic games more visible
  • Why should female coaches train female sports teams?
  • Discuss why most athletics champions come from Africa
  • Does yoga have a role in influencing one’s performance as a sportsman?
  • Why weight lifting is a ticking time bomb for injuries
  • How does the elastic therapeutic tape help a broken shoulder?

General Topics For A Thesis About Sports

  • Effects of using neuro-linguistic programming techniques in sports
  • Evaluate the body structures of artistic gymnastics
  • Factors that increase concentration levels among sports personalities
  • How different are the emotional needs of women in sports versus those of men?
  • Effects of short interval training on the performance of athletes
  • The role of studying the biomechanics of muscles in sports
  • The relationship between sports and one’s character
  • Discuss some of the necessary microelements in sports nutrition
  • Why isotonic drinks are not recommended for sportsmen
  • Effects of cardiovascular diseases on athletes
  • How cycling is becoming a common sport among teens

Sports Management Research Topics

  • Why the chemistry between the coach and players matters a lot
  • Effects of having self-centered team captains
  • Discuss the role of sports marketing and management firms
  • Are sports news media firms necessary?
  • Discuss why corporate sponsorship may affect the performance of a team negatively.
  • Evaluate the educational qualifications of various coaches
  • How does the rapport between the team manager and fans affect the performance?
  • Do sports managers earn much?
  • What skills should one have to take up sports management duties?
  • Does a sports management degree matter?
  • How to improve random drug testing
  • Effects of external interference in the management of a sports team

Sports Nutrition Topics For Research

  • How playing rugby does affect one’s diet
  • Nutrition plans that lead to muscle gain
  • How to determine the energy needs of an athlete
  • Diets that improve bone health for sports personalities
  • Discuss the role of nutrition knowledge among sportsmen
  • Why it is essential to have a fluid balance
  • Discuss the metabolism of carbohydrates among athletes
  • Effects of dietary supplements among athletes

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188 Sports Research Topics: Fresh Ideas 2023

188 Sports Research Topics

If you are assigned to write a research paper about sports, you should know that choosing a great topic is the first step in crafting a great assignment. It is easier to brainstorm several sports topics by listing your interests, opinions, and points of view on things you already have some background in and want to learn more about.

Table of Contents

Sports research topics ideas, athletic training research topics, sports management research topics, sports nutrition topics for research, sports medicine research paper topics, sports psychology research topics, interesting sports research paper topics, controversial sports research paper topics, current sport science research topics.

You should always consider your assignment’s requirements and limitations. While your professor will want you to conduct in-depth research using trustworthy academic and government resources, you may not have access to all the resources you need to adequately address your topic. Try not to make your project more difficult than it has to be by mistakenly choosing from a list of ideas that are either too broad or too narrow. Stick with something you know a little bit about and can find ample background information with an online search.

In many cases, a student will wait until the last minute to start researching and writing an assignment. No matter what school one attends, turning in a poorly written paper will get flagged immediately and likely increase your chances of earning a poor grade in your class. Many students want to buy college papers for assistance in researching and writing a thesis about sports. Choosing a reputable service that has been around for years and guarantees top-level support is the best choice. Students should do their due diligence when considering options. A reputable service like ours can provide you with several sports topics to write about and take your choice to craft an excellent paper for every level and situation.

The field of athletic training deals with the optimization of strength and endurance associated with regular exercise programs. When it comes to athletes in training or those who want to go specialize in this area of sports science will find the following exercise research paper topics interesting:

  • How an athletic director or supervisor can impact training schedules in college sports.
  • Examine different approaches for efficient injury recovery and alternative training.
  • Analyze the effects of having caffeine before training or exercising routines.
  • Describe the negative effects that are caused by weight training too much.
  • The dangers of two-a-days training regiments in professional football players.
  • PED use among professional athletes during off-season recovery and training.
  • Evaluate the best training routines to develop lower body strength and speed.
  • Compare and contrast outdoor training activities and indoor training activities.
  • Analyze the different training techniques that prevent shoulder-related injuries.
  • Effective treatment methods for athletes with knee injuries.
  • Analyzing the causes of varicose disease in professional athletes.
  • Better training techniques to minimize injury risk in American football.
  • The impact yoga and stretching have on a pro athlete’s flexibility.
  • Effective methods to treat acute and chronic muscle overstrains in athletes.
  • Analyze the effectiveness of strength training water exercises.
  • Limiting training routines for athletes under concussion protocols.
  • The effectiveness of a lengthy warm-up to prevent injuries.
  • Explain the relationship between aerobic exercise and belly fat.
  • The positive and negative bodily effects on women that weight train.
  • The life-long benefits of regular exercise starting from an early age.
  • Steroid use among professional athletes and its effect on exercise regimens.
  • Safe exercise regimens for retired athletes that want to stay in shape.
  • Compare training methods of American football players and European rugby players.
  • Describe the ways training methods have evolved due to technological advances.

This is a field of business that deals with sports involving a combination of skills including planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and budgeting within an organization or business in the sports world. It is a popular discipline that offers a lot of professional opportunities upon graduation. Here are some research topics in sport you should consider if this field interests you:

  • Explain how the sports agent’s role has changed in the last 25 years.
  • Describe the role media has in advancing sports to a world population.
  • In what ways has the role of the sports lawyer changed in the last two decades.
  • Pros and cons of promoting female executives in professional male sports teams.
  • The negative impact of providing incentives to college-athletes.
  • The importance of implementing hard salary caps across all professional sports.
  • Describe the impact the U.S. Women’s Soccer team has had on the equal pay movement.
  • The best way to market the Olympics to athletes in a post-Covid world.
  • The negative impact that violence in sports has on society.
  • Evaluate different approaches to managing risk in professional sports.
  • Examine the role national politics have played a part in sports.
  • An effective way to market extreme sports for successful consumption.
  • The need to strike local television contracts and sponsorships to ensure a team’s success.
  • Describe the most important leadership approaches necessary for effective team management.
  • Explain the qualities a high school coach must have to enrich the lives of student-athletes.
  • The importance of a good sports agent on an athlete’s off-field success.
  • Tax rules in Canada and the opportunities it gives to major sports teams.
  • Explain the impact opening sports academies in every county would have on athletes.
  • The role colleges and universities have in paying players for their performance.
  • The impact sports for the disabled have had on providing moral support.
  • Examine the effect increased safety regulations in the NFL have had on fan support.
  • Explain the ethical concerns with players that have insured their bodies.
  • List the most important reasons why athletes need a sports manager.
  • The impact that super-max deals have had on free agency.

Sports nutrition plays an important role in the athletic success and is in constant change due to new data that comes to light through clinical research studies. There are numerous professional opportunities in this area and the following sports research topics are great places to start if you need to write an academic assignment in this area:

  • How DNA outline can help create customized nutrition plans.
  • The impact of nutritional product placement in fitness centers.
  • The most effective method of developing a balanced diet for football linemen.
  • Analyze specific nutritional support qualities for high school athletes.
  • The role of supplements in professional athletes’ diets.
  • A comparison of plant-based and animal-based protein foods.
  • Different responses of different athletes across sports.
  • Evaluating caloric intake after intensive training sessions.
  • Effects of prolonged malnutrition in female gymnasts.
  • Compare and contrast the effectiveness of popular nutritional products.
  • Examine the importance of nutritional variety in an athlete’s diet.
  • Examine the way athletes respond to different types of diets during the offseason.
  • The safety of metal chelates and role of microelements in sports nutrition.
  • The best method for developing customized nutrition plans for athletes.
  • Managing nutrition during training and recovery periods.
  • The increasing research that supports the use of curd in sports diets.
  • Explain how sports nutrition for UFC fighters is different for professional boxes.
  • List the most important reasons why professional athletes need a private nutritionist.
  • Explain the pros and cons of popular sports energy drinks to recovery.
  • Describe the challenges sports nutritionists face with professional athletes.
  • Evaluate the amount of protein professional athletes need across sports.
  • Health benefits of a high-carb diet for professional athletes.
  • The impact of sports nutrition courses for young athletes in high school.
  • Health benefits of a high-protein and low-carb diet in young athletes.

This branch of medicine deals with physical fitness and the prevention and treatment of injuries that stem from exercise and sports. There are several interesting sports research topics ideas that you will find in the current discussion. We’ve collected some of the best for your consideration:

  • The effectiveness of topical pain relievers during a game.
  • How to reduce the instances of cardiac arrests during training sessions.
  • The positive effect Yoga has on overall athletic performance.
  • The best way to approach physical trauma from career-ending injuries.
  • The effectiveness of Yoga in helping women during menopause.
  • Methods sports medicine can evaluate changes in heart rate.
  • The long-term risks of taking adrenaline in professional sports.
  • Fitness practices and their ability to improve stamina in pro athletes.
  • Adopting a fitness routine after retirement from professional sports.
  • The prevalence of concussions in the NFL and NHL.
  • The best recovery methods for athletes with fractured ribs.
  • The functional state of adolescents can be improved by participating in sports.
  • Inactivity and obesity and their impact on the health of people aged 30 and up.
  • Regulating respiratory functions in professional athletes with the use of medication.
  • The most effective method of rehabilitating adults with brain traumas.
  • The risks athletes with heart conditions take when playing pro sports.
  • The effects of caffeine on the overall performance of professional athletes.
  • Explain how lactic acid affects a professional athlete’s performance.
  • The most common types of injuries among NFL quarterbacks.
  • The growing popularity of Ayurvedic medicines for athletes in recovery.
  • The average recovery time for basketball players suffering from groin injuries.
  • Changes in an athlete’s respiratory functions during intense training.

sports psychology research topics

This field of psychology uses knowledge and skill to address optimal performance and mental health of athletes. Over the last 2 decades, it has become an integral part of professional and non-professional sports and offers plenty of opportunities to students interested in this area of study. Here are several research topics in sports science related to the field of psychology:

  • The impact youth sports have in building leadership skills in young people.
  • College athletes spend too much time on the field instead of learning.
  • Describe the impact hypnosis has on an athlete’s recovery time.
  • Examine the mental health of controversial sports athletes from the past.
  • Psychological impact on young women when female pro sports are covered nationally.
  • Examine the emotional needs of professional female athletes in sports.
  • Explain the effectiveness of mental rehearsal in improving a player’s performance.
  • Explain how the role of the sports psychologist has changed in the last 20 years.
  • Describe the negative effects the Covid-19 quarantine had on professional athletes.
  • Examine the psychological and physiological aspects of drug use in pro sports.
  • Evaluate different methods of psychological post-trauma recovery.
  • Explain the connection between aggression and dangerous contact sports.
  • Examine the impact being a professional athlete has on that person’s intelligence.
  • Explain how team sports create a sense of nationalism in your country.
  • The impact neuro-linguistic programming has on improving athletic performance.
  • Describe the effects of cross-gender coaching at the professional level.
  • Explain the negative impact fame has on a player’s mental health.
  • Explain the mental health benefits of team recreational sports for disabled people.
  • Techniques to minimize the negative effects of performance anxiety before a game.
  • Explain the pressures professional athletes face regarding the vaccine.
  • The mental effect on female athletes that are underpaid despite better performance.
  • The impact of watching professional sports as a teenager and mental health.
  • The impact that social media has had on athletes’ mental health.
  • Explain the effects corruption in pro sports have on fan loyalty.

Professional writers have long recommended that students choose a topic they are genuinely interested in. A student’s enthusiasm for a topic will come through as better and more engaging writing. Here is a collection of sports issues to write about that can make completing this kind of assignment easier:

  • Describe the measures that must be implemented to minimize the risk of death during a game.
  • Examine the relationship between golf and social class in the United States.
  • Examine how teen sports are making more young people aggressive.
  • Examine what women should do to regulate their energy expenditure.
  • Evaluate different methods of post-treatment therapy for injured athletes.
  • Examine the impact winning championships have on an athlete’s motivation.
  • Compare the best rehabilitation practices for athletes with knee joint injuries.
  • Analyze the social aspects of team sports among high school athletes.
  • Describe the developments of the most recent sport made to encourage the disabled community to play sports.
  • Sports journalists and their role in reporting crimes committed off the field of play.
  • Athletic performance after winning a championship in a team sport.
  • Evaluate different coaching styles and determine which style is the best going forward.
  • Discuss gender stratification through a study of the U.S.’s national soccer teams.
  • Discuss how the promise of establishing a legacy motivates professional athletes.
  • Evaluate the benefits of grain diets in preventing cardiovascular disease.
  • Analyze the responses to Muslim women entering professional sports.
  • The quality of education college athletes get during their time in school.

There is no harm in dealing with a little bit of controversy when considering good sports research topics. Writing about something controversial can immediately capture the attention of your readers and make your research paper more memorable:

  • Explain why anti-inflammatory drugs are not prohibited in professional sports.
  • Evaluate hygienic practices among professional athletes in team-oriented sports.
  • Examine the best safety practices for active and inactive athletes.
  • Evaluate the best practices for developing fine motor skills among young children.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of using elastic therapeutic tape on should injuries.
  • Examine the reasons why teenagers take dangerous selfies while practicing extreme sports.
  • Examining the aerobic benefits of road cycling among athletes.
  • Describe what sports trophies can do to boost a player’s self-esteem.
  • Evaluate training techniques for marathon runners and sprint runners.
  • Discuss the likelihood of men and women participating in mixed-gender sports.
  • Analyze the methods professional athletes use to avoid illegal drug use detection.
  • Discuss knee injury risk for marathon runners with short training periods.
  • The rise of doping cases in professional cycling around the world.
  • Evaluate the use of proper footwear to avoid injury.
  • Describe how genetics play a role in an athlete’s natural abilities.
  • Describe the positive effect outdoor sports have on people with depression.
  • Examine the pay gap between professional male and female athletes.
  • Specificity of treatment of sports injuries in children and young people.
  • Diabetes and the prevention of muscle fiber destruction.
  • Compare and contrast sports traumas among high school athletes.
  • Examine leadership qualities needed to become a team captain.
  • Examine how changing diets after an injury can aid athletes to recover faster.
  • The effectiveness of pet therapy to help older adults recover from injuries.
  • The most common types of volleyball injuries and the best treatments.
  • Describe the pros and cons of sports betting in modern society.
  • Analyze the most likely sports injuries among men and women.
  • Explain why athletes should be prevented from betting on sports.

One of the reasons students decide to write about a current topic is because there is plenty of information available on the web and in the news. It allows them to take that information into one of several directions. These sports thesis topics are great for anyone wanting to write about something that is fresh and new:

  • Describe what governing sports bodies can do to prevent the use of PEDs.
  • Alternative medicines and their effect on athletic performance.
  • Describe the connection between pro sports and the U.S. economy.
  • Technological improvements to headgear to prevent concussions.
  • The impact long-distance running has on joint health.
  • Evaluate the safest exercises for adults with disabilities.
  • Examine the prevalence of mental disorders in high-contact sports.
  • Evaluate how different sports owners approach sponsors to raise money.
  • The false narrative behind sports injuries and a player’s motivation.
  • Using social media to respond to news that is spread in the mainstream media.
  • Examine the ceiling that exists to prevent women from advancing a career in sports.
  • Compare and contrast European soccer leagues and American soccer leagues.
  • Implementing better concussion protocols to improve player safety.
  • Analyze the way sports owners maximize their profits at the expense of fans.
  • Analyze the connection between athletic performance and sexual activity.
  • Examine how students perform better academically when they play sports.
  • Compare how strength is determined by muscle mass versus the neural system.
  • Examine the research suggesting that sports help teenagers with ADHD.
  • Taking time off to improve mental health and the response of fans.
  • Explain how Europe and U.S. market their pro sports differently.
  • The importance of building state-of-the-art venues to attract free agents.
  • Examine the relationship between youth sports and juvenile delinquency.
  • The ways professional athletes use social media to stir dislike with others.
  • The negative impact sports lockouts have on fan support.
  • Examine the impact athletic pharmacology has had in facilitating post-traumatic injury.
  • The most effective ways athletes can recover after a cold or flu.

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What are good research topics about sports?

Some good research topics in sports include investigating the root causes of varicose disease in athletes, improving training methods to reduce the chance of injury in American football, and how yoga and stretching affect a professional athlete’s flexibility. Others include practical ways to treat athletes’ acute and chronic muscular injuries.

What are some interesting research topics in sport psychology?

Some interesting research topics in sport psychology include how youth sports help develop young people’s leadership abilities, how college athletes spend much too much time on the field than in the classroom, and the psychological impact on female athletes whose pay is low despite superior performance.

What is research sports science?

Research in sports science is a field of research that focuses on the social effects and contributions of sports. It also highlights the cultural and economic impacts of sports.

Why is research good in sports?

Research is good in sports because it promotes the development of safety practices and educational measures that protect students and athletes. It also ensures best practices are followed in sports.

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Performance Nutrition for Athletes

Lawrence l. spriet.

Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada

A sound nutritional plan is essential for achieving and maintaining optimal athletic performance. In addition to daily meal planning, a sports nutritionist pays special attention to the needs of athletes before, during and following training sessions and competitions. A wide variety of foods and nutritional products are available for the athlete to meet these needs. Sports nutrition professionals spend a lot of time reading and interpreting the relevant literature, and in many cases, researching the best products and ways to deliver the needed nutrients. In the research world, we often examine individual ingredients that have been removed from foods in an effort to examine the potential beneficial effects in isolation. In the real world, we most often eat foods that contain several important ingredients. So, it is ultimately also necessary to conduct research studies with real foods to determine how the food is received as a whole, and whether the important ingredients reach the target tissues in sufficient amounts, whether they interact with each other, and of course, whether beneficial effects are realized. This supplement examines the potential complications and benefits of eating foods in the context of achieving and maintaining optimal performance.

The Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) has been bringing sports nutrition and sports science researchers together for the past 30 years to address many issues that relate to the health, wellbeing and performance of athletes. Since 2012 this gathering has been known as the GSSI Expert Panel, which continued in 2017 with a meeting in October to discuss several nutritional issues that influence athlete performance. Following the meeting, the authors summarized the recent work in their topic area, resulting in the manuscripts in this Sports Medicine supplement (the sixth in a series supported by GSSI).

The first paper [ 1 ] addresses the intriguing topic of translating sports performance nutrition research into the real world and ultimately the chances of it helping an athlete maximize their performance to reach the “podium.” The authors present a framework they call the “Paper-2-Podium Matrix” which provides several criteria to critically evaluate performance nutrition-related research papers. In this manner, the sports nutrition practitioner can decide whether the research in question can be translated into something useful for the athletes they advise.

The second paper [ 2 ] in the supplement examines the very timely topic of foods that contain gluten or fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPS) and their roles in producing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in athletes. The author suggests that the popularity of gluten-free diets (GFD) among athletes may not be warranted as research investigating the effects of a GFD in nonceliac athletes has not shown positive effects when compared to a gluten-containing diet on GI health, systemic inflammation, perceptual wellbeing or performance. It appears that a reduction in FODMAPs concurrent with the elimination of gluten-containing grains may be the modulating factor of GI symptom improvement.

The third paper [ 3 ] examines the possibility that phytochemicals may improve some aspects of a person’s cognitive function and psychological state and improve athletic performance. It appears from work in non-athletes that secondary metabolite phytochemicals from the main structural groups—phenolics (polyphenols), terpenes and alkaloids—may improve cognitive function and psychological state, which may be relevant for sports performance. However, this suggestion awaits more research in a sporting context before any solid practical recommendations can be made.

The next paper [ 4 ] of the supplement digs deeper into the roles that fruit-derived polyphenols may play in enhancing athletic performance and recovering from exercise-induced muscle damage. Polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may enhance exercise performance by regulating the excess reactive oxygen species generation that have been implicated in fatigue development. Recovery from intensive exercise may also be improved by polyphenols by limiting inflammation and oxidative damage in muscle. While some research does exist to support these claims, more research is needed both from an efficacy and mechanistic perspective.

The fifth paper [ 5 ] discusses the importance of having “meal recommendations with protein-rich whole foods” to maximize post-exercise muscle protein synthesis rates rather than recommendations for the ingestion of isolated protein sources. Knowledge related to protein quality and the interactive effects with the food matrix is needed to achieve optimal protein requirements during the post-exercise recovery window.

The final paper [ 6 ] examines how exercise and hot environments can lead to varying levels of mild dehydration if the important and most basic of nutrients, water, together with electrolytes, are not consumed in adequate quantities. The authors describe how dehydration can impact the physiological functioning of the human heart, muscles and brain differently during exercise requiring both low and high functional demands.

It is clear in the papers of this supplement that sports nutrition research has contributed greatly to what we know regarding examining the importance of nutrition for athletes. However, a great deal of additional research is needed, especially as it relates to the consumption of food! It is hoped that these papers will convince basic and applied sports nutritionists alike to conduct additional research in these areas.

Acknowledgements

This paper is part of a supplement supported by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI). The supplement was guest edited by Lawrence L. Spriet, who attended a meeting of the GSSI Expert Panel in October 2017 and received honoraria from the GSSI, a division of PepsiCo, Inc., for his participation in the meeting and the writing of this Preface. He received no honoraria for guest editing the supplement. Dr. Spriet suggested peer reviewers for each paper, which were sent to the Sports Medicine Editor-in-Chief for approval, prior to any reviewers being approached. Dr. Spriet provided comments on each paper and made an editorial decision based on comments from the peer reviewers and the Editor-in-Chief. Where decisions were uncertain, Dr. Spriet consulted with the Editor-in-Chief.

An honorarium for preparation of this article was provided by the GSSI.

Conflicts of interest

Lawrence Spriet has no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

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Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Sport psychology and performance meta-analyses: A systematic review of the literature

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliations Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America, Education Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania

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Roles Data curation, Methodology, Writing – original draft

Affiliation Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America

Roles Data curation, Methodology

Roles Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Honors College, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America

Roles Data curation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Faculty of Education, Health and Well-Being, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Division of Research & Innovation, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

  • Marc Lochbaum, 
  • Elisabeth Stoner, 
  • Tristen Hefner, 
  • Sydney Cooper, 
  • Andrew M. Lane, 
  • Peter C. Terry

PLOS

  • Published: February 16, 2022
  • https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263408
  • Peer Review
  • Reader Comments

Fig 1

Sport psychology as an academic pursuit is nearly two centuries old. An enduring goal since inception has been to understand how psychological techniques can improve athletic performance. Although much evidence exists in the form of meta-analytic reviews related to sport psychology and performance, a systematic review of these meta-analyses is absent from the literature. We aimed to synthesize the extant literature to gain insights into the overall impact of sport psychology on athletic performance. Guided by the PRISMA statement for systematic reviews, we reviewed relevant articles identified via the EBSCOhost interface. Thirty meta-analyses published between 1983 and 2021 met the inclusion criteria, covering 16 distinct sport psychology constructs. Overall, sport psychology interventions/variables hypothesized to enhance performance (e.g., cohesion, confidence, mindfulness) were shown to have a moderate beneficial effect ( d = 0.51), whereas variables hypothesized to be detrimental to performance (e.g., cognitive anxiety, depression, ego climate) had a small negative effect ( d = -0.21). The quality rating of meta-analyses did not significantly moderate the magnitude of observed effects, nor did the research design (i.e., intervention vs. correlation) of the primary studies included in the meta-analyses. Our review strengthens the evidence base for sport psychology techniques and may be of great practical value to practitioners. We provide recommendations for future research in the area.

Citation: Lochbaum M, Stoner E, Hefner T, Cooper S, Lane AM, Terry PC (2022) Sport psychology and performance meta-analyses: A systematic review of the literature. PLoS ONE 17(2): e0263408. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263408

Editor: Claudio Imperatori, European University of Rome, ITALY

Received: September 28, 2021; Accepted: January 18, 2022; Published: February 16, 2022

Copyright: © 2022 Lochbaum et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: All relevant data are within the paper.

Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

Sport performance matters. Verifying its global importance requires no more than opening a newspaper to the sports section, browsing the internet, looking at social media outlets, or scanning abundant sources of sport information. Sport psychology is an important avenue through which to better understand and improve sport performance. To date, a systematic review of published sport psychology and performance meta-analyses is absent from the literature. Given the undeniable importance of sport, the history of sport psychology in academics since 1830, and the global rise of sport psychology journals and organizations, a comprehensive systematic review of the meta-analytic literature seems overdue. Thus, we aimed to consolidate the existing literature and provide recommendations for future research.

The development of sport psychology

The history of sport psychology dates back nearly 200 years. Terry [ 1 ] cites Carl Friedrich Koch’s (1830) publication titled [in translation] Calisthenics from the Viewpoint of Dietetics and Psychology [ 2 ] as perhaps the earliest publication in the field, and multiple commentators have noted that sport psychology experiments occurred in the world’s first psychology laboratory, established by Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig in 1879 [ 1 , 3 ]. Konrad Rieger’s research on hypnosis and muscular endurance, published in 1884 [ 4 ] and Angelo Mosso’s investigations of the effects of mental fatigue on physical performance, published in 1891 [ 5 ] were other early landmarks in the development of applied sport psychology research. Following the efforts of Koch, Wundt, Rieger, and Mosso, sport psychology works appeared with increasing regularity, including Philippe Tissié’s publications in 1894 [ 6 , 7 ] on psychology and physical training, and Pierre de Coubertin’s first use of the term sport psychology in his La Psychologie du Sport paper in 1900 [ 8 ]. In short, the history of sport psychology and performance research began as early as 1830 and picked up pace in the latter part of the 19 th century. Early pioneers, who helped shape sport psychology include Wundt, recognized as the “father of experimental psychology”, Tissié, the founder of French physical education and Legion of Honor awardee in 1932, and de Coubertin who became the father of the modern Olympic movement and founder of the International Olympic Committee.

Sport psychology flourished in the early 20 th century [see 1, 3 for extensive historic details]. For instance, independent laboratories emerged in Berlin, Germany, established by Carl Diem in 1920; in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia, established respectively by Avksenty Puni and Piotr Roudik in 1925; and in Champaign, Illinois USA, established by Coleman Griffith, also in 1925. The period from 1950–1980 saw rapid strides in sport psychology, with Franklin Henry establishing this field of study as independent of physical education in the landscape of American and eventually global sport science and kinesiology graduate programs [ 1 ]. In addition, of great importance in the 1960s, three international sport psychology organizations were established: namely, the International Society for Sport Psychology (1965), the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (1966), and the European Federation of Sport Psychology (1969). Since that time, the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (1986), the South American Society for Sport Psychology (1986), and the Asian-South Pacific Association of Sport Psychology (1989) have also been established.

The global growth in academic sport psychology has seen a large number of specialist publications launched, including the following journals: International Journal of Sport Psychology (1970), Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (1979), The Sport Psychologist (1987), Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (1989), Psychology of Sport and Exercise (2000), International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (2003), Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology (2007), International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology (2008), Journal of Sport Psychology in Action (2010), Sport , Exercise , and Performance Psychology (2014), and the Asian Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (2021).

In turn, the growth in journal outlets has seen sport psychology publications burgeon. Indicative of the scale of the contemporary literature on sport psychology, searches completed in May 2021 within the Web of Science Core Collection, identified 1,415 publications on goal setting and sport since 1985; 5,303 publications on confidence and sport since 1961; and 3,421 publications on anxiety and sport since 1980. In addition to academic journals, several comprehensive edited textbooks have been produced detailing sport psychology developments across the world, such as Hanrahan and Andersen’s (2010) Handbook of Applied Sport Psychology [ 9 ], Schinke, McGannon, and Smith’s (2016) International Handbook of Sport Psychology [ 10 ], and Bertollo, Filho, and Terry’s (2021) Advancements in Mental Skills Training [ 11 ] to name just a few. In short, sport psychology is global in both academic study and professional practice.

Meta-analysis in sport psychology

Several meta-analysis guides, computer programs, and sport psychology domain-specific primers have been popularized in the social sciences [ 12 , 13 ]. Sport psychology academics have conducted quantitative reviews on much studied constructs since the 1980s, with the first two appearing in 1983 in the form of Feltz and Landers’ meta-analysis on mental practice [ 14 ], which included 98 articles dating from 1934, and Bond and Titus’ cross-disciplinary meta-analysis on social facilitation [ 15 ], which summarized 241 studies including Triplett’s (1898) often-cited study of social facilitation in cycling [ 16 ]. Although much meta-analytic evidence exists for various constructs in sport and exercise psychology [ 12 ] including several related to performance [ 17 ], the evidence is inconsistent. For example, two meta-analyses, both ostensibly summarizing evidence of the benefits to performance of task cohesion [ 18 , 19 ], produced very different mean effects ( d = .24 vs d = 1.00) indicating that the true benefit lies somewhere in a wide range from small to large. Thus, the lack of a reliable evidence base for the use of sport psychology techniques represents a significant gap in the knowledge base for practitioners and researchers alike. A comprehensive systematic review of all published meta-analyses in the field of sport psychology has yet to be published.

Purpose and aim

We consider this review to be both necessary and long overdue for the following reasons: (a) the extensive history of sport psychology and performance research; (b) the prior publication of many meta-analyses summarizing various aspects of sport psychology research in a piecemeal fashion [ 12 , 17 ] but not its totality; and (c) the importance of better understanding and hopefully improving sport performance via the use of interventions based on solid evidence of their efficacy. Hence, we aimed to collate and evaluate this literature in a systematic way to gain improved understanding of the impact of sport psychology variables on sport performance by construct, research design, and meta-analysis quality, to enhance practical knowledge of sport psychology techniques and identify future lines of research inquiry. By systematically reviewing all identifiable meta-analytic reviews linking sport psychology techniques with sport performance, we aimed to evaluate the strength of the evidence base underpinning sport psychology interventions.

Materials and methods

This systematic review of meta-analyses followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines [ 20 ]. We did not register our systematic review protocol in a database. However, we specified our search strategy, inclusion criteria, data extraction, and data analyses in advance of writing our manuscript. All details of our work are available from the lead author. Concerning ethics, this systematic review received a waiver from Texas Tech University Human Subject Review Board as it concerned archival data (i.e., published meta-analyses).

Eligibility criteria

Published meta-analyses were retained for extensive examination if they met the following inclusion criteria: (a) included meta-analytic data such as mean group, between or within-group differences or correlates; (b) published prior to January 31, 2021; (c) published in a peer-reviewed journal; (d) investigated a recognized sport psychology construct; and (e) meta-analyzed data concerned with sport performance. There was no language of publication restriction. To align with our systematic review objectives, we gave much consideration to study participants and performance outcomes. Across multiple checks, all authors confirmed study eligibility. Three authors (ML, AL, and PT) completed the final inclusion assessments.

Information sources

Authors searched electronic databases, personal meta-analysis history, and checked with personal research contacts. Electronic database searches occurred in EBSCOhost with the following individual databases selected: APA PsycINFO, ERIC, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and SPORTDiscus. An initial search concluded October 1, 2020. ML, AL, and PT rechecked the identified studies during the February–March, 2021 period, which resulted in the identification of two additional meta-analyses [ 21 , 22 ].

Search protocol

ML and ES initially conducted independent database searches. For the first search, ML used the following search terms: sport psychology with meta-analysis or quantitative review and sport and performance or sport* performance. For the second search, ES utilized a sport psychology textbook and used the chapter title terms (e.g., goal setting). In EBSCOhost, both searches used the advanced search option that provided three separate boxes for search terms such as box 1 (sport psychology), box 2 (meta-analysis), and box 3 (performance). Specific details of our search strategy were:

Search by ML:

  • sport psychology, meta-analysis, sport and performance
  • sport psychology, meta-analysis or quantitative review, sport* performance
  • sport psychology, quantitative review, sport and performance
  • sport psychology, quantitative review, sport* performance

Search by ES:

  • mental practice or mental imagery or mental rehearsal and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • goal setting and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • anxiety and stress and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • competition and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • diversity and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • cohesion and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • imagery and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • self-confidence and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • concentration and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • athletic injuries and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • overtraining and sports performance and meta-analysis
  • children and sports performance and meta-analysis

The following specific search of the EBSCOhost with SPORTDiscus, APA PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and ERIC databases, returned six results from 2002–2020, of which three were included [ 18 , 19 , 23 ] and three were excluded because they were not meta-analyses.

  • Box 1 cohesion
  • Box 2 sports performance
  • Box 3 meta-analysis

Study selection

As detailed in the PRISMA flow chart ( Fig 1 ) and the specified inclusion criteria, a thorough study selection process was used. As mentioned in the search protocol, two authors (ML and ES) engaged independently with two separate searches and then worked together to verify the selected studies. Next, AL and PT examined the selected study list for accuracy. ML, AL, and PT, whilst rating the quality of included meta-analyses, also re-examined all selected studies to verify that each met the predetermined study inclusion criteria. Throughout the study selection process, disagreements were resolved through discussion until consensus was reached.

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263408.g001

Data extraction process

Initially, ML, TH, and ES extracted data items 1, 2, 3 and 8 (see Data items). Subsequently, ML, AL, and PT extracted the remaining data (items 4–7, 9, 10). Checks occurred during the extraction process for potential discrepancies (e.g., checking the number of primary studies in a meta-analysis). It was unnecessary to contact any meta-analysis authors for missing information or clarification during the data extraction process because all studies reported the required information. Across the search for meta-analyses, all identified studies were reported in English. Thus, no translation software or searching out a native speaker occurred. All data extraction forms (e.g., data items and individual meta-analysis quality) are available from the first author.

To help address our main aim, we extracted the following information from each meta-analysis: (1) author(s); (2) publication year; (3) construct(s); (4) intervention based meta-analysis (yes, no, mix); (5) performance outcome(s) description; (6) number of studies for the performance outcomes; (7) participant description; (8) main findings; (9) bias correction method/results; and (10) author(s) stated conclusions. For all information sought, we coded missing information as not reported.

Individual meta-analysis quality

ML, AL, and PT independently rated the quality of individual meta-analysis on the following 25 points found in the PRISMA checklist [ 20 ]: title; abstract structured summary; introduction rationale, objectives, and protocol and registration; methods eligibility criteria, information sources, search, study selection, data collection process, data items, risk of bias of individual studies, summary measures, synthesis of results, and risk of bias across studies; results study selection, study characteristics, risk of bias within studies, results of individual studies, synthesis of results, and risk of bias across studies; discussion summary of evidence, limitations, and conclusions; and funding. All meta-analyses were rated for quality by two coders to facilitate inter-coder reliability checks, and the mean quality ratings were used in subsequent analyses. One author (PT), having completed his own ratings, received the incoming ratings from ML and AL and ran the inter-coder analysis. Two rounds of ratings occurred due to discrepancies for seven meta-analyses, mainly between ML and AL. As no objective quality categorizations (i.e., a point system for grouping meta-analyses as poor, medium, good) currently exist, each meta-analysis was allocated a quality score of up to a maximum of 25 points. All coding records are available upon request.

Planned methods of analysis

Several preplanned methods of analysis occurred. We first assessed the mean quality rating of each meta-analysis based on our 25-point PRISMA-based rating system. Next, we used a median split of quality ratings to determine whether standardized mean effects (SMDs) differed by the two formed categories, higher and lower quality meta-analyses. Meta-analysis authors reported either of two different effect size metrics (i.e., r and SMD); hence we converted all correlational effects to SMD (i.e., Cohen’s d ) values using an online effect size calculator ( www.polyu.edu.hk/mm/effectsizefaqs/calculator/calculator.html ). We interpreted the meaningfulness of effects based on Cohen’s interpretation [ 24 ] with 0.20 as small, 0.50 as medium, 0.80 as large, and 1.30 as very large. As some psychological variables associate negatively with performance (e.g., confusion [ 25 ], cognitive anxiety [ 26 ]) whereas others associate positively (e.g., cohesion [ 23 ], mental practice [ 14 ]), we grouped meta-analyses according to whether the hypothesized effect with performance was positive or negative, and summarized the overall effects separately. By doing so, we avoided a scenario whereby the demonstrated positive and negative effects canceled one another out when combined. The effect of somatic anxiety on performance, which is hypothesized to follow an inverted-U relationship, was categorized as neutral [ 35 ]. Last, we grouped the included meta-analyses according to whether the primary studies were correlational in nature or involved an intervention and summarized these two groups of meta-analyses separately.

Study characteristics

Table 1 contains extracted data from 30 meta-analyses meeting the inclusion criteria, dating from 1983 [ 14 ] to 2021 [ 21 ]. The number of primary studies within the meta-analyses ranged from three [ 27 ] to 109 [ 28 ]. In terms of the description of participants included in the meta-analyses, 13 included participants described simply as athletes, whereas other meta-analyses identified a mix of elite athletes (e.g., professional, Olympic), recreational athletes, college-aged volunteers (many from sport science departments), younger children to adolescents, and adult exercisers. Of the 30 included meta-analyses, the majority ( n = 18) were published since 2010. The decadal breakdown of meta-analyses was 1980–1989 ( n = 1 [ 14 ]), 1990–1999 ( n = 6 [ 29 – 34 ]), 2000–2009 ( n = 5 [ 23 , 25 , 26 , 35 , 36 ]), 2010–2019 ( n = 12 [ 18 , 19 , 22 , 27 , 37 – 43 , 48 ]), and 2020–2021 ( n = 6 [ 21 , 28 , 44 – 47 ]).

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As for the constructs covered, we categorized the 30 meta-analyses into the following areas: mental practice/imagery [ 14 , 29 , 30 , 42 , 46 , 47 ], anxiety [ 26 , 31 , 32 , 35 ], confidence [ 26 , 35 , 36 ], cohesion [ 18 , 19 , 23 ], goal orientation [ 22 , 44 , 48 ], mood [ 21 , 25 , 34 ], emotional intelligence [ 40 ], goal setting [ 33 ], interventions [ 37 ], mindfulness [ 27 ], music [ 28 ], neurofeedback training [ 43 ], perfectionism [ 39 ], pressure training [ 45 ], quiet eye training [ 41 ], and self-talk [ 38 ]. Multiple effects were generated from meta-analyses that included more than one construct (e.g., tension, depression, etc. [ 21 ]; anxiety and confidence [ 26 ]). In relation to whether the meta-analyses included in our review assessed the effects of a sport psychology intervention on performance or relationships between psychological constructs and performance, 13 were intervention-based, 14 were correlational, two included a mix of study types, and one included a large majority of cross-sectional studies ( Table 1 ).

A wide variety of performance outcomes across many sports was evident, such as golf putting, dart throwing, maximal strength, and juggling; or categorical outcomes such as win/loss and Olympic team selection. Given the extensive list of performance outcomes and the incomplete descriptions provided in some meta-analyses, a clear categorization or count of performance types was not possible. Sufficient to conclude, researchers utilized many performance outcomes across a wide range of team and individual sports, motor skills, and strength and aerobic tasks.

Effect size data and bias correction

To best summarize the effects, we transformed all correlations to SMD values (i.e., Cohen’s d ). Across all included meta-analyses shown in Table 2 and depicted in Fig 2 , we identified 61 effects. Having corrected for bias, effect size values were assessed for meaningfulness [ 24 ], which resulted in 15 categorized as negligible (< ±0.20), 29 as small (±0.20 to < 0.50), 13 as moderate (±0.50 to < 0.80), 2 as large (±0.80 to < 1.30), and 1 as very large (≥ 1.30).

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Study quality rating results and summary analyses

Following our PRISMA quality ratings, intercoder reliability coefficients were initially .83 (ML, AL), .95 (ML, PT), and .90 (AL, PT), with a mean intercoder reliability coefficient of .89. To achieve improved reliability (i.e., r mean > .90), ML and AL re-examined their ratings. As a result, intercoder reliability increased to .98 (ML, AL), .96 (ML, PT), and .92 (AL, PT); a mean intercoder reliability coefficient of .95. Final quality ratings (i.e., the mean of two coders) ranged from 13 to 25 ( M = 19.03 ± 4.15). Our median split into higher ( M = 22.83 ± 1.08, range 21.5–25, n = 15) and lower ( M = 15.47 ± 2.42, range 13–20.5, n = 15) quality groups produced significant between-group differences in quality ( F 1,28 = 115.62, p < .001); hence, the median split met our intended purpose. The higher quality group of meta-analyses were published from 2015–2021 (median 2018) and the lower quality group from 1983–2014 (median 2000). It appears that meta-analysis standards have risen over the years since the PRISMA criteria were first introduced in 2009. All data for our analyses are shown in Table 2 .

Table 3 contains summary statistics with bias-corrected values used in the analyses. The overall mean effect for sport psychology constructs hypothesized to have a positive impact on performance was of moderate magnitude ( d = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.58, n = 36). The overall mean effect for sport psychology constructs hypothesized to have a negative impact on performance was small in magnitude ( d = -0.21, 95% CI -0.31, -0.11, n = 24). In both instances, effects were larger, although not significantly so, among meta-analyses of higher quality compared to those of lower quality. Similarly, mean effects were larger but not significantly so, where reported effects in the original studies were based on interventional rather than correlational designs. This trend only applied to hypothesized positive effects because none of the original studies in the meta-analyses related to hypothesized negative effects used interventional designs.

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263408.t003

In this systematic review of meta-analyses, we synthesized the available evidence regarding effects of sport psychology interventions/constructs on sport performance. We aimed to consolidate the literature, evaluate the potential for meta-analysis quality to influence the results, and suggest recommendations for future research at both the single study and quantitative review stages. During the systematic review process, several meta-analysis characteristics came to light, such as the number of meta-analyses of sport psychology interventions (experimental designs) compared to those summarizing the effects of psychological constructs (correlation designs) on performance, the number of meta-analyses with exclusively athletes as participants, and constructs featuring in multiple meta-analyses, some of which (e.g., cohesion) produced very different effect size values. Thus, although our overall aim was to evaluate the strength of the evidence base for use of psychological interventions in sport, we also discuss the impact of these meta-analysis characteristics on the reliability of the evidence.

When seen collectively, results of our review are supportive of using sport psychology techniques to help improve performance and confirm that variations in psychological constructs relate to variations in performance. For constructs hypothesized to have a positive effect on performance, the mean effect strength was moderate ( d = 0.51) although there was substantial variation between constructs. For example, the beneficial effects on performance of task cohesion ( d = 1.00) and self-efficacy ( d = 0.82) are large, and the available evidence base for use of mindfulness interventions suggests a very large beneficial effect on performance ( d = 1.35). Conversely, some hypothetically beneficial effects (2 of 36; 5.6%) were in the negligible-to-small range (0.15–0.20) and most beneficial effects (19 of 36; 52.8%) were in the small-to-moderate range (0.22–0.49). It should be noted that in the world of sport, especially at the elite level, even a small beneficial effect on performance derived from a psychological intervention may prove the difference between success and failure and hence small effects may be of great practical value. To put the scale of the benefits into perspective, an authoritative and extensively cited review of healthy eating and physical activity interventions [ 49 ] produced an overall pooled effect size of 0.31 (compared to 0.51 for our study), suggesting sport psychology interventions designed to improve performance are generally more effective than interventions designed to promote healthy living.

Among hypothetically negative effects (e.g., ego climate, cognitive anxiety, depression), the mean detrimental effect was small ( d = -0.21) although again substantial variation among constructs was evident. Some hypothetically negative constructs (5 of 24; 20.8%) were found to actually provide benefits to performance, albeit in the negligible range (0.02–0.12) and only two constructs (8.3%), both from Lochbaum and colleagues’ POMS meta-analysis [ 21 ], were shown to negatively affect performance above a moderate level (depression: d = -0.64; total mood disturbance, which incorporates the depression subscale: d = -0.84). Readers should note that the POMS and its derivatives assess six specific mood dimensions rather than the mood construct more broadly, and therefore results should not be extrapolated to other dimensions of mood [ 50 ].

Mean effects were larger among higher quality than lower quality meta-analyses for both hypothetically positive ( d = 0.54 vs d = 0.45) and negative effects ( d = -0.25 vs d = 0.17), but in neither case were the differences significant. It is reasonable to assume that the true effects were derived from the higher quality meta-analyses, although our conclusions remain the same regardless of study quality. Overall, our findings provide a more rigorous evidence base for the use of sport psychology techniques by practitioners than was previously available, representing a significant contribution to knowledge. Moreover, our systematic scrutiny of 30 meta-analyses published between 1983 and 2021 has facilitated a series of recommendations to improve the quality of future investigations in the sport psychology area.

Recommendations

The development of sport psychology as an academic discipline and area of professional practice relies on using evidence and theory to guide practice. Hence, a strong evidence base for the applied work of sport psychologists is of paramount importance. Although the beneficial effects of some sport psychology techniques are small, it is important to note the larger performance benefits for other techniques, which may be extremely meaningful for applied practice. Overall, however, especially given the heterogeneity of the observed effects, it would be wise for applied practitioners to avoid overpromising the benefits of sport psychology services to clients and perhaps underdelivering as a result [ 1 ].

The results of our systematic review can be used to generate recommendations for how the profession might conduct improved research to better inform applied practice. Much of the early research in sport psychology was exploratory and potential moderating variables were not always sufficiently controlled. Terry [ 51 ] outlined this in relation to the study of mood-performance relationships, identifying that physical and skills factors will very likely exert a greater influence on performance than psychological factors. Further, type of sport (e.g., individual vs. team), duration of activity (e.g., short vs. long duration), level of competition (e.g., elite vs. recreational), and performance measure (e.g., norm-referenced vs. self-referenced) have all been implicated as potential moderators of the relationship between psychological variables and sport performance [ 51 ]. To detect the relatively subtle effects of psychological effects on performance, research designs need to be sufficiently sensitive to such potential confounds. Several specific methodological issues are worth discussing.

The first issue relates to measurement. Investigating the strength of a relationship requires the measured variables to be valid, accurate and reliable. Psychological variables in the meta-analyses we reviewed relied primarily on self-report outcome measures. The accuracy of self-report data requires detailed inner knowledge of thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Research shows that the accuracy of self-report information is subject to substantial individual differences [ 52 , 53 ]. Therefore, self-report data, at best, are an estimate of the measure. Measurement issues are especially relevant to the assessment of performance, and considerable measurement variation was evident between meta-analyses. Some performance measures were more sensitive, especially those assessing physical performance relative to what is normal for the individual performer (i.e., self-referenced performance). Hence, having multiple baseline indicators of performance increases the probability of identifying genuine performance enhancement derived from a psychological intervention [ 54 ].

A second issue relates to clarifying the rationale for how and why specific psychological variables might influence performance. A comprehensive review of prerequisites and precursors of athletic talent [ 55 ] concluded that the superiority of Olympic champions over other elite athletes is determined in part by a range of psychological variables, including high intrinsic motivation, determination, dedication, persistence, and creativity, thereby identifying performance-related variables that might benefit from a psychological intervention. Identifying variables that influence the effectiveness of interventions is a challenging but essential issue for researchers seeking to control and assess factors that might influence results [ 49 ]. A key part of this process is to use theory to propose the mechanism(s) by which an intervention might affect performance and to hypothesize how large the effect might be.

A third issue relates to the characteristics of the research participants involved. Out of convenience, it is not uncommon for researchers to use undergraduate student participants for research projects, which may bias results and restrict the generalization of findings to the population of primary interest, often elite athletes. The level of training and physical conditioning of participants will clearly influence their performance. Highly trained athletes will typically make smaller gains in performance over time than novice athletes, due to a ceiling effect (i.e., they have less room for improvement). For example, consider runner A, who takes 20 minutes to run 5km one week but 19 minutes the next week, and Runner B who takes 30 minutes one week and 25 minutes the next. If we compare the two, Runner A runs faster than Runner B on both occasions, but Runner B improved more, so whose performance was better? If we also consider Runner C, a highly trained athlete with a personal best of 14 minutes, to run 1 minute quicker the following week would almost require a world record time, which is clearly unlikely. For this runner, an improvement of a few seconds would represent an excellent performance. Evidence shows that trained, highly motivated athletes may reach performance plateaus and as such are good candidates for psychological skills training. They are less likely to make performance gains due to increased training volume and therefore the impact of psychological skills interventions may emerge more clearly. Therefore, both test-retest and cross-sectional research designs should account for individual difference variables. Further, the range of individual difference factors will be context specific; for example, individual differences in strength will be more important in a study that uses weightlifting as the performance measure than one that uses darts as the performance measure, where individual differences in skill would be more important.

A fourth factor that has not been investigated extensively relates to the variables involved in learning sport psychology techniques. Techniques such as imagery, self-talk and goal setting all require cognitive processing and as such some people will learn them faster than others [ 56 ]. Further, some people are intuitive self-taught users of, for example, mood regulation strategies such as abdominal breathing or listening to music who, if recruited to participate in a study investigating the effects of learning such techniques on performance, would respond differently to novice users. Hence, a major challenge when testing the effects of a psychological intervention is to establish suitable controls. A traditional non-treatment group offers one option, but such an approach does not consider the influence of belief effects (i.e., placebo/nocebo), which can either add or detract from the effectiveness of performance interventions [ 57 ]. If an individual believes that, an intervention will be effective, this provides a motivating effect for engagement and so performance may improve via increased effort rather than the effect of the intervention per se.

When there are positive beliefs that an intervention will work, it becomes important to distinguish belief effects from the proposed mechanism through which the intervention should be successful. Research has shown that field studies often report larger effects than laboratory studies, a finding attributed to higher motivation among participants in field studies [ 58 ]. If participants are motivated to improve, being part of an active training condition should be associated with improved performance regardless of any intervention. In a large online study of over 44,000 participants, active training in sport psychology interventions was associated with improved performance, but only marginally more than for an active control condition [ 59 ]. The study involved 4-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson narrating both the intervention and active control using motivational encouragement in both conditions. Researchers should establish not only the expected size of an effect but also to specify and assess why the intervention worked. Where researchers report performance improvement, it is fundamental to explain the proposed mechanism by which performance was enhanced and to test the extent to which the improvement can be explained by the proposed mechanism(s).

Limitations

Systematic reviews are inherently limited by the quality of the primary studies included. Our review was also limited by the quality of the meta-analyses that had summarized the primary studies. We identified the following specific limitations; (1) only 12 meta-analyses summarized primary studies that were exclusively intervention-based, (2) the lack of detail regarding control groups in the intervention meta-analyses, (3) cross-sectional and correlation-based meta-analyses by definition do not test causation, and therefore provide limited direct evidence of the efficacy of interventions, (4) the extensive array of performance measures even within a single meta-analysis, (5) the absence of mechanistic explanations for the observed effects, and (6) an absence of detail across intervention-based meta-analyses regarding number of sessions, participants’ motivation to participate, level of expertise, and how the intervention was delivered. To ameliorate these concerns, we included a quality rating for all included meta-analyses. Having created higher and lower quality groups using a median split of quality ratings, we showed that effects were larger, although not significantly so, in the higher quality group of meta-analyses, all of which were published since 2015.

Conclusions

Journals are full of studies that investigate relationships between psychological variables and sport performance. Since 1983, researchers have utilized meta-analytic methods to summarize these single studies, and the pace is accelerating, with six relevant meta-analyses published since 2020. Unquestionably, sport psychology and performance research is fraught with limitations related to unsophisticated experimental designs. In our aggregation of the effect size values, most were small-to-moderate in meaningfulness with a handful of large values. Whether these moderate and large values could be replicated using more sophisticated research designs is unknown. We encourage use of improved research designs, at the minimum the use of control conditions. Likewise, we encourage researchers to adhere to meta-analytic guidelines such as PRISMA and for journals to insist on such adherence as a prerequisite for the acceptance of reviews. Although such guidelines can appear as a ‘painting by numbers’ approach, while reviewing the meta-analyses, we encountered difficulty in assessing and finding pertinent information for our study characteristics and quality ratings. In conclusion, much research exists in the form of quantitative reviews of studies published since 1934, almost 100 years after the very first publication about sport psychology and performance [ 2 ]. Sport psychology is now truly global in terms of academic pursuits and professional practice and the need for best practice information plus a strong evidence base for the efficacy of interventions is paramount. We should strive as a profession to research and provide best practices to athletes and the general community of those seeking performance improvements.

Supporting information

S1 checklist..

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263408.s001

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the work of all academics since Koch in 1830 [ 2 ] for their efforts to research and promote the practice of applied sport psychology.

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Professional essay writing service

How to Choose the Best Sports Research Paper Topics for Your Academic Paper

If you’re a college student with a sports major and you need to write a research paper, we know the trouble you’re in. Since there are so many different athletic fields, finding the most suitable topic for your research can be quite challenging.

Here is the problem – the success of your research paper solely depends on the topic you choose.

Therefore, you need a great topic to get your creative juices going and set you on the right path toward writing a real masterpiece of a paper.

Many students resort to hiring a cheap research paper writing service to help identify top paper topics for any major and deliver notable academic works in a timely and affordable manner.

However, if you want to bear the fruits of your own labor, there are many different ways to recognize the best sports research topics for college students. Paper topics related to sports involve many different areas of unique activities.

Sports Research Paper Topics

Modern sport isn’t just a physical activity – it’s an entire philosophy and a way of life that provides people with a wide range of innovative leisure opportunities. This industry also offers solutions to many different cultural and social issues. With all this in mind, let’s see what you can do to ensure you choose the right paper topics.

How to Choose Sports Research Topics

The very first step you should take to ensure you write an interesting, attention-grabbing, factual, and engaging paper is to choose the right topic. Start zeroing in on your research topics by gathering all the information you can find on the issue. Use all available search engines, not just Google, to broaden your search for the hottest, up-to-date, most current topics in sports.

If you plan on using any facts or information from sources available online, you need to check that the data you gather is valid. That’s why we recommend using only the most trustworthy and reliable sources for research to identify the most relevant athletic topics.

Look for your information and facts by browsing the most trusted sources such as:

  • BBC Sports – The BBC is one of the most popular and reputable news networks in the world, and its Sports section is an excellent source for gathering top facts and relevant details regarding events dedicated to athletics, including the most recent events worldwide.

Simply visit their website, navigate the search results by typing the keywords like sports research topics and receive a list of the matching topics in chronological order, including news, reviews, and discussions in the industry and beyond. More importantly, BBC also offers insights into the most recent academic studies and research.

  • The Sport Journal – this is an excellent source for finding all sorts of interesting news, events, and topics focused on all kinds of sports in both the world and the USA. Published by the US Sports Academy, this is probably the best source for finding the most relevant topics in the USA.

In addition, the journal also deals with articles on the hottest topics that you can use as guidelines for identifying top sports related research paper topics for your paper.

  • Sportscience – a trustworthy and relevant source for finding all sorts of information, including statistics, research reports, articles, and more. It’s an excellent source for getting a few ideas on how to proceed with writing your paper, as you can find good sports research topics by filtering the content by topic and date.

Now that you have some clue on where to start your research, let’s move on to choosing good topics to make sure you avoid low grades, misinformation, and writer’s block. You can do that by following these key steps:

  • Use the internet search engines to come up with the most relevant and up-to-date sports topics at the moment. When you come up with an idea, check it on Google for controversy to avoid missing the point and ensure you address the main points of your topic.
  • Before choosing a topic, check how many available sources it has to ensure you find enough information, books, or articles for citation.
  • If you choose to write about sports psychology topics or testing substances on athletes, pay special attention to morals, research ethics, and dignity. These qualities are required by every tutor in Australia, the UK, and the USA and will help you avoid having to resit on the paper.
  • Put yourself in the athlete’s shoes and center your approach on people’s wellbeing, health, and safety. We understand that exploring the very limits of the human organism sounds quite interesting, but you’ll do much better if you go with topics such as writing an athlete’s guide to stay safe from injuries while participating in top-performance competitions. You may also consider nutrition research paper topics as some possible options to dwell on. This dynamic sphere is influenced by new approaches in dietary and supplement manufacturing, which is exceptionally important for athletes.

100+ sports research paper topics

Now that you have everything you need to choose a good sports-related topic for your paper, let’s look at some of the best paper topics related to athletics you should consider. These topics should be all the research paper assistance you need to write some of your finest academic work.

🧘Sports psychology research topics

  • How using neuro-linguistic programming can help athletes improve their results
  • Comparative analysis of aggression among qualified wrestlers and its expression in sports in general
  • Physiological and psychological aspects of doping in sports
  • Artistic gymnastics: Motivation and volitional regulation for young athletes
  • The importance of attention and concentration and their psychological characteristics among athletes in shooting sports
  • The most effective methods of psychological post-trauma recovery in athletes
  • Effective child-rearing styles for families of professional athletes
  • Women’s sports and psychology: Emotions and needs of women in female sports
  • Specific features of the psychological preparation of female teams in acrobatic gymnastics
  • Modern sports psychology on the ongoing issues related to gender studies
  • Muscle mass vs. neural system: What determines the strength of athletes?
  • The relation between stress and strict sports rules
  • The importance of team building techniques and team chants in team sports
  • The impact of motivation and willpower in athletic sports: What drives athletes to do better?
  • Sports and health disorders: Can people suffering from ADHD become successful athletes?

👨‍💼Sport management research topics

  • Key elements of building and managing a sports hub community for professional athletes
  • Sports and costs: Money-saving tips for athlete managers
  • Sports management for savvy managers: How to avoid costly services and facilities for athletes
  • Sports and community awareness: Reasons to attract sponsors and locals to your sports events
  • Dealing with the lack of funds for sports events: Identifying good opportunities for selling tickets
  • The importance of finding trustworthy donations, charity, sponsors, and other sources of funding for local sports events
  • What prevents women from achieving successful career development in sports industries?
  • The impact of climate change and global warming on sports and the future of sports
  • How to deal with the environmental issues of water sports
  • Talent acquisition for sports managers on a tight budget

💉Sports medicine research topics

  • Sports and health conditions: Should people with heart diseases practice sports?
  • Neutrophils in athletes: How sports activities impact people with neutrophils
  • Caffeine and athletic performance: Advantages and disadvantages
  • Can professional sports help improve the functional state of adolescents?
  • Ayurvedic drugs in sports medicine: The effects of drugs in the sports practice
  • Lethality throughout the history of the Olympic Games
  • Methods of assessment of heart rates in sports medicine: Detailed differences and similarities
  • How obesity and inactivity influence the health of people
  • Can yoga help women’s physical condition during menopause?
  • Respiratory functions of highly qualified athletes and their chronological features

🏃‍♀️Fitness research paper topics

  • Women with osteoporosis in sports: Can fitness therapy help improve bone density?
  • Aggressive behavior in teens in sports: The effect of fitness and physical exercise on aggressive teens
  • How outdoor physical activities can help athletes with depression
  • What are the critical risk factors associated with sprains in adult athletes?
  • Rehabilitation of adults with brain injuries: The most effective physical activities for faster recovery
  • How fitness practices help improve the stamina of athletes
  • Adrenaline in sports: Should athletes take adrenaline, and what are the risks associated with it?
  • Are sports associated with robust and swift character expressed by the majority of athletes?
  • How to use fitness exercise routines to evoke team spirit in athletes
  • Can fitness help former athletes deal with obesity issues?

🏈Football research paper topics

  • Top reasons why so many people mistake rugby for football: The history of the word football
  • The most effective methods of selecting top talent: In search of future champions
  • How football had evolved through centuries
  • Ancient Rome infantry and modern football tactics: Similarities and differences
  • Things athletes should know before they use football gear as an armor
  • Head concussions in football: Neurological disorders in mature football players
  • The art of cheerleading in American football
  • What happens if a football player injures another player: Accountability and liability of football players
  • What are the relations between football and endurance and stamina?
  • How popularity impacts the lives of football players: Is fame responsible for deteriorating performances of football players?

🍖Sports topics for research paper on nutrition

  • How nutritional support benefits young athletes and their sports efforts
  • The effect of proper sports nutrition in martial arts
  • How important is a balanced diet for weightlifters, and how to develop healthier eating habits?
  • Can rehydration with isotonic drinks give a boost to athletes at high physical exertion?
  • From training to competition to recovery: How proper nutrient support helps athletes at different stages of sports activities
  • Why sports clubs and fitness centers need proper sports nutrition and how to organize it
  • Top reasons why every athlete needs an individual nutritional program
  • Microelements in a sports diet: How safe are metal chelates?
  • Should curd whey be used in sports nutrition and how to use it?
  • Nutritional supplements in sports diet: Why athletes need specialized biologically active diet supplements

👨‍🏫Sports marketing research topics

  • How marketing and advertising can help increase ticket sales
  • Is it possible to earn through a sports association? What are the best techniques?
  • How to monetize the loyalty of fans and the role of thematic clubs in modern sports marketing
  • The importance of fan loyalty and social media presence in modern sports
  • Sports goods consumers and brand loyalty: The impact of female athletes in modern sports
  • How career goals and brand association intertwine and their role for young athletes
  • How specific should marketers be when developing sports marketing campaigns for different demographics?
  • Modernization and digitization of sports: The role of e-sports in today’s marketing
  • The impact of esports on the entire sports industry worldwide
  • Can virtual communities help modern sports marketers create more targeted marketing campaigns?

🏀Basketball research paper topics

  • The most important aspects of the history of basketball
  • Can basketball help an athlete improve physical health?
  • What is necessary to form a winning team of basketball players?
  • What is the best approach to create the most effective training programs for basketball players?
  • What is the role of the coach in the basketball team?
  • The analysis of relations between basketball coaches and scientists
  • What are the best tactical skills that every basketball coach should have?
  • How important is proper nutritional support for young basketball players?
  • The most common injuries in basketball and how to avoid them
  • Basketball and cardiovascular disease: Common risk factors associated with basketball players

⚽Soccer research paper topics

  • Soccer attack tactics: Different soccer attacking actions and their structures
  • The best psychological practices for training young soccer players
  • Common injuries in soccer and how to mitigate them
  • Ordinary training vs. soccer training: The main differences between the common injuries and their frequency
  • Is menstrual disorder related to the performance of female soccer players?
  • What is the best approach for technical training for female soccer players?
  • Main differences between male and female soccer players and training programs
  • Are male and female soccer players really that different?
  • The most recommended sports activities and exercises for training goalkeepers in soccer
  • The best therapies and treatments for soccer players in need of rehabilitation

🏋Athletic training research topics

  • What makes young athletes take dangerous selfies while practicing extreme sports?
  • Study on sports safety: The best safety practices for both active and inactive athletes
  • Why is it so important for active athletes to maintain regular hygiene
  • How avoiding taking frequent showers can negatively impact an athlete’s health
  • What is the relation between self-esteem and sports trophies?
  • Can trophies really motivate teens to become athletes?
  • The appearance and frequency of adrenaline junkies in sports
  • How to train stamina as an athlete and what determines it
  • Are there any relations between hyperactivity and sports?
  • The main differences between ordinary team members and team captains

🤼Exercise physiology research paper topics

  • Knee joint meniscus injuries: The best rehabilitation practices for athletes
  • Stroke patients and mirror therapy: The most prominent benefits
  • Whole grain diet in sports: Top health benefits and cardiovascular disease prevention
  • What are the effects of outdoor exercise and physical activities on former athletes with depression?
  • Should injured athletes consider pet therapy for improving interaction?
  • What are the health and psychological aspects of speed skating?
  • How caffeine affects the body and mind of athletes, and should they use it?
  • Bodybuilding and insulin usage: How to prevent the destruction of muscle fibers
  • Top reasons for athletes to consider healthy nutrition as a method of rehabilitation during increased physical activities
  • Preschool children and sports activities: The best practices for developing fine motor skills

🔎Interesting sports research paper topics

  • Disabled community in modern sports: The most recent developments for the disabled
  • Can exercise become an effective method of post-treatment therapy for injured athletes?
  • What are the best methods of contemporary dystrophy treatments for athletes?
  • Estrogen and exercise: What should females do to modulate their energy expenditure during extensive exercise?
  • Scientific research and evidence regarding the use of Phosphoproteomics
  • What are the most important intrinsic and extrinsic factors for proper skeletal muscle function in old athletes?
  • Aging and sports: The health of skeletal and microvasculature muscle
  • Coaching done right in 2021: Application and theory
  • What are the highest risk groups in sports?
  • Social aspects of team sports: Sociology and psychology of being a team member

We sincerely hope that this guide helps you identify the best research topics in sport. Taking sports majors is quite a challenge, but things become much easier with the right paper topic. Each of these topics is relevant at the moment and will resonate with a broad audience.

Make sure you do your research to gather facts from the most trusted sources to write a paper that people will remember. If you feel like you need some professional assistance and expertise in writing your sports paper, you can always contact us.

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140 Exciting Sports Research Topics You Can Investigate

Physical activities have taken deep root in the young generation. As a result, more and more students decide to study sport as a subject to learn all peculiarities in this field.

How to Make a Choice of Sports Topics for Research Paper

Sports subject has a wide range of topics to write about, and that’s why it might be challenging enough to pick up the specific one. Stick to the following flow to get the right issue for your paper.

  • Make the list of sports related research paper topics you are interested in.
  • Don’t pick up a topic that requires long-lasting and in-depth study. You can lose focus and go the wrong way.
  • Make sure your topics meet the assignment requirements.
  • Conduct initial research to find out how broad or narrow this topic is.
  • Consult with your academic advisor to get to know if the issue has any limits. He could advise you to narrow your scope or suggest some good ways to conduct your research in the right direction.
  • Make up your research questions and ensure that your questions are answerable.
  • Make a research plan.

How to Structure Your Paper in Sports?

Most non-expert students make mistakes by writing a research paper without adhering to the structure and setting a clear goal. Each research work should have a clear structure, making it understand and follow the main point better.

  • Introduction. The opening part explains why you have chosen this topic about sport.
  • Methods and Materials. In this section, you present what ways you used to fill the knowledge gaps.
  • Results. State objective outcomes and provide supportive data and statistics.
  • Discussion. This part interprets your results and answers the questions to fill your gaps in knowledge.
  • Conclusions. Bring all you mentioned above in your paper together and report what goals you have achieved by researching the current issue.

140 Interesting Sports Research Paper Topics to Draft an Academic Report

Sports management paper topics.

  • Risk Management in Doing Professional Sports
  • Leadership Approaches in Coaching
  • Ethics in Sports
  • The Role of Gender in Sports
  • How to Avoid Violence in Sports?
  • Coaching as a Male Occupation
  • Women in Coaching
  • Safety Issues in Sports
  • How to Prevent Steroids in Sports?
  • The Development of the Olympic Games
  • Ways to Manage Risks in Ice Hockey
  • Golf Industry and Its Development Today

These topics cover the basic questions in managing a sports career. Do you want to figure out the current sports issues like coaching, arguing about genders, and high risks? The list of controversial sports topics makes you investigate the subject you’re interested in.

Exciting Sports Science Research Topics

  • Doping Influence on Athletes’ Brains
  • What Is Neuroplasticity?
  • The Influence of Biological Age on Sports Achievements
  • Why Monitor Fatigue
  • Hydration Testing in Sports
  • Relative Age Effect
  • How to Develop Agility in Young Athletes
  • Sleep and Its Impact on Competition Outcomes
  • How Infographics Can Improve Coaching Skills
  • Tech Ways to Fight Doping in Sports
  • Innovative Ways to Train Power
  • Stamina Development in Young Football Players

Science is moving forward with seven-league steps, and sports is not outside this process. If you are willing to know all the scientific innovations in sports, it’s high time to compose a sports science paper.

Sports Schools Topics to Write About

  • Top 5 Sports Schools to Study
  • How to Enroll in a Sport School
  • Pros and Cons of Sports School
  • History of Cranbrook School
  • Outstanding Graduates of Sun Valley Community School
  • What to Choose: Sports School vs. State College
  • How Do Sports Schools Instil the Importance of Sports for Teenagers?
  • How to Choose the Best Sports School?
  • Discipline or High Grades: Values of Sports Colleges
  • Must-Have Sports Facilities for Every College Gym
  • Sports Institutions Build Character
  • Successful Athletes as Teacher in Sports Colleges
  • What a Sports School Teaches Young Sportsmen

Famous athletes are thankful for their success, not only hard work and a stubborn streak. Most of these sportsmen are graduates of sports schools. Instead of reading school reviews, you could write your own research paper.

Sports Research Topics on Basketball, Hockey, Football

  • History of Football
  • Why Do We Call Rugby “Football”?
  • Cheerleading as a Sport
  • Appropriate Age to Start a Career in Hockey
  • Hockey vs. Football: Which One is the Most Profitable?
  • Hockey Inventions We Use Every Day
  • The World’s Best Hockey Teams
  • Basketball Tactics: How to Win
  • The Most Brilliant Basketball Players Ever
  • Ice Hockey vs. Grass Hockey
  • Can Adults Start Playing Basketball and Succeed in It?
  • Football as a Lifestyle: Role of Sports on Social Mobility of the UK
  • Basketball Schools in the United States
  • The Moment When Basketball Became a Sports Topic for Essays

Some kinds of sports, like football and hockey, have become a huge part of our lives. The theoretical and athletic training research topics in basketball, football, and hockey will give you a clear understanding of their modern pace.

Fitness Research Paper Topics

  • Ways to Determine Strength
  • Fitness in Sports Centers Is More Effective Than Home Fitness
  • Peculiarities of Fitness for Middle-Aged People
  • The Importance of Daily Fitness Exercises
  • How Does Fitness Generate Willpower?
  • Strict Rules Cause Stress
  • Fitness Selfies and Safety
  • Up-to-Date Society: Fitness Industry Analysis
  • Why Can Multitasking Become a Barrier in Fitness Achievements?
  • Fitness Improves Mental Health: Myth or Reality?
  • Fitness as a Business
  • Hidden Benefits From Doing Home Fitness
  • Fitness Programs Created by Celebrities
  • How to Get Used to Sports?
  • Male and Female Fitness
  • Peculiarities of Fitness for Children

Fitness includes not only exercises to keep fit, but it also includes a scope of healthy diet principles and mental attitude to workouts. Want to support or contradict this idea? The range of sports argument essay topics will make your choice easier.

Topics About Sports Nutrition

  • The Significant Role of Nutrition in Sports
  • How Do High Carb Intake Impact Athletics Performance?
  • Ketogenic Diet for Sportsmen
  • How to Calculate Carb, Protein, and Fat for Healthy Diet
  • Does Protein Overconsumption Lead to Diseases?
  • Empty Stomach Cardio Reduces Fat Faster: Myth or Fact?
  • Why Do Athletes Need Cheat Meals?
  • Food You Should Eat for Cheat Meals
  • The Impact of Energy Drinks on Sports Performance
  • Why Investigate and Write the Benefits of Physical Activity and Healthy Nutrition Paper in Schools?
  • Simple and Complex Carbs: How to Distinguish
  • Balanced Diet Is a Key to High Sports Results
  • How Does Nutrition Influence Hormones in the Body?

What’s the necessary nutrition in sports? This question could be argued endlessly, and you can add your point of view in an argumentative topic sports paper. Every athlete knows that only the right balance between sports and nutrition gives a positive result and helps achieve success.

History Sports Research Topics for College Students

  • History of the Olympic Games
  • Sports in the Medieval Period
  • The Top 5 Important Sports Events in History
  • Sports in the USA: How Did It Establish?
  • The Great Female Coaches in History
  • Evolution of Baseball
  • History of Wrestling
  • The Top 10 Failed Football Games in History
  • The Best Male Bodybuilding Competitions
  • Sports Events That Became Movie Plots
  • The Youngest Winners in Ice Skating
  • Hockey History in Canada

Sports has a captivating flow of history. Picking up a sports presentation topic will immerse you in past events and teach what mistakes you might avoid in the cruel sports world.

Interesting Topics on Sports Psychology

  • Psychological Pressure on Athletes
  • Psychological Gender Problems in Gymnastics
  • How Does Neuro-Linguistic Programming Improve Sports Results?
  • Doping as a Result of Psychological Problems
  • Psychological Traumas and Their Consequences
  • Ways to Control Emotions in Sports
  • Psychological Motivation of Young Sportsmen
  • Psychological Aspects of Sports Trophies That Raise Self-Esteem
  • What Psychological Barriers Can a Young Athlete Have on His Way to Winning?
  • Ways to Avoid Psychological Pressure
  • Psychological Safety in the Team
  • Methods of Psychological Recovery

Being a sports team member or watching any sports movie, you can’t help but notice the inside psychological climate. Choosing and creating a draft on one of the essay topics about sports helps determine the necessity of psychological safety.

Research Topics on Sports Sociology

  • Sports as a Serious Career
  • What Causes Increased Sexual Activity in Athletes?
  • Transgender People in Sports: Who Should Be Their Competitors?
  • How Do Sports Prevent Juvenile Delinquency?
  • The Sports Impact on Academic Performance
  • Is Doing Sports a Tribal Behavior?
  • Sports Idol Is Better Than a Pop Star
  • Why Do Sports Discipline Us?
  • Sports as One of the Ways to Stay Socialized
  • Physical Education as a Mandatory Subject in Schools
  • Men and Women Perceive Sports Differently: Reasons
  • Popular Bias About Doing Sports

Even if you deal with sports activity as a leisure pastime, you might pick up one of the research topics in recreation and leisure and its impact on life’s social aspects.

Sports Marketing Research Ideas

  • How to Promote a Sports Event
  • Ways to Sell Sports Tickets Worldwide
  • Using Sports Data to Sell Facilities for Gym
  • The Most Expensive Items for Olympic Games
  • How to Attract People to a New Sports Center
  • How to Advertise Sports Events on Social Media
  • Products Banned to Advertise by Athletes
  • The Most Remarkable Sports Ads for the Last Two Decades
  • Football as a Money-Making Source
  • Motivational Sports Ads
  • The Most Successful Cases of Sports Marketing in the UK

Sporting activities have become a huge field for earning money. Investigating sports related research topics will help you realize how sports products and celebrities could become income-generating sources.

Medicine and Injuries in Sports

  • Methods to Help Recover After a Sports Trauma
  • Types of Injuries in Sports
  • How to prevent Athletic Varicose Disease?
  • Medicines Allowed in Sports
  • Consequences of Taking Painkillers
  • Pros and Cons of Caffeine
  • Yoga for Women’s Health
  • How Can Elastic Therapeutic Tape Treat Tennis Injuries?
  • Drugs Prohibited in Sports
  • Athletic Exercises Can Help to Overcome Asthma
  • Why Are Some Drugs Considered as Doping?
  • Is It Safe to Practice Sports With Heart Diseases?
  • Ways to Prevent Muscle Fatigue

Sports are connected with injuries, and it’s vital to know how to prevent or treat different kinds of injuries. If you are going to get involved in physical activities, you have to be aware of the medications you can take while practicing sports.

Since you have chosen a sports argumentative essay topic, you can start working on following a few certain steps:

  • Find and study all the background information.
  • Structure the data into several sections: introduction, methods and materials, results, discussion, and conclusions.
  • Start writing a research paper outline focusing on the main point. You might even start writing from the middle, for example, from methods and materials, or discussion proceeding from that.
  • Check and polish your paper to get rid of mistakes and typos.

Seems too tough? No need to rack your brain and surf the obscure corners of the Internet to find a sample essay for an exercise science research topic. Experts from  essay writing service   provide you with a unique research paper that meets all your requirements. We have a transparent working system: place your order, pay it, enjoy your time, and get your paper delivered on your email.

References:

  • How to Write a Research Paper on Sports
  • 5 Steps to Write a Sports Paper
  • Youth Injuries in Sports
  • Science of Sleep and Sports Performance
  • Drinking Energy Drinks While Doing Sports
  • Sports Among Children and Adults
  • Sports Betting Research

180 Sports Research Paper Topics

Published by Denis on March 1, 2021 March 1, 2021

Sports Research Paper Topics

Sports is a billion-dollar industry and, as such, attracts tons of research; performance, injury recovery, drugs use, the impact of game rules, funding, gender roles, and so on. Whether you are writing on sports, compare and contrast research paper topics for your academics, fun, or the money, good work will always attract attention because it could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

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Sports research papers look into several aspects of sports such as analyzing and exploring a range of topics related to competitions, athletics, and physical activities. The research papers provide critical analysis, uncover new insights and add to the existing knowledge in psychology, sports science, sociology, and other disciplines.

How to Write a Sports Research Paper

Sports research should be based on scientific research. Writing a sports research paper will no doubt be more engaging than other topics e.g., in humanities. You will need to identify your data sources, collect the data, analyze it, and make your deductions.

This means much of the investigation you do will be in handling data. You must be skilled in using both quantitative and qualitative data tools. The research must be solid because it will be scrutinized for accuracy and facts.

Have a quick timeline, and you are wondering who will help you write an essay fast? Don’t overthink, hire a research paper writer online  for undergraduate, graduate, master’s or PHD essays who will quickly and professionally complete your essay project.

How to Choose a Topic for a Sports Research Paper

  • Original topic – There are limitless opportunities for research into different sports, sportspeople’s performance, and other issues related to sports. It is much easier to pick an unexplored topic using our free essay title generator tool and write on it. You can also use our essay generator that will produce a quality plagairism free essay.
  • Revisit a topic – Topics such as the use of performance-enhancing drugs are always on the sports community’s radar. New research and evidence are still welcome to enforce or dispute theories in these topics.
  • Become a specialist – You can become an expert in your favorite sport by suggesting tweaks to the sport and other issues to make it more interesting.

Getting the right topic for the sports research paper sets a great foundation for your study. Your topic should align with your academic goals and interests. It should also be relevant and contribute to existing information by exploring new theories or addressing gaps in existing literature. This article covers brilliant sports research paper topics you can draw inspiration from.

Interesting Sports Research Paper Topics

There are interesting sports topics you can explore for your research, These topics are fun to research and find out more information about. They could involve the aspect of competition, athleticism, and human performances. They will help captivate the reader’s attention. They may include:

  • Research on the sports of basketball
  • A personal statement regarding skills and special qualifications or experiences
  • What should be the true definition of sports?
  • A discussion on the meaning of sports fandom
  • An analysis of the field of sportsmanship
  • Four possible reasons for student dropout in schools
  • What are the best ways to relieve stress in sports?
  • Insights on popular global sports events
  • Effective methods to reward an athlete after they perform excellently
  • How amateur athletes can avoid mistakes in sports
  • Bodybuilding as a sport
  • Relationship between academic work and sports performance among college students
  • What are the common stereotypes in sports?
  • How to find an effective hockey coach
  • How to deal with bad habits in young sports personalities

Controversial Sports Research Paper Topics

For the students that love controversial topics, this is your category. Controversial topics in sports research are quite interesting and can be eye-opening. They help you view things from a different perspective. Here are some of the controversial topics you can check out:

  • An analysis of the significance of sports and women in sports
  • Research on the violence in sports
  • Research on the most used sports media among black athletes in America
  • Research on the origins of the use of drugs in sports
  • The relationship between marijuana and alcohol use among male and female high school athletes
  • Gender equality in competitive sports: A history of the Title IX law
  • What is the relevance of sports during a pandemic?
  • What are the effects of participating in sports?
  • Should students get paid when playing for the school?
  • Essence of doping
  • Relevance of FIFA in the soccer world
  • What should be eliminated in the Olympics?
  • How trash talking can affect participants in a game
  • Do sports have any influence on mental health?
  • What role do sports play among the homeless youth?

Read more – Brilliant examples of research proposal topics .

Sports Marketing Research Paper Topic Ideas

These topics dive into the marketing world in the athletic and sports events context. The research topic analyzes the marketing strategies that different athletes, teams, and sports organizations engage to create strong brand identities and increase their revenue. These marketing topics discover the dynamic landscape where commercial endeavors and sporting events intersect.

  • Research on the Paragon Marketing Group, a marketing Group dealing with the industry of sports
  • The importance of a sports market research
  • How big data is used in sports marketing
  • What role does corporate sponsorship play in sports?
  • Exploring Nike’s marketing strategy
  • Research on marketing strategies involving football fans
  • NBA marketing strategies
  • How SMEs perform in sports marketing
  • How sports clubs and companies use social media to market themselves
  • Viral sports promotion
  • Marketing sports using sports celebrities
  • Strategies used in Superbowl advertisements and how effective they are
  • What is Greenwashing in sports advertising?
  • Examining the revenue sources in sports
  • Marketing budgets for big tournaments like the Commonwealth and Olympics games

Sports Psychology Research Topics

Another brilliant category of sports topics you could check out is psychology research topics. These topics inspect the various aspects of psychology in sports such as mental well-being, motivation, and performance. The topics also examine the relationship between sports and the human mind. By looking at these topics, researchers can help improve mental health and enhance performance. Here are some examples:

  • An analysis of a research paper on sports and aggression
  • An introduction to sports psychology; self confidence in sports activity
  • A comparison of the presence of aggression and violence in modern sporting and ancient Greece and Roman sports
  • Understanding sport psychology
  • An introduction to the issue of violence in sports and aggressive behaviors in people
  • Social issues and aggression that lead to violence in sports
  • Why is sports known as a means of relaxing?
  • Social aspects affecting sports participation
  • How is your mind affected by prolonged training sessions?
  • What demoralizes players?
  • How do sportspeople overcome the training stress?
  • How psyching up will affect team performance
  • Mental health assessment in sportsmen
  • How clinical sessions and counseling affect athletes
  • Do modern gender studies affect sports psychology?

Sports Medicine Research Topics

Sports medicine research topics examine medicine aspects as covered in sports. That could include injuries and how to handle them in sports. Among the topics you can check out include:

  • A research literature on the epidemiology of sports-related injuries
  • An exploration of the topic of embryonic stem cell research opportunities in sports performance enhancement (SCR)
  • A discussion of the effects of various products of sports medicine
  • Is keto recommended for athletes?
  • What are some safety issues involved in scuba diving?
  • Understanding knee injuries in sports
  • Significance of caffeine in athletics
  • Kinesiology of bowling
  • Consequences of using steroids in athletes
  • What happens when athletes dope their bodies?
  • Are drug tests really necessary?
  • How to measure torque development rate
  • How does clothing affect an athlete’s performance?
  • BMI’s role in sports
  • Physiotherapy in sports

Argumentative Essay Topics for a Sports Research Paper

These are essay topics that support and implore specific positions in sports. They could involve economic, social, and political aspects in sports. Sports help students remain physically and mentally fit. However, there have been lots of controversies in sports. These are some of the argumentative essay topics you can research on:

  • A comparison between girls’ sports and boys’ sports
  • Rugby vs football; the true sport of men and the sport of want-to-be men
  • A research study on the relationship between professional sports and community relations
  • A study on the performance of the major league baseball and the National Football League in relation to the condition of Jet lag
  • An introduction and a summary of three of the four highest-rated possible reasons for student dropout
  • Do clubs aid in fights?
  • Are card games a sport?
  • Should women participate in bodybuilding?
  • Players should receive ad royalties from sponsors
  • Relevance of press conferences in sports
  • Can every great sportsman make a good coach?
  • Men’s boxing is more important compared to female’s boxing
  • Understanding why the first move is the most important in chess
  • Should there be strict dress codes in NBA?
  • How does religion impact sporting activities in a country?

Good Sports Research Topics

These are brilliant topics you can pick to cover in your research. They are general topics that cover various aspects of life in the sports realm. Below are some examples:

  • Research on the sport of snowboarding
  • Research on the sport of bass fishing
  • Tendinopathies review physiotherapy
  • A research paper on sports’ role in making fans aggressive
  • Research on the misconception of children playing contact sports
  • A study on the consumption modes of fantasy football participants
  • The benefits of participation in sports and activities
  • Research on the identification and measurement of variables
  • An analysis of the aims and objectives, funding, facilities, and staffing of the New York City sport connection
  • How teams can increase reactions in their players
  • How do sporting activities affect internal organ functioning?
  • Are sports and nationalism connected in any way?
  • Exploring a sportsman’s life after they retire
  • How do professional and amateur sports differ?
  • What role does self-esteem play in an athlete’s life?

Sports Management Research Topics

These are basically research topics that cover how one can manage their training or body in sports. It is a wide category in that it covers even how other firms and clubs manage all their sporting activities. Example topics may include:

  • A career report on physical therapists and their specializations
  • A research project for the upgrading of an existing sports facility
  • Research on the proper accounting for sports teams
  • An analysis of the physical activity promotion and school physical education
  • Research on the effects of the conduct of individuals in sporting experience
  • The relation between the Wingate tests score of an individual and their performance in sports
  • What is the role of sports news media firms?
  • How can we enhance random drug testing?
  • What skills are required in sports management duties?
  • Understanding the importance of the chemistry between players and the coach
  • How external interference affects the sports team management
  • How do self-centered team captains affect the team?
  • Can corporate sponsorship affect the team’s performance negatively?
  • Is a sports management degree important?

Sports Nutrition Research Topics

Sports nutrition topics major on the nutrition issues affecting and impacting athlete’s lives. These could be how they should eat, their energy needs, nutrition plans, and the relevance of macro- or micro-nutrients. Below are some examples you can consider:

  • Study on the use of anabolic steroids in sports
  • What are the energy needs of an athlete?
  • How does casein protein affect sportsmen’s bodies?
  • Impact of dietary supplements on athletes
  • Nutrition plans necessary for muscle gain
  • How can athletes improve bone health through diet?
  • What role do macro- and micro-nutrients play in sports?
  • Why should athletes have fluid balance?
  • Role of amino acid in body building a sportsperson
  • Why should coaches interact more with nutritionists?
  • Can you achieve fat reduction after cardio sports on an empty stomach?
  • How functional nutrition affects martial arts
  • Is nutrition knowledge essential to sportsmen?
  • Elements of a balanced diet and how relevant is it to sports nutrition
  • Impact of isotonic drinks for rehydration after working out

Sports History Research Paper Topics

The research topics cover everything to do with the history and culture of a given sport. If you love finding out more about how a sport came to be, these are some of the topics to consider:

  • An analysis of the sport of volleyball in the sports history
  • A short research about deviance in sports from this and Coakley’s works
  • A description of the history and the different styles of wrestling
  • A history of racquetball an indoor sport
  • A summary of the history of American sports from 1865 to the current date
  • Paralympic games history
  • Insights on the most enchanting football matches in soccer history
  • How did hockey grow and thrive in the USA?
  • Evaluation of banned ritual sports across the world
  • How has athletics changed in the last decade?
  • Why did the most successful PR sports marketing campaign happen in the 1980s in the US?
  • What impact does the Olympic games have on global sports culture?
  • New sports incorporated into the world of sports in the last decade
  • Are countries more invested in sports successful compared to those that are not?
  • The most memorable world cup competition

Sports Theory Research Paper Topics

Sports is a dynamic world where coaches and athletes constantly seek to understand the factors and principles contributing to athletic success and performance. Excellence in sports is not all about physical prowess but also involves effective team dynamics, psychological resilience, and strategic thinking. Here are examples of sports theory research topics:

  • A research on the fit and fun sports complex
  • A description of sports as a mixed form of communication
  • An analysis of the specializations of physical therapists
  • The beneficial impact of sports on collective and individual growth of humans
  • An annotated bibliography on the effects of physical education on self-esteem
  • How coordination varies between different genders
  • Peculiar nature of training programs for kids
  • Cultural identity of sports in the south-east Asian countries
  • Comparing different types of athletes
  • Impact of long interval and short interval training schemes
  • Unique approaches in team sports training programs
  • How effective is stretching on high jump performance?
  • Role of technology in sporting events

Sports Sociology Research Paper Topics

Beyond competition and physical activity, sports also have implications for cultural, social, and psychological dynamics. Sports sociology explores the relationship between society and sports and sports as a social phenomenon. Below are example topics you can explore:

  • A research on sports in society
  • Research on the influence of gender in sports in American society
  • Research on the changes brought by Title IX on sports and society
  • Fighting the stereotypes leveled against MMA sportsmen
  • Identifying the major players in the Golf ball industry
  • Is sports a tribal behavior?
  • Examining the role of societal pressure with regards to sports
  • Discussing whether sports is a reasonable career
  • Can college athletes shape the social consciousness landscape?
  • Transgender women in sports
  • How does sports promote global peace?
  • Academic performance and sports
  •  Can sports impact body shaming?
  • Athletes as role models

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Sports Research Paper

You want your writing to be perfect. Picking a good topic is a step closer to a good research paper. Avoiding the following mistakes when writing your sports research paper to prevent impediments in your grade.

1. Picking a broad topic

When you choose a topic, stay away from the broad ones as they are usually either too vague or not specific. Such topics do not result in good papers. A precise topic will help you organize all the information you need for the paper easily. It will also give the reader an easy time understanding your points.

2. Not having a clear outline

A chaotic structure will mess up your research paper. Before you submit it, ensure that your research paper has a clear structure. The sections that you should have included an introduction where you are required to state your research problem, methods where you will indicate how you plan to gather data to help you answer your research question. It should have a results section where you will explain your observation. You should have a section on discussion too, and here you are expected to interpret your observations.

The sports industry will always attract a vast audience. Writing sports research paper topics is an opportunity to make a mark in your favorite sports factually and accurately based on sound research.

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Top 100 sports research paper topics.

November 19, 2020

Sports Research Paper Topics

More often than not, students invite the opportunity to create their own sports research paper topics when their teachers set simple parameters and give students a wealth of freedom. The irony, however, is that a lot of students freeze up when trying to develop a topic about sports that pushes the envelope while staying manageable given time restraints and availability of resources.

We have a group of expert academics that work around the clock to create fresh lists of sports topics. Since the world of sports changes constantly across several areas, we make sure we have the latest sports research paper topic ideas for students to choose from. Check out our list below or take a look at social issues topics :

Simple Sports Essay Topics for Any Level

  • Can Tiger Woods win another major considering the field of competition?
  • Why isn’t professional soccer considered a major sport in the United States?
  • Should championship wins during the global pandemic come with asterisks?
  • Should high school players bypass college to join an AAU league?
  • Should baseball get rid of the Designated Hitter Rule in the American League?

Hot Topics in Sports for Any Educational Level

  • How effective are the current methods to find instances of PED use in sports?
  • Should players have the right to protest peacefully by taking a knee?
  • Should the NCAA get rid of the collegiate one-and-done rule?
  • Has LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan as the Greatest of All Time?
  • Who has been a more dominant professional hockey player? Crosby or Ovechkin?

Controversial Sports Topics for College Students

  • Should professional athletes use their platform to talk about social issues?
  • Is the NFL over protecting offenses because of the risks of head trauma?
  • Should the current College Football Playoff format expand to include more teams?
  • What is the major league record to be less likely to be broken across all sports?
  • Should we remove instant replay from professional sports?

Sports Management Topics for Graduate Students

  • How should sports agents approach negotiations for clients that decided to skip playing in 2020?
  • Should agents be allowed to talk to other teams while their players are under contract?
  • How can Canadian taxes be used to fund professional teams in the NHL?
  • What does it mean for sports as more female coaches are hired to professional male teams?
  • What risk issues must general managers consider when signing older athletes?

Argumentative Topics Sports for High School Courses

  • Should parents allow their children to play in high-impact sports?
  • What are the most effective leadership approaches for high school coaches?
  • What impact do violent sports have on the psychological development of teenagers?
  • Should professional female athletes be paid the same as their male counterparts?
  • Is it better to win an Olympic Gold Medal in a team sport or a professional league’s championship in that same sport?

Sports Sociology Topics for High School Courses

  • How do team sports create a sense of community among high school athletes?
  • Do young adults reveal a part of human instincts by playing in organized sports?
  • Do males and females perceive sports differently?
  • Is it reasonable to encourage young athletes to pursue professional sports careers?
  • Are young student-athletes at greater risk of performing poorly at school?

Sports Law Topics for Graduate Students

  • Should players that decide to not play during the pandemic get paid?
  • Should student-athletes maintain all rights to their likenesses and profit from them?
  • In what way have American Disability Laws been applied to sports programs?
  • What responsibilities does the training staff have to warn players of injury risk?
  • Are professional athletes permitted from seeking independent medical advice?

Sports Medicine Topics for College Students

  • Does yoga measurably impact a player’s flexibility and performance?
  • What are the positive and negative effects of drinking caffeine while exercising?
  • How do different assessments of heart rates influence training programs?
  • How are injuries different for bodybuilders, powerlifters, and weightlifters?
  • Why are turf-related injury rates increasing for collegiate and professional football players?

Sports Debate Topics for High School Students

  • What are the major arguments against return-to-play rules in the NCAA?
  • Is it legal to test athletes for drug use randomly?
  • What have been the most significant acts of retaliation towards Title IX complaints?
  • What is better for performance training? Short intervals or long intervals?
  • Should coaches work closely with medical staff to ensure player safety?

Topics in Sports Psychology for College Students

  • How did playing in the NBA bubble during the Covide-19 pandemic affect athletes?
  • How do athletes in shooting sports improve their abilities to concentrate?
  • Do professional athletes raise their children differently?
  • How do athletes recover psychology after experiencing physical or mental trauma?
  • How different are the psychological needs of women in professional female sports?

Sports Persuasive Essay Topics for College Students

  • Do you think colleges that do not regulate student-athlete activities should be penalized?
  • Should more females be encouraged to take up a sport in high school and college?
  • Should females be allowed to head refereeing staff if they have the qualifications?
  • Do you think it is okay to require student-athletes to submit to weekly drug tests?
  • Should more women be featured on sports magazine covers without posing for sexual attention?

Good Sports Research Topics for a Quick Project

  • Are the Summer Olympics better than the Winter Olympics?
  • How important are the Olympics for a nation’s economy?
  • What steps will the International Olympic Committee take to prevent Covid-19 spread if no vaccine is widely available?
  • Should the U.S. look towards the NBA’s Bubble as a framework to hold future seasons in other sports?
  • How important is the 2020 Presidential Election to the future of sports in the United States?

Sports Nutrition Topics for College Students

  • How can athletes boost performance by adopting the right nutrition for their bodies?
  • Is sports nutrition a veritable and reputable sub-field in the area of healthy eating?
  • Should non-athletes adopt sports nutrition as a way to gain muscle and lose weight?
  • What have been the most effective sports nutrition strategies in the last 20 years?
  • Should sports nutrition be taught at the high school level?

Sports Speech Topics for a Presentation

  • How important are cardio activities like cycling and jogging to weight loss?
  • Should athletes aim to build more lean muscle to prevent injuries?
  • Why is it important that coaches nurture a relationship with their athletes?
  • What are the most important skills for a hockey head coach to have?
  • Should e-sports be considered a professional sport or stay a video game competition?

Sports Informative Speech Topics

  • Should paintball be considered a hunting sport or is it just a recreational activity?
  • What impact did the Korean Baseball Organization have on U.S. sports?
  • What are the best systems for developing custom training programs for runners?
  • Should head coaches listen to scientists more when working on training programs?
  • Does our method for testing athletes PED catch all those who are guilty?

Great Sports Ethics Topics for College

  • Is it ethical to use PEDs if others in the league use them?
  • Is the training staff ethically obliged to report players that violate PED use?
  • Is it ethical to prevent foreign players from joining their teams in international competition?
  • Is it ethical to gamble on sporting events while one is still an active player or coach?
  • Should cultural sports that harm animals (e.g., bullfighting) be banned?

More Controversial Topics in Sports

  • What led to the Bulls’ 90s success and Lakers’ 2000s success? Was it coaching or playing?
  • Who is considered the biggest “bust” in NBA sports history?
  • How should the media handle steroid use by players up for the HOF induction?
  • Do the rules of soccer need to be changed to attract more fans in the U.S.?
  • Can the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team win the World Cup within the next 2 decades?

More Sports Psychology Topics

  • What role does self-motivation play in an athlete’s performance?
  • What methods do professional players follow to maintain calm during pressure situations?
  • How important is it for professional athletes to regularly see psychologists?
  • What can coaches do to develop self-confidence in his or her players?
  • What does good sportsmanship do for a player’s self-esteem?

More Sports Psychology Research Topics

  • What role does meditation play in achieving success in sports?
  • How has Covid-19 affected athletes’ mental health?
  • What does increased wealth do a player’s personality?
  • What effect does losing have on a player’s psychology?
  • How does the media change the way players act on camera?

More Sports Persuasive Speech Topics

  • Should female coaches be paid the same amount of money as their male counterparts?
  • How can students receive compensation for suffering a sports-related injury?
  • Should universities raise educational requirements for student-athletes on scholarships?
  • Should universities provide basic injury insurance for their student-athletes?
  • Should colleges and universities make cheerleading uniforms less revealing?

Creating great sports research paper topics is not a skill that comes easily to every student. That’s why we’ve created this blog to assist students to develop top-notch sports research topics that generate readers’ interests and earn the highest grades in class. If you need custom-made sports argument essay topics that cover areas we have not included in this list, you can always contact customer support and get research paper help in no time. Sports topics to write about isn’t the only discipline with which we can help. Let us know what you need and we’ll do the rest.

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Sports Research Paper Topics and Ideas

Sports research paper topics

Research paper topics on sport, huh! The mere mention of sports research papers elicits biological reactions that can turn out good or bad. Sports is a global culture that connects people from diverse backgrounds.

If you are lucky enough to have a chance to study sports science or any related program, you will at some point be required to write an essay or a research paper on a unique sports topic. It could be on football, athletics, basketball, Superbowl, Hokey, Skating, Olympics, or Commonwealth Games, you name it.

But as you might have noticed, sport is a multidisciplinary field. While it is just every physical activity that everyone does, sports has a unique role in the society and on a personal level.

It is easy to underestimate this article, but prior to writing it we had questions like I am stuck with my 1000 words essay on sports, what I write on? Another one was, So I have a research paper due that can be about anything I want. I've been wanting to do one on the NBA, so do you guys have any academic topics I can write about the NBA?

The trauma of choosing a great sports research paper topic or a sports essay topic is too much. Now, let's get the pressure of your chest by sharing an up to date list of topics for your research paper or essay.

Why Trust our Research Paper Topics List

We have picked and listed some of the best research paper topics for your sports assignments or homework. Here are some reasons to trust us:

  • Our team of expert sports writers has handled hundreds of sports essays, term papers, and research papers.
  • Some of us are experts in sports science attached to some of the best local and international teams.
  • We understand what topics are great for college students.
  • Our website helps many students generate fresh sports research paper topic ideas : we help you brainstorm.
  • We are lovers of sports, specifically football and sometimes our free time and lunch are spent discussing sports.

Now, you can go on and trust our best pick sports research topics for college students. In this list, you will find topics relating to sports science, sports medicine, and softball, sports psychology, hokey, Jokey, chess, football, sports marketing, sport management, and many more. This is an invitation already to get things started.

Doping Research Paper Topics and Ideas for College Students

  • The ethics of doping among athletes?
  • Consequences of steroids used in doping.
  • Role of athletes in preventing Doping.
  • The role of Doping Control Officers.
  • Is the mandatory testing of drugs during a competition fair?
  • The World Anti-Doping Code.
  • Doping and sports functionality.
  • WADA drug testing procedures.
  • The Anti-doping rules
  • Pros and Cons of Performance-Enhancing Drugs
  • Is doping necessary?
  • Controlled doping.
  • Doping cases in cycling races.
  • Risks of doping on athletes.
  • Explore a recent doping case including the impacts it had on the sports personality.
  • Methods used to detect anabolic steroids used in doping in sports.
  • The role of athletes and sport managers in controlling doping.
  • The anti-doping fund and its significance in the sports industry.
  • What substances or methods (banned and permitted) are more common in endurance sports?
  • Specifically, what substances or methods (banned and permitted) enhance oxygen transfer?
  • What is known about the health risks of banned substances or methods that enhance oxygen transfer (i.e. EPO, blood transfusion)?
  • What substances or methods (banned and permitted) mask fatigue or assist alertness?
  • What is known about the health risks of banned substances or methods that mask fatigue or assist alertness?
  • What substances or methods (banned and permitted) are more common in strength/power sports?
  • Specifically, what substances or methods (banned and permitted) enhance muscle growth, repair or recovery?
  • What is known about the health risks of banned substances or methods that enhance muscle growth, repair or recovery (i.e. anabolic steroids, human growth hormone)?
  • What substances or methods (banned and permitted) are more common in sports with weight categories (i.e. Boxing, Judo)?
  • What is known about the health risks of diuretics, clenbuterol (beta2agonist)?
  • Of the three criteria, WADA use to assess substances and methods, which is the most important? Which is the most difficult to define?
  • What is meant by �the Spirit of Sport'? Other than deliberate doping, what else might contravene the Spirit of Sport?
  • Do you agree with the WADA criteria? What else do you think should be considered?
  • Only two of the three criteria need to be met for a substance or method to be placed on the banned list. Do you support this approach?

Related: Creative topics for college research papers (general).

Sports Marketing Research Paper Topic Ideas

  • Explore the role of corporate sponsorship in sports
  • Use of big data in sports marketing
  • Marketing strategies that engage football fans.
  • Nike's marketing strategy.
  • How female athletes affect brand loyalty of sports goods consumers.
  • The use of social media in sports marketing.
  • Can SMEs thrive through sports marketing?
  • Marketing mix in sports.
  • NBA marketing strategies.
  • Marketing Budgets for International Sports such as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
  • Viral sports promotion.
  • Greenwashing in sports advertising.
  • Sources of revenue in sports apart from tickets.
  • Using digital media to market local sports.
  • Banned Sports Ads, why?
  • Sports celebrities and marketing of food substances.
  • Effectiveness of Strategies used by Superbowl in advertisements.

Cricket Research Paper Topics

  • Impacts of cricket on softball sports.
  • History of cricket.
  • Cricket is better than football?
  • Are the best cricket players from India?
  • Hawk-eye complex in cricket matches.
  • Do cricket players get injuries? What are some of the injuries?
  • Protective equipment when playing cricket.
  • Explaining cricket game rules.
  • A descriptive essay on how cricket is played.
  • Tactics and techniques to win a cricket match
  • Do cricket fans follow it religiously like football?
  • Eye and Head injuries when playing and training for Cricket.
  • Who holds the current cricket world championship?

Argumentative Essay Topics for a Sports Research Paper

  • Is chess a sport?
  • Are sprinters of Jamaica the first in Athletics World Championships and the Olympic games?
  • Sports is the best stress relief for both players and fans.
  • Is Michael Jordan everyone's role model?
  • Should the world cup be gendered?
  • NBA needs to have stricter dress code rules.
  • Is FIFA competent in managing sports globally?
  • Should Major League baseball be outlawed?
  • Sporting injuries negatively impact stress management
  • Stress affects the performance of athletes.
  • Should college athletes be paid?
  • Trauma in sports can have a lifelong impact on psychological, physical, and emotional progress in children.
  • Should fast-food advertising in sports be banned?
  • Sport is a unifying factor
  • Gambling should be legalized
  • Should kids be forced on what sports to love or adopt?
  • Should transgender people choose where to participate in sports?
  • Ice Hockey has high chances of injuries.
  • Extreme sports requires psychological preparedness.
  • Do clubs help athletes and sportspeople?
  • Betting on sports depends on match-fixing
  • Betting is unethical
  • Players should receive royalties from sponsors
  • Should men and women in sports get the same salary?

Tennis Research Paper Topics

  • Tennis is both a mind and a physical game.
  • Is Serena Williams the best Tennis Player ever lived?
  • The best approach to training tennis to young children.
  • Impacts of mental and emotional training on tennis players.
  • Management of competitive pressures among tennis players.
  • Strategies to win a tennis tournament.
  • Describe your best Tennis player.
  • Compare double and single tennis matches
  • The role of elastic therapeutic tape in treating common tennis injuries
  • The common types of injuries and complications for tennis players
  • Personal traits of the best tennis player
  • History of table tennis
  • A profile essay on Serena Williams
  • A profile essay on Althea Gibson
  • Mechanics of tennis
  • Types of tennis
  • Describe the game of tennis
  • What equipment do tennis players use?
  • Describe the normal training schedule and scope for a tennis player.
  • Analyzing game dynamics in Tennis
  • Role of technology in tennis matches
  • The best life lessons from tennis players
  • The World Tennis Association
  • Is indoor tennis a different game?
  • Tennis is largely dominated by women, explain?
  • Allison Riske as a tennis star
  • Autobiography of Irwin Homes
  • The best tennis tournament
  • Indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a comparison essay.
  • Is Cori Coco Gauff the Heir Apparent to Serena William's Throne?
  • Impacts of coaching programs on tennis.
  • Analysis of the Backhand stroke in tennis.
  • Serena Williams Biography.
  • Australian Open- is it the best tennis tournament?

Sports Medicine Research Paper

  • Impacts of swimming on endurance and balance among athletes.
  • Is Keto Diet the best for athletes.
  • Significance of Caffeine among athletes.
  • Effects of sports practice on people with heart disease.
  • Is the 1.59 INEOS challenge physiologically viable?
  • Impacts of doping on athletes' bodies.
  • The kinesiology of bowling.
  • Common knee injuries in sports
  • Muscle strains- prevention, treatment, and causes.
  • Is the ironman challenge detrimental to competing athletes?
  • Health impacts of Triathlon and Duathlon games.
  • Safety issues in scuba diving.
  • Consequences of steroid use among athletes
  • Anatomy of the heart of a sports person.
  • How important is an ACSM Certification in today's sports medicine world?
  • Training hip flexor for sprinting.
  • Is HRV an accurate tool to quantify training load in athletes?
  • Effects of carbohydrate loading before a sports competition?
  • Why are drug tests necessary for athletes?
  • Good strategies to measure torque development rate in athletes
  • Role of BMI in sports
  • Impacts of stretching on muscles
  • How to build endurance and resistance among athletes
  • Use of the Kinesio-Taping in Olympic Games
  • Impacts of clothing on sports performance
  • Can lightweight outdoor clothing prevent hypothermia for low-intensity training exercises?
  • The heart rate of female referees is always lower than males in basketball matches, explain.
  • Can NASM CORRECTIVE EXERCISES CONTINUUM prevent sport injury?
  • Does meniscus injury symptoms decrease after ACL reconstruction?
  • ACL protocol guidelines for rehabilitation for better recovery
  • Low laser therapy in muscle performance
  • Methods to assess recovery after intensive sports competition
  • Recovery protocols among trained and elite athletes
  • Impacts of cycling on the body anatomy of professional cyclists
  • Physiotherapy in sports
  • Health screening procedures for elite athletes
  • Significance of analyzing ACTH and Cortisol ration in sports
  • Fat intake in acyclic or team sports
  • Exercise-induced acidosis
  • Physical exercise and bone geometry
  • Does secondary amenorrhea jeopardize the physical and mental health of young healthy female athletes?
  • Are there long-term consequences of repeated brachial plexus injuries (e.g. "stingers") that occur during contact sports (e.g. football and rugby)?
  • Measuring hamstring performance
  • Roles of team doctor in clubs
  • Use of Ayurvedic drugs in sports medicine
  • Causes of deaths in sports competitions such as football and Olympics

Topics on Sports Injuries for Essays and Research Papers

  • Use of technology in diagnosis, treatment, and management of sports injuries.
  • Types of injuries encountered by bodybuilders, powerlifters, and weightlifters.
  • Common injuries in football fields.
  • Hamstring injuries- causes, prevention, and management.
  • The impacts of psychological strengths on recovery by athletes.
  • Treatment of injuries in children and youths in sports.
  • First aid strategies for sports
  • The use of therapeutic tape in sports
  • Consequences of overtraining
  • Brain concussions in sports
  • Role of helmets and protective gear in sports
  • Athletic varicose disease
  • Fatigue in sports, causes, and consequences
  • Treating chronic and acute strains in athletes
  • Sudden deaths in sports
  • Acute pathologic conditions among athletes
  • Dislocations in sports
  • Chest and breast traumas in sports

Sports Psychology Paper Topics

  • Psychology of women in sports
  • Do team chant help in boosting morale?
  • The concept of adrenaline junkies in sports
  • Hygiene in sports- what are some of the best practices?
  • ADHD in sports
  • Selfies craze in sports
  • Do sports trophies impact self-esteem?
  • Use of neurolinguistics programming in sports.
  • Psychological impacts of drugs in sports.
  • The role of sports psychologists in the training athletes.
  • Yoga and meditation in sports.
  • Mental health issues in sports.
  • Gender-based issues in contemporary sports
  • Benefits of psychological preparation for sportspeople
  • The motivation of female and male athletes
  • Aggression in sports
  • The psychological causes of football hooliganism
  • Mental impacts of losing much competition
  • How coaches develop self-confidence in college athletes
  • Assessing the psychological wellbeing of a player by their actions in the field.
  • Causes of aggression and violence among the fans.
  • The psychology of referees.
  • Impacts of low-motivation and confidence on sportspeople
  • Impacts of fans on sports performance
  • Distractions that hinder the full performance of athletes
  • Career pathway of a sports psychologist
  • Characteristics of sportspeople participating in extreme sports
  • Physiological and psychological impacts of doping.
  • The parenting styles of sports personalities.
  • Life-work balance for athletes.

Related Articles: Good psychology topics for research papers.

Sports Nutrition Research Paper Topics

  • Impacts of energy drinks on athletes.
  • Athlete-centered nutritional plans in sports.
  • Consequences of carbohydrate loading in sports.
  • Use of supplements and steroids by bodybuilders
  • Essential nutrients required for optimal performance in sports
  • Collaboration between coaches and nutritionists
  • Benefits of Vitamin D in Sport Nutrition
  • Performance Nutrition for Young Athletes
  • Whey proteins
  • Encouraging healthy eating habits among athletes
  • Meal plans for athletes participating in extreme sports
  • Role of microelements in sports nutrition
  • Use of protein isolate in sports nutrition
  • Hydration among sportsmen
  • Weight management among athletes
  • The Global Sports Nutrition Market
  • Ornithine, Arginine, and Citrulline in Exercise and Sports Nutrition
  • Best recovery nutritional plan for athletes
  • Short-term changes in dietary fats in duathlon and triathlon competitors
  • Caffeine and creatinine use in sports
  • Best foods for athletes
  • Glycemic Index, Food Exchange Values, and Exercise Performance
  • Are bananas a good source of energy for athletes?
  • Pre-exercise eating among athletes
  • Is vegetarianism the best approach for athletes and other sportspeople?
  • Intermittent fasting among athletes
  • Ketogenic dieting among athletes
  • History of Sports Nutrition Beverages
  • Pros and cons of paleo diet for athletes
  • Efficacy of L-glutamine supplement on sports training and athletes
  • Food matrix and synergic effect for exercise performance
  • Benefits of the "Paleo" diet for health and performance.
  • effects of diet on elite athletes' sports performance
  • Best dietary approach for female athletes
  • The best way of measuring fatty acid oxidation rate in athletes
  • Is the effectiveness of caffeine reduced when combined with carbohydrates?
  • How does resting metabolic rate change with different diets?
  • Negative effects of (chocolate) milk intake for recovery reasons after endurance exercise
  • Does a carbohydrate-protein beverage (CHO-P) improve endurance performance compared with a commercial sports beverage?
  • Prevalence of use of dietary supplements among athletes
  • Estrogen from Soy Protein
  • Why do athletes have to go through a diarrhea stage when they gain maximum fitness?

Sports Theory Research Paper Topics for College and University Students

basket ball star

  • Types of athletes : a comparative analysis
  • Describe a peloton in cycling
  • Coordination and Control in sports
  • Football formations and their significance
  • Nordic walking : biomechanics and comparison to normal walking.
  • Scientific research and its role in sports.
  • Nutritionists as a key part of sports performance.
  • Endurance, Resistance, and Flexibility training for athletes.
  • Drug testing policies.
  • Drug testing bodies.
  • Explore team sports.
  • Short-term and Long-term training in sports.
  • Anatomy of different sportsmen
  • Gladiators and Rome: how did rules and staging affect gladiatorial games in ancient Rome?
  • Stretching and sports performance
  • Winners, Losers & Famous athletes: why was athletic fame important to the Greeks and Romans?
  • Cultural identity and the role of sports in Asian countries
  • Sports as a culture
  • Understanding the role of technology in sports
  • Sports as a nationalism element
  • Sociological basis of sports
  • The economic significance of sports
  • Should The NBA Shorten Its Regular Season?
  • Sport in Greek Society: why did the Greeks place such a high value on athletics?
  • Homer and Sport: how does Homer portray Sport and its importance in his epic poems?
  • Ancient Olympia: how were festival games and religion interconnected?
  •   Women and Sport: what role was there for women (esp. Spartan women) in ancient sports

Sports Management Topics

  • Promoting community awareness of sports
  • Role of club leadership
  • Blockchain in sports management
  • Management of sports organization
  • Corruption scandals affecting FIFA
  • Analysis of the global sports industry
  • Corporate sponsorships in sports
  • How sports affect workplace performance and cohesion
  • The motivation for football and basketball players
  • Recruitment and selection in sports
  • Women in sports leadership positions
  • Funding sport events
  • The bidding process for hosting major sport events
  • Role of government in sports regulation
  • Corruption in sports (match-fixing in football )
  • How match-fixing ruins the integrity of the game

How UNODC and International Center for Sports Security FIFA stepped in to fight against match-fixing

  • Betting proceeds in match-fixing - A case study
  • Motivating factors for Match-fixing
  • Title IX and its Impact on Collegiate Athletics: Implications for Gender and Finances
  • Common Protocols and Training Mistakes Made in Professional Soccer

Hockey Research Paper Topics

hockey research paper topic

Sometimes, you can be asked to write an essay on hockey. You might find choosing a topic for your hockey essay difficult. Therefore, we have listed some topics to get you started.

  • Types of hockey
  • Rules for playing hockey
  • Protective gear is worn during hockey matches and training
  • League versus Olympic hockey
  • Is hockey profitable
  • Does ice hockey have disadvantages?
  • Hockey inventions that changed daily life
  • Common hockey injuries
  • Most popular celebrities that play hockey
  • Causes of aggressiveness in hockey
  • The popularity of hockey in the U.S., Canada, and Russia
  • Evolution of Hockey

Sports Sociology Research Paper Topics

  • Role of sports in promoting global peace
  • Sports and discipline in schools and society
  • Sports and academic performance
  • Sports and the well-being of a community
  • Transgender women in sports
  • Racial issues in sports and sports advertising
  • The role of gender in sports
  • Women in sports
  • Can athletes be good role models?
  • Gender-based violence in sports
  • Youth sports as a strategy to combat juvenile delinquency
  • Hos sports unify people from different races
  • Should physical education be mandatory?
  • Contribution of sports to identity
  • Impacts of sports on body shaming

Related: How to write a descriptive essay.

Esports Research Paper Topics

Electronic Sports, or eSports, has increasingly become popular given the advancement in technology and the decrease of digital divide. It is a multibillion-dollar industry that is attracting the deserved attention. There are many issues that can make for a good eSports topic. As it competitive gaming is done virtually, there are many aspects to consider: fandom, revenue, sponsorships, marketing, attitudes, perceptions, motivation, participation, gambling, and growth.

If you are assigned to write an eSports essay, follow the standard academic essay writing guidelines and consider the topics below. The same applies to writing an eSports research paper. Consider our pieces of advice in our research paper writing guide and choose a topic below to complete the paper.

  • Foundation of Esports curricular in higher education
  • Effectiveness of learning American football through video games
  • Wall/Rock climbing versus virtual motion-based video game
  • Reasons for the growth of esports industry revenue
  • Comparison of intentions and behavior towards esports and sports
  • Netizen�s behavior towards blockchain-based esports framework
  • Frameworks that support the design of esports curricular in higher education
  • Does participation in esports affect academic performance in higher education?
  • Strategies for attracting sponsors for esports events
  • Esports and match-fixing
  • Rise of Esports industry and its potential for success in the UAE
  • Importance of physical space and the demarcation of place in esports
  • Impacts of covid-19 on esports
  • Factors for the rise of esports
  • Origin of esports
  • Lower Extremity Disorders in Esports
  • Neck and back disorders in eSports
  • Brand image in eSports events
  • How to plan and execute eSports events
  • Role of peer mentoring in eSports
  • Toxic masculinity in eSports
  • Why Men and Women Play and Watch Esports Games
  • Are esports venues the new opportunity in sports business?
  • Esports and physical activity among the youth
  • The link between esports and obesity
  • Arena esports venues in Turkey
  • Psychological impacts of esports in e-marketing
  • Are professional esports players obese?
  • Gender issues in esports industry
  • Esports experiences of women players
  • Should esports be included in Olympic games?
  • The future of esports
  • Why is esports considered not sports while chess is?
  • Is esports a fake sport?
  • The experience of Australian eSports spectatorship
  • Difference between virtual NBA championship games and the real game
  • Meaning and value of physicality in video games and non-digital sports
  • The esports ecosystem
  • Harassment in eSports industry
  • Strategies for player protection in a hostile eSports venue
  • Is eSports spectatorship authentic?
  • The regulatory framework for eSports betting
  • Exploring breadth of gambling involvement among esports bettors
  • Institutionalization of eSports
  • Online gambling activity, pay-to-win payments, motivation to gamble and coping strategies as predictors of gambling disorder among e-sports bettors
  • Exploring an alternative interpretational framework for competitive gaming
  • Dimensionalizing esports consumption: Alternative journeys to professional play
  • Intellectual Property Rights of Gamers in Esports
  • Perspectives of people on eSports
  • An approach to electronic sports (eSports) from Intellectual Property
  • Comparing behaviors and intentions toward sports and esports
  • Motivations of eSports players
  • Role of eSports in global peace
  • Is eSports a male-dominated sport?
  • Role of nutritionists in eSports
  • Extreme sports vs. eSports
  • Why people bet on eSports
  • The eSports industry in Canada
  • Sportification of Esports
  • Factors for the Emergence of College eSports in North America.
  • Should Esports Be a Co-Curricular Activity in School?
  • ESports Gamers who Gamble
  • The relationship between eSports Spectatorship and Event Wagering
  • Adapting the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS) for video game-related gambling
  • Does esports spectating influence game consumption?
  • What predicts esports betting?
  • Participants, practices and problematic behaviour associated with emergent forms of gambling in eSports
  • Comparing gratifications for engagement in live performance versus online eSports spectating
  • The structure of performance and training in esports
  • Management strategies for eSports business
  • A typology of esports players
  • Esports Transmediality
  • Analysis of the legal-labor aspects of the eSports player in Brazil
  • E-sports Polemic in National Sports
  • The ethical and political contours of institutional promotion in esports
  • Esports, Skins Betting, and Wire Fraud Vulnerability
  • eSports and Fraud
  • The Business Model Network of eSports
  • Motivation to Play Digital Sports Games and Moral Decision-Making Attitudes of youths
  • Is eSports the answer to rising unemployment rates globally?
  • Esports industry in Germany
  • Energy Expenditure during eSports
  • Governance structures in eSports
  • How millenials perceive eSports
  • Gendered Differences in Peer and Spectator Feedback During Competitive Video Game Play
  • Ethos of the video game Speedrunning
  • Influence of eSports on self-perceived social support
  • Online psychological work with esports teams
  • Training strategies for eSports players
  • How the LOL generation perceives eSports marketing
  • The rise and fall of Korean eSports industry
  • Factors Influencing Foreign Language Learning in eSports
  • Communication, camaraderie and group cohesion among eSports team members
  • Laws that govern eSports
  • The role of emotions in esports performance
  • Understanding the eSports Franchise System
  • Esports as the new sports modality for Millenials
  • Is eSports revolutionizing the sports industry
  • Fans as e-participants
  • Group dynamics in eSports
  • A business model for eSports startups
  • Investigating career decision levels of adolescents who are interested in esports
  • The motivations of offline eSports consumption
  • eSports and anxiety among the players
  • How do sponsorships create value for the eSport Industry?
  • Benefits of eSports for children
  • The link between eSports and addiction
  • Treatments for Internet Gaming Disorder and Internet Addiction
  • Understanding video game addiction
  • The moral license in eSports games
  • The link between eSports and aggression
  • Esports and violence
  • Esports skills are people skills
  • ESports marketing: sponsorship opportunities, threats and strategies
  • The Benefits and Risks of Sponsoring eSports
  • An institutional creation perspective of collegiate esports
  • The Rise of the E-sports industry in China
  • E-Sports, heirs to a tradition
  • Multiplayer online games and eSports
  • eSports and energy drinks consumption
  • Meritocracy, precarity, and disposability of eSports players in China
  • Complexity and dynamics in the career development of eSports athletes
  • Esports fandom in the age of digital media
  • Knowledge management in the eSports industry
  • Impacts of covid-19 on eSports industry
  • The impacts of Russian-Ukrainian war on the eSports industry
  • Risks in eSports and Company Stakeholder Responsibility
  • Interactivity, Ethical Behaviors, and Transmediation in eSports
  • Assembling Intercultural Teams in eSports
  • Are 'Olympic' eSports Morally Justifiable?
  • The Role of Esports Events in the Tourism Industry
  • eSports as a News Specialty Gold Rush
  • Business and Research Opportunities in K-12 eSports
  • Barriers and Challenges for women eSports Players
  • The Ergonomics of Esports
  • Esports Consumer Perspectives on Match-Fixing
  • Strategies to promote gambling awareness and game integrity in eSports
  • The link between eSports and Internet Fraud
  • Esports and cryptocurrencies

You can check out more eSports topic ideas from online websites that enlist the eSports topics .

Related: List of social and global issues.

Here is a highlight of some of the important things to consider when choosing a research paper topics for your sports research paper.

  • Begin by using a Google search of the news.
  • Focus on controversial issues and current affairs
  • Consider the type of sport you want to write the essay or research paper about.
  • Choose a topic you are passionate about and find interest in handling.
  • The human-centered design can be the best approach. This approach focuses on the users, their requirements, and associated factors.
  • Use some of the best sources, such as BBC Sports, the Sports Journal, and Major Magazines such as the Guardian, Forbes, and New York Times.

Now that you are here already if you feel stuck with writing a sports essay or research paper, our writers can help. We have the best research paper writers who have helped many clients achieve success in different fields. We write the best samples that can help you in handling the current and subsequent academic papers.

We will be glad to answer your can someone write my sports essay or research paper? Let us help you. Besides, you can also trust us to handle your research paper outline or proofread your written papers.

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Research Paper

Category: sports research paper examples.

sports research paper examples

Sporting activity is grounded in human physiology and a love of movement that all humans share at birth and embrace throughout life. This is demonstrated by the popularity of such recreational pursuits as walking and swimming, and by a wide variety of physical pastimes, such as hunting, fishing, skating, skiing, and sailing. The word sport derives from the Middle English word disport meaning to frolic, play, or amuse oneself. In modern usage, however, sport includes the elements of competition, physical prowess, and rules. In this sense sport mainly refers to organized activities such as cricket, basketball, or soccer and excludes recreational activities such as walking or hunting. It also leaves out games such as bridge, chess, or poker. A broad definition of sport includes recreational activities and games, but a narrower definition limits sport to athletics of a competitive nature.

Browse sports research paper examples below.

Argumentative Research Paper Examples

I know many sad stories  of college students who write about non-interesting sports research topics such as the usefulness of teamwork or the history of football. Here in Homework Lab, I’ve got 21 students from the U.S. who came to us with D and even F marks for sports research paper topics, banned as hackneyed  by their professors. For my students, I used to create a list of 10-20 topics to select when they started the essay. Today, I publish my collection. These are 100 best  research ideas, based on academic articles and research, which will surely work for you. Feel free to check them below! 👇

Update 24 Oct:  I’ve wiped out some old topics and introduced fresh ones. The list is ready for 2019 season!

Contents (Clickable)

   Sports Research Examples by Homework Lab Geeks

Why reinvent the wheel if you can take a look at the wheels made by your peers? Before you start browsing currently unused and unique topics, it is worth checking essays that have already passed college and high school grading with success 📝. You can use them as a source of inspiration and fresh ideas for your own writing!

  • “Miller Park Baseball Stadium” essay example  is devoted to the unusual theme: infrastructure for sports. It considers even such intricate factors as weather, the safety of workers and the behavior of sports fans — it is a good sample for sports management research.
  • “Nike’s Marketing Communication Mix”  paper example explores how Nike penetrated the market by helping athletes to perform better, and what solutions were required. Apparel matters for success, and sometimes even more than you think.
  • “Critical Analysis of Sidney Crosby by Kristi Allain” exemplifies how sports research can be used to analyze identities of athletes — and how venerable heroes affect national culture. Sports psychology and culture students would like to check it!
  • “Nutrition and Fitness” Essay  reminds of usually forgotten topic — food, supplements and nutrition of athletes are regulated by many organizations! The paper points out that restrictions are needed to save human lives in some situations.
  • “Fitness and Wellness Essay” example — a great source of physical assessment information and tips to be used by nursing, rehabilitation and sports safety students.
  • “Fraud Examination: 2015 FIFA Corruption” paper  refers to the topic of fairness in sports competition research — and how virtues of equality are violated by officials for their profits. Must-read for those who look for interesting sports research topics.
  • “The Value of Physical Exercise and P.E. Classes at School”  provides empirical evidence on why sports education is being developed in the U.S — and why there are still problems (spoiler: because of parents and Maths).
  • “The Construction of National Identity in British Media Coverage of Sport” is an essay example about the impact of media on how competitive sports are being developed, and on the society in general.

A butler serves sports research topic samples

Browse and download essay examples from the most full and up to date Free Online Essay Database at Homework Lab . All the examples of college essays have been donated by the students to boost your writing creativity.

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     💊 research topics on sports injuries.

In healthcare studies, students are required to focus on sports injuries and avoiding them in athletic practice. In my experience, the best option is to write about injury prevention and post-injury care, and  never on emergency help.  Unless you are a nursing student, you are not expected to be an expert in medical emergency services. On the sports field, every action after an injury may have dramatic consequences for athlete health — and your tutor is not likely to be forgiving to your mistakes.

Following topics are entirely predictable — you will find enough sources to write about, and you are likely to enjoy your research. After an update, I also added some  safe  emergency topics. During 3 years of my work as a Geek, they did not cause any problems.

  • Brain concussion of athletes.  Should be athletes with suspicion on concussion removed from the field?
  • Treating acute and chronic overstrains in athletes . What is better: massage, injections or ointments?
  • Athletic varicose disease. Causes of development, signs, methods of prevention.
  • Anti-doping control in sports : What is the most performance-affecting drug in the world?
  • Athletic pharmacology.  What is the best medication to cure injuries and facilitate post-traumatic recovery?
  • Overtraining. What are its symptoms, how it affects competition and how to avoid it?
  • Sudden death in sports.  What impacts on-field mortality of athletes and what sports organizations do to mitigate the issue?
  • Overwork & fatigue in sports.  How can trainers help athletes to work more productively and avoid exhaustion?
  • Acute pathological athletic conditions . What severe diseases can develop due to sports and training, and how they can be avoided without medication?
  • Recovery after the illness.  How athletes turn back on track after catching flue, cold or other diseases?
  • Do athletes live shorter than ordinary people?  What impacts the life expectancy of people of sports?
  • Thermal and solar strikes during sports competition. 
  • Dislocation in sports.  Is it an unavoidable plague of active sports?
  • Fear of injury.  Do athletes who were traumatized once feel anxiety during the play?
  • Masculinity and injuries.  Some sports research topics suggest that male athletes incur much more traumas and wounds than their female peers. Is that true?
  • Breast traumas.  What threats await for female athletes in competitive and active sports?

I received the feedback that these ideas had been useful for nursing and healthcare students too — so, feel free to use!

     📊 Research Paper Topics On Sports Management

Management topics on sports revolve around three things: organizing people, providing athletes with everything they need, and connecting sports organization and stakeholders to enable competition. Don’t think that it’s too easy, though — management tutors like graphs, statistics, and science. They are also not likely to tolerate some extreme ideas like maximization of sports event funding at the cost of fans’ safety and sports dignity. Below, you will find topics where you teacher  just cannot  force you to sweat😓.

  • Management of sports club.  What is needed to create a sports hub for professional athletes and the community?
  • How to save costs on sports.  Which facilities and services for athletes are too expensive, and how can savvy managers save funds?
  • Where to find money for sports events?  Sources of funding, sponsors, charity, donations, and issues of ticket selling.
  • Community awareness of sports.  How to attract locals to your sports organization and why do you need it?
  • Women in sports.  Is there any ceiling that prevents the career development of women in sports industries?
  • Efficiency management in a sports organization.  How can a non-athlete manager know that everything goes right in a sports club?
  • Relationships with philanthropists in sports.  What drives sponsors to fund sports, and what can be done to retain and attract them?
  • Cost-benefit analysis of the sports industry.  Can sports organization be a profitable and sustainable business?
  • Global warming and sports  (I know that it is unexpected). Does environmental change affect sports and what shifts can we expect in the future?
  • Sports accessibility.  What are difficulties of providing access to physical activities for seniors, children, and people with disabilities, and how to overcome them?
  • Ecology of water sports.  What to do with wastewater from pools?
  • HR and recruiting in sports.  How to find good athletes for your team if you don’t have $1,000,000?

Do you want to learn an advanced research method to apply statistics to your research? Afraid of maths and hate calculations?

We created a human language guide on chi-square test  that  everyone  can use. Tested on 8th-graders — no math is needed, online tools provided! Term papers nailed.

     ⚛ Sports Science Research Topics

If your major is not sports or you are pursuing a degree in sports education, then you are likely to be assigned to a science research paper. The primary point of such topics is to find the connection between sports and some field of study — be it psychology, economics or chemistry. I added some ideas for the 2018-2019 academic year that are easy to research.

  • Connections between sports and the economy.  Are nations that invest in sports are more successful that sports-hating countries?
  • Why do some countries refuse to host the Olympics?  Can major international events become a burden for the national economy?
  • January Club in sports.  Why children who born in January become more successful in sports than kids born in other months? (It’s a true fact, besides, and called a Relative Age Effect ).
  • Can athletic success be inherited?  Genetics and heredity in sports.
  • Sports regulation and performance of athletes. 
  • What hormones are the most important for athletes?  Biochemistry of winning sports competition.
  • Athletic nutrition.  What do top athletes eat to remain strong, fast and steady?
  • What traits of character are needed for an athlete to win?  Sports psychology research has a lot of papers on the topic, so you’ll have a good time writing about it.
  • Empathy in sports . Is the ability to understand other people necessary for athletic training?
  • Sports for an animal. 🐶  Can a dog athlete earn more than a human sports practitioner?

Did you expect such topics, hah? They are really scientific, still not boring. For more science stuff, check sociology topics below, in the 8th section of our post. 👇

De Exupery offers to explore search paper topics

“ A goal without a plan is just a wish “, de Saint-Exupéry said. Homework Lab can help you to plan your sports essay:

  • Register at Homework Lab  (Free Sign Up)
  • Plan and schedule your task
  • Work on your own or request expert help from a Geek

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     🎓 sports schools topics for college students.

I know that in sports school, the primary objective of any sports writing assignment is to show your professional abilities. What are they? It is your skills on how to make training safe, enjoyable and beneficial. Given that the humanity works on these tasks for several hundreds of years now, good sports school topic is hard to find and easy to miss. Honestly, it is the most popular part of my list.

  • What is more important for sports: a mind or a body? Physical and mental development of athletes.
  • What sports uses the body the most?  Body activity during physical exercises.
  • Safest exercises for students with disabilities. 
  • How does training help to become stronger?  The biological and mental process of training as the improvement of sports skills.
  • Collaboration on a sports field. What is the most effective communication strategy among sports team members?
  • Being tired is not OK in sports. Signs of fatigue during training and measures to prevent it.
  • Physiological characteristics of “second breath” . How to boost the stamina of athlete to play two times longer?
  • Self-control in sports.  How to transform a body into a programmable success tool?
  • Posture and internal organ functioning.  Does it matter for health how we move, sleep and eat?
  • Overweight and sports.  Is it possible to be obese even when you train hard?
  • The friendship between a trainer and students.  Is it ethical to become more than a teacher for your sports students?

     🏈 Football Research Topics

You may already know that right now, lawsuits on head injuries of college students  may make ban this type of sports from the public education. It’s an excellent topic to write if you are focused on injuries and health. Honestly, I believe that football topics present a lot of place for creativity — this sport has evolved beyond a simple play and now presents a complex cultural construct.

  • Why is rugby called football?  It’s not a big secret that outside the US, “football” means “soccer.” Such words shift has an exciting history.
  • How are champions selected?  Why date of birth matter for junior football leagues? (Remeber about  Relative Age Effect )
  • Evolution of football today.  Which rules are about to change in years coming?
  • Football tactics. What do rugby players have in common with Ancient Rome infantry? ⚔
  • Can football gear be used as an armor?
  • Head concussions and football.  Are football players doomed for neurological disorders as they mature?
  • Who earns the most on football?  Players, stadiums or beer manufacturers?
  • Is a football player accountable for injuring another player?  Legal peculiarities of sports and athletic insurance.
  • How many pounds rugby players lift?  The role of strength and endurance in football competition.
  • Is cheerleading an art?  Cheerleading as a separate sport that born out of football.
  • Psychopaths and football.  Can people with a mental disorder be better athletes than their ordinary peers?
  • Impact of fame on sports performance.  Do famous athletes begin playing worse when they reach recognition?

I strongly recommend to take a loot on athletic training topics too — they are several sections below, and they focus on even more controversial issues. ⬇

Now you come to me, and you say: “ Homework Lab, give me sports research paper topics. ” But you don’t ask with an awareness that Homework Lab has a Research Paper Guide with an Example — all-in-one manual for conducting & writing your research assignments. 

     🏒 Hockey Research Paper Topics

According to statistics , ice hockey is ninth in the world by the number of its fans. However, it cannot be said about hokey’s revenues — it sport earns $4.1 billion yearly in the U.S. only! That is why essays on hockey remain to be popular in high school and colleges, given the complexity of the discipline. Below go topics that have not been ridden to death by hundreds of students before you!

  • Why is field hockey more popular than grass hockey?  (It’s a fact, by the way).
  • Why is hockey popular in Russia?  Low temperatures, national love to the sports, or communistic heritage?
  • Can adults enroll in hockey and become a champion?  A length of hockey athletes career.
  • Hockey injuries.  What are unique traumas that you can get in that sport?
  • Aggressiveness in hockey.  Are hockey players more aggressive than players in other sports?
  • Olympic vs. League Hockey.  Are there any differences?
  • Differences between h ockey schools in the USA and Canada.
  • 5 hockey inventions that are used in everyday life. 
  • How fast can a puck run?  How fast can a hockey player run? Can a puck break through a human body? Hockey can a dozen amazing stats that you can write about.
  • Why is hockey so profitable?  Secrets of huge fortunes earned in this sport.
  • Evolution of hockey : changes in rules and practices within the last 50 years.

      💪 Athletic Training Research Topics + Sports Psychology

I know that 4 of 5 of psychology students are assigned with essays and research papers on training. It is not surprising — training is a complex psychological process of overcoming physical and mental barriers  to improve body performance. Moreover, mental strength is as important as physical power for athletic competition. Scientists proved that the nervous system has a bigger impact on functional strength than muscle mass and training.

My topics already consider the latest research findings.  Don’t worry: all these questions exist in academia, however fantastic they may sound.

  • What determines strength: a neural system or muscle mass? 
  • Do strict sports rules generate stress? Impact of game rules on athletic training.
  • “Second breath”: myth of truth?  What determines the stamina of an athlete and how to train it?
  • Team chants:  do they help to play better?  Techniques and secrets of teambuilding in team sports.
  • Willpower and sports.  Do athletes really have a swift and robust character?
  • “Adrenaline junkies” in sports.  Is that true that adrenaline is an addictive drug and many athletes practice risky sports just to get their dope?
  • Multitasking in sports as a barrier to performance  Why team captains usually strike fewer goals than ordinary team members?
  • Hygiene in sports. Why not taking a shower is dangerous for health? 
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and sports.  Do people with ADHD are prone to becoming athletes?
  • Sports trophies and self-esteem.  Does winning cups and medals help teenagers to prove their worthiness to parents and peers?
  • Selfies and sports safety.  What causes people to take dangerous selfies while doing extreme sports?

If you want to focus on money in sports, scroll down to sports marketing topics. We all want to know where to find 💰💰💰, and in sports, they are all around for well-informed business people.

Sports are cool, fashionable and trendy. Still, they are not everything you can write about. Check out our 50 Crazy Pop Culture Topics — provocative but appropriate for the classroom. The author of the article successfully helped students from the toughest English courses in the US and the UK. 🏆

     👨‍👩‍👧‍👧  Sports Sociology Research Topics

Sports research paper topics of sociology focus on two things: why do people play sports, and what sports make for society. I composed the list below to allow you to explore these questions in depth and width. Sports are the social activity by the very definition — even when they are not played in the team, they are spectated by other people. Therefore, every sociology idea from the list below will work, regardless of your major.

  • Sports behavior in kids.  Do sports and training present a part in human instincts.
  • Sports as a tribal behavior.  Do Indigenous Australians, Native Americans or Native Africans play their unique sports?
  • Sports as a mental health treatment.  Can psychological diseases be cured with training and sports?
  • Sports and school performance.  Do young athletes really study worse than nerds? Why?
  • Why is physical education mandatory in schools?  Besides, did you know that in some countries, physical education is mandatory for college students too, even with the major in math?
  • Sexual activity and sports.  Are athletes more sexually active than their non-training peers? What causes such an effect?
  • Transgender women: should they compete against males or females?  It’s a difficult but interesting topic to research.
  • Gender and sports.  Do representatives of different genders perceive sports differently?
  • Athletes as role models. Is an idol from the sports industry better for child’s development than a pop star?
  • Are sports a reasonable career?  How athletes as professionals compare to other jobs in the labor market of your country?
  • Youth sports and juvenile delinquency.  Is that true that playing sports and training at school reduces kid’s chances to commit crimes and get into jail?

     🤑 Sports Marketing Research Topics

Sports marketing ≠ sports advertising, my dear students. Marketing is far, far more complex — professionals research the whole society to find  how to transform and adapt sports to maximize popularity and revenue. Online event streams, e-sports, viral campaigns with athletes: these are only a few attempts made to convert sports as an industry. So, instead of writing about generic “How to advertise sports,” let me show you some advanced but easy topics to write about.

  • International tickets selling.  How to sell tickets to people who don’t even speak English?
  • Viral sports promotion.  What are the most successful PR cases of sports marketing in the US?
  • How to promote your sports even for free and gain revenue? 
  • Tickets are not the primary source of revenue in sports.  How do event hosts and sports associations earn billions on food, ads, and merchandise?
  • Marketing budgets for Olympics.  What are the most expensive items in the purchase list for an international event?
  • Sports celebrities and food advertising.  Is it ethical for star athletes to advertise McDonald’s?
  • Marketing Eagles vs. Marketing Dragons.  What are the differences between sports markets in the US and China?
  • Social media and sports motivation.  Can sports pictures and videos on Instagram help to attract people to sports and training?
  • How to attract the local community to your gym?  Sports and fitness as a business.
  • Personal data and sports.  How can marketers use your sports behavior data to advertise and sell stuff to you?
  • Banned sports ads.  What advertisements about sports  were  removed from screens and paper by courts and public volunteers? Why?

Are you ready for some expert stuff? I’ve also disclosed our internal topic checklist from Homework Lab. Check it below if you want to select your own idea and don’t get stuck without sources! 👇

A Geek girl adores sports research topics of psychology

Hey, I’m the Geek who wrote that topic list.

Below, you will find my advanced tips on research idea selection. I can also help you to finish your research paper with Homework Lab tools.

  • 1. Register at Homework Lab
  • 2. Plan and schedule your task
  • 3. Work on your own or request expert help from a Geek

Don’t worry — it’s free unless you want professional help.

All Right, Geek, Show Me Your Secrets 

   criteria for selecting a good sports research paper topic.

There is a Golden Essay Idea Checklist that is used by our Geeks in their works — it helps to avoid writing crises, lack of information and low grades!

  • Google your idea for controversy!  Anecdotal case: “sports rehab” topic was returned to a student for a second resit. Tutors required to write about treating injuries with sports — and the submitted paper was about the rehabilitation of people with a drug addiction! Google your idea to avoid such anecdotes.
  • Check availability of sources!  Some fresh topics as so fresh so you will not find any articles or books to use for citation 😋. This problem is very critical for athletic training research topics!
  • Mind Ethics!  Students are often directed by tutors to resit on the paper — in lucky cases! — for such proposals as testing substances on athletes. Sports psychology topics should also consider human dignity, research ethics and morals, which are required by every tutor in the US, the UK, and Australia!
  • Use a human-centered approach!  A research design that focuses on the safety of people and their wellbeing is a must for students in 2018. Safety of athletes from injuries in high-performance competitions is more desired topic than discussing the opportunities to push the human organism to its limits.

Now, you are ready to proceed! All the topics in this article have passed the Golden Checklist and are safe to use. However, if you alter them, it will be necessary to re-check everything. Here is a table with reminders for you

   3 Sources To Choose a Right Topic & Start Researching 

No topic suits you 100%, and you don’t feel satisfied? Or, you want to find more information to start off your paper? Here are three main websites to keep on the sharp edge of sports research. Maybe, even closer to the edge than your tutor! I used them to compose this list.

1. BBC Sports

BBC is famous worldwide, and the section “ Sports ” covers all the recent sports events in the world. Visiting this web page may help you to find the urgent topic or the topic you have a particular interest in. It’s a good place to find trendy discussions and hot academic findings, as well as industry news.

2. The Sport Journal

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Sticking with sports during school years linked to academic success

by Michelle Blowes, University of Sydney

child sports

As school and summer sports resume, a new study from the University of Sydney finds links between kids' long-term participation in sports and increased academic performance, including impacts on NAPLAN scores, absenteeism and likelihood to attend university.

In the first long-term study of its kind, published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health , the researchers followed the sports participation of more than 4,000 Australian children from age 4 to 13. They then matched this with academic trajectory up to 21 years-of-age.

Overall, they found that continued sports participation during school years was linked to lower absenteeism, better attention and memory, higher NAPLAN and end-of-school scores, and higher odds of studying at university.

Lead author Dr. Katherine Owen said many factors influence a decline in sports participation during adolescence, but this study showed the importance of finding ways to keep young people active and engaged.

"We know all too well the link between educational attainment and improved health status. This study suggests that making sport more of a priority in school could be one way to influence this," said Dr. Owen from the University's Charles Perkins Center and School of Public Health.

"To achieve that we also need to see sports adapt and become more flexible and inclusive to allow more children to play the way that they want to, whether it's just for fun or for social reasons."

Differences between team and individual sports

The authors write that while the beneficial link between sports and academic performance is likely due to sustained physical activity, the study also highlights differences between those involved in individual sports (such as swimming or running) versus team sport.

Those in team sports had better performance on attention and working memory tests, fewer absent days without permission and were more likely to be awarded the HSC or equivalent.

"This is in line with other research that shows team sports develop important social and mental skills in children and teens," Dr. Owen said. "It provides opportunities to work together, which often fosters a sense of belonging. Unsurprisingly, these kids show lower absenteeism, which is also linked to school completion."

In comparison to those who did not participate in any sport, those with ongoing participation in individual sports had higher NAPLAN literacy results and higher academic performance on end-of-school scores (ATAR).

"We suspect this may be because individual sports tend to encourage responsibility, self-reliance, goal setting and a higher level of preparation. On a psychological level, many of these skills also carry over into preparation for school exams," Dr. Owen said.

The study also showed that continued sports participation was beneficial for academic performance for socioeconomically disadvantaged children. However, these children were less likely to continue involvement in sport.

Earlier research, study method and limitations

The results of the new study are in line with an earlier systematic review led by Dr. Owen in 2022. The review analyzed 115 international studies (predominately from the United States) totaling more than one million students and found a positive link between participation in sports and academic performance .

The new study used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) and included a nationally representative sample of children from throughout Australia.

Sports participation was self-reported from parent and caregiver surveys that identified if children regularly participated in sports for 12 months, as well as whether it was individual or team-based. Sporting codes, and whether sports took place within school or elsewhere, were not accessed. A series of cognitive tests and normal schooling results (for example NAPLAN, HSC, ATAR) were used to record academic achievement.

While the cohort was selected at random, and adjustments were made for factors like private school attendance and previous academic success, the researchers say they cannot claim that sports participation is the direct cause of increased academic success.

They note that some important variables, like mental health data, were not available and that could partially explain the link. It may also be that children who continue to play sports have inherent personality characteristics and motivations that also lead to higher educational attainment.

"There is still much that we don't know. This also includes the role of different types of sport, and the influence of frequency and intensity of sport participation on academic results," Dr. Owen said.

"Ongoing studies will be important to flesh this out and to help us understand how we can tailor educational environments to foster and promote sports participation in a way that might improve young people 's physical activity levels, health and educational success."

Provided by University of Sydney

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Device-measured physical activity and cardiometabolic health: the Prospective Physical Activity, Sitting, and Sleep (ProPASS) consortium

ORCID logo

Emmanuel Stamatakis and Mark Hamer are joint senior authors.

ProPASS collaboration: Nidhi Gupta, Coen Stehouwer, Hans Savelberg, Bastiaan de Galan, Carla van de Kallen, and Dick H.J. Thijssen.

  • Article contents
  • Figures & tables
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Joanna M Blodgett, Matthew N Ahmadi, Andrew J Atkin, Sebastien Chastin, Hsiu-Wen Chan, Kristin Suorsa, Esmee A Bakker, Pasan Hettiarcachchi, Peter J Johansson, Lauren B Sherar, Vegar Rangul, Richard M Pulsford, Gita Mishra, Thijs M H Eijsvogels, Sari Stenholm, Alun D Hughes, Armando M Teixeira-Pinto, Ulf Ekelund, I-Min Lee, Andreas Holtermann, Annemarie Koster, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Mark Hamer, ProPASS Collaboration , Device-measured physical activity and cardiometabolic health: the Prospective Physical Activity, Sitting, and Sleep (ProPASS) consortium, European Heart Journal , Volume 45, Issue 6, 7 February 2024, Pages 458–471, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad717

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Physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour (SB), and inadequate sleep are key behavioural risk factors of cardiometabolic diseases. Each behaviour is mainly considered in isolation, despite clear behavioural and biological interdependencies. The aim of this study was to investigate associations of five-part movement compositions with adiposity and cardiometabolic biomarkers.

Cross-sectional data from six studies ( n = 15 253 participants; five countries) from the Prospective Physical Activity, Sitting and Sleep consortium were analysed. Device-measured time spent in sleep, SB, standing, light-intensity physical activity (LIPA), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) made up the composition. Outcomes included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, total:HDL cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Compositional linear regression examined associations between compositions and outcomes, including modelling time reallocation between behaviours.

The average daily composition of the sample (age: 53.7 ± 9.7 years; 54.7% female) was 7.7 h sleeping, 10.4 h sedentary, 3.1 h standing, 1.5 h LIPA, and 1.3 h MVPA. A greater MVPA proportion and smaller SB proportion were associated with better outcomes. Reallocating time from SB, standing, LIPA, or sleep into MVPA resulted in better scores across all outcomes. For example, replacing 30 min of SB, sleep, standing, or LIPA with MVPA was associated with −0.63 (95% confidence interval −0.48, −0.79), −0.43 (−0.25, −0.59), −0.40 (−0.25, −0.56), and −0.15 (0.05, −0.34) kg/m 2 lower BMI, respectively. Greater relative standing time was beneficial, whereas sleep had a detrimental association when replacing LIPA/MVPA and positive association when replacing SB. The minimal displacement of any behaviour into MVPA for improved cardiometabolic health ranged from 3.8 (HbA1c) to 12.7 (triglycerides) min/day.

Compositional data analyses revealed a distinct hierarchy of behaviours. Moderate-vigorous physical activity demonstrated the strongest, most time-efficient protective associations with cardiometabolic outcomes. Theoretical benefits from reallocating SB into sleep, standing, or LIPA required substantial changes in daily activity.

Hierarchy of favourable movement behaviours across the 24 h day suggests more time spent in moderate-vigorous physical activity and less time spent sedentary are most strongly associated with healthier cardiometabolic outcomes. BMI, body mass index; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin.

Hierarchy of favourable movement behaviours across the 24 h day suggests more time spent in moderate-vigorous physical activity and less time spent sedentary are most strongly associated with healthier cardiometabolic outcomes. BMI, body mass index; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin.

See the editorial comment for this article ‘Balancing our day for heart health’, by G.N. Healy, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad824 .

Cardiometabolic diseases—including cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, and diabetes mellitus—are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. 1 , 2 The global burden of these diseases has risen over the past three decades, with annual CVD-related deaths increasing from 12.1 to 18.6 million, while diabetes-related deaths have doubled to 1.25 million. 3–6 Concerningly, these trends are forecasted to continue. 7–9 Positive engagement in health behaviours, such as physical activity, reducing sedentary behaviour (SB), and ensuring sufficient quality and quantity of sleep, can help prevent cardiometabolic disease 1 , 10 yet are largely underutilized.

Regular moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has established cardiometabolic benefits via direct inflammatory, metabolic, or cardiovascular mechanisms. 11 , 12 However, the effects of light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) are less clear. 13 This may be due to poor ascertainment of LIPA using self-reported questionnaires 14 or threshold-based approaches of hip or wrist-based accelerometery, which fail to distinguish between standing and subtle ambulatory activities. 15 There is a strong argument against classifying passive standing as LIPA, given the very low energy expenditure involved. 16 Finally, there is consistent evidence of associations between SB and increased cardiometabolic disease risk, 17 while there is mixed evidence on the adverse effects of both short and long sleep durations. 18 , 19

Time spent in these daily movement behaviours (sleep, SB, standing, LIPA, MVPA) form a 24 h composition, with any change in one behaviour resulting in a corresponding increase or decrease in another. Until recently, controlled exercise trials and observational studies have mainly examined each behaviour in isolation. 13 , 20 Assumptions that these behaviours are independent and that the 24 h day is infinite (e.g. effect estimates represent per 1 h increase in behaviour) can lead to potentially imprecise estimates that cannot be translated to real-world interventions or guidelines. Treating these data as a complete 24 h day using compositional data analysis can overcome this limitation. 21 Previous evidence of movement compositions has suggested that more time in MVPA and less time in SB are associated with favourable health outcomes. 22–24 However, these studies have largely relied upon small sample sizes, considered compositions with awake time only or incorporated self-reported sleep measures, and were unable to differentiate between sedentary and standing activity (i.e. due to wrist or hip worn accelerometers).

The majority of current public health guidelines (i.e. WHO, USA, UK) focus solely on physical activity and SB. 25 , 26 There is a clear need for better empirical evidence to support ‘24-hour’ guidelines 27 and encompass recommendations on daily sleep, SB, and activity intensity volume. The Prospective Physical Activity, Sitting, and Sleep (ProPASS) consortium resource 28 overcomes major limitations of previous literature 22–24 by using harmonized individual-level data from six studies with thigh-worn accelerometery and a unified approach to derive 24 h movement behaviours. Our aim was to examine the associations between compositions of 24 h movement behaviours (defined as time spent in sleep, SB, standing, LIPA, MVPA) and six cardiometabolic outcomes. Using the mean sample behavioural profile, we estimated the impact of reallocating time from one behaviour to another.

ProPASS is an international research collaboration platform consisting of 15+ observational cohort studies with thigh-worn accelerometry. 28 For this initial project, we included cross-sectional data from six participating studies: The Maastricht Study (TMS; The Netherlands, n = 7515), 29 the 1970 British Birth Cohort Study (BCS70; UK, n = 5229), 30 the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH; Australia, n = 941), 31 the Danish PHysical ACTivity cohort with Objective measurements cohort (DPhacto; Denmark, n = 771), 32 the Nijmegen Exercise Study (NES; The Netherlands, n = 537), 33 and the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA; Finland, n = 253). 34 Ethical approval and informed consent were provided at the cohort level and included consent for future data analysis; an overview of each study is provided in Supplementary data online , Table S1 with complete study details available elsewhere. 28–34 Data were physically pooled at the University of Sydney after signing all necessary data transfer agreements that adhered to cohort-specific requirements; this included harmonization of covariates and outcomes, as well as cleaning and processing of raw accelerometer data.

Movement behaviours

All cohorts collected movement behaviour data using a 7-day, 24 h/day thigh-worn accelerometer protocol; four studies used ActivPAL3/4 devices (BCS70, TMS, ALSWH, NES), one used Axivity devices (FIREA), and one used ActiGraph devices (DPhacto). Raw accelerometer data were centrally processed using previously validated software, ActiPASS v 1.32. ActiPASS identifies behaviours in 2 s windows with a 50% overlap, resulting in a resolution of 1 s epochs, and implements algorithms for non-wear, sleep detection, posture, and activity intensity (intensity derived from cadence 35–37 ). Compared with other device-based classification measures, ActiPASS has demonstrated excellent accuracy across wake time movement behaviours (>90%) and sleep (84%) and has been validated for use across different thigh-worn accelerometer brands. 15 , 38–41 Five movement behaviours were classified: sleep, SB (sitting or lying episodes outside of sleep intervals), standing, LIPA (ambulatory movement without purposeful walking, walking with cadence <100 steps/min), and MVPA (running, cycling, inclined stepping, walking with cadence ≥100 steps/min). 15 , 38–42 Participants with at least one valid wear day (≥20 h of wear/day), ≥1 period of walking detection, and >0 min of sleep were included in analyses. Time spent in each behaviour was calculated as average minutes/day.

Cardiometabolic outcomes

Two markers of adiposity were assessed by trained nurses or researchers during home or clinic-based visits: body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2 ; calculated from height and weight) and waist circumference (cm). Cardiometabolic blood biomarkers were measured in five studies (not available in DPhacto) and included: HDL cholesterol (mmol/L), total:HDL cholesterol ratio , triglycerides (mmol/L), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c, mmol/mol; measured in ALSWH, BCS70, and TMS only). Measurement and assay methodology were similar across study, with consistently low coefficients of variation. Full details of outcome ascertainment by study, including assay details, are provided in Supplementary data online , Tables S2 and S3 .

Covariates were selected a priori based on data availability and known associations with movement behaviours and cardiovascular outcomes. 22–24 The following covariates were collected in all cohorts: age (years), sex (male, female), smoking status (non-smoker, current smoker), alcohol consumption (tertiles based on self-reported weekly consumption), self-rated health (five-point Likert scale), lipid-modifying, hypertensive or glucose-lowering medications (yes, no), history of CVD (yes, no), and fasting blood sample status (fasted, non-fasted; blood biomarker outcomes only). Additionally, a subset of cohorts collected data on mobility limitations ( n = 4 cohorts; continuous score from 0 to 100 of the SF-36 10-item physical function subscale, where 0 indicates poor mobility and 100 indicates no mobility problems), o ccupational class ( n = 5 cohorts; not working, low, intermediate, high occupational class), and education ( n = 4 cohorts; none or lower than high school, high school qualifications/typically attained at age 16 years, further education qualifications/typically attained at age 16–18 years, university degree, and higher/typically 18+ years). Full details of ascertainment and subsequent harmonization of covariates in each cohort are provided in Supplementary data online , Table S2 .

Statistical analyses

We define a composition as the average daily time spent in each of SB, sleep, standing, LIPA, and MVPA behaviours. First, average daily times are normalized such that the sum of all behaviours is equivalent to 1440 min (24 h) to account for any non-wear or unrecognized time. The 24 h time composition is then expressed as a set of four isometric log-ratio ( ilr ) coordinates capturing information and variability of the relative time spent in each of the five behaviours. Briefly, the first coordinate describes the behaviour of interest relative to time spent in the other four behaviours, the second coordinate describes the second behaviour relative to time spent in the other three, the third coordinate describes the third behaviour relative to time spent in the other two, and the fourth and final coordinate describes the fourth behaviour relative to time spent in the fifth. Inclusion of all four coordinates in a single regression model allows the relation between all behaviours to be captured. We pivoted the data to create five sets of coordinates, which allows the investigation of the first coordinate (i.e. a single movement behaviour relative to time spent in all other behaviours). 43 Therefore, we used the following set of ilr coordinates to capture time spent in all five behaviours: (i) SB compared with sleep, standing, LIPA, and MVPA; (ii) sleep compared with standing, LIPA, and MVPA; (iii) standing compared with LIPA and MVPA; and (iv) LIPA compared with MVPA. Further detail into this approach is available elsewhere. 21 , 43

We conducted a one-stage individual participant meta-analysis using linear regressions to examine associations of each behaviour relative to the others with each outcome, repeating the below models for each set of pivoted coordinates. Coefficients indicate the change in outcome (e.g. kg/m 2 or mmol/L) for each one-unit ilr increase. We tested for sex interactions before building models in two stages: (i) adjusted for sex, age, and cohort and (ii) adjusted for sex, age, cohort, smoking, alcohol, self-reported health, medications, CVD history, and fasting status (blood biomarker outcomes only). Due to cohort-specific missing data, sex–age–cohort-adjusted models were examined in both the maximal available sample and those with complete covariate data. Maximal available sample refers to those with data on the movement composition and the outcome, whereas complete cases refer to those with data on the movement composition, outcome, and all covariates. We repeated the models with additional adjustments for education, mobility limitations, and occupational class in cohorts with data on all three additional covariates (ALSWH, BCS70, and TMS). To provide results ready for translation to behavioural interventions, we conducted isotemporal substitution to model how reallocation of time from one behaviour to another—based on the mean 24 h behavioural profile—impacted each outcome 44 , 45 in sex–age–cohort-adjusted models. Clinically meaningful reductions were defined as a 5% reduction based on the referent BMI for the mean sample composition; 46 minimal significant reductions were defined as a change in outcome using lower 95% confidence interval (CI) limits.

We conducted several additional analyses stratifying by sex (females and males) and by MVPA level (low: <MVPA median; ≥MVPA median). As a sensitivity analysis, we repeated both sex and adjusted models in a subset of individuals with 3 valid days of at least 23+ h/day, including 1 weekend day. Finally, we examined differences in movement behaviours and outcomes between those with complete covariate data and those missing data on one or more covariates. All analyses were performed in RStudio using the tidyverse , compositions , robCompositions , and zCompositions packages.

Sample description

Of 15 271 participants with valid accelerometer data on all 5 behaviours, 15 253 (99.9%) had data on at least one outcome. Table 1 provides descriptive characteristics of the sample for all movement behaviours, outcomes, and covariates. Briefly, 54.7% ( n = 8341) of the sample were female, with a mean age of 53.7 years ± 9.7 (range: 18–87). The majority of the sample were non-smokers (85.4%), self-rated their health as good or better (87.2%), were not taking lipid-modifying, hypertensive or glucose-lowering medications (70.1%), and had no history of CVD (90.2%). Average daily wear time across the wear period was 22.8 h ± 1.8. The mean composition of the full sample, defined as the average time spent in each behaviour normalized to a 24 h day, was 7.7 h sleeping, 10.4 h sedentary, 3.1 h standing, 1.5 h in LIPA, and 1.3 h in MVPA. Supplementary data online , Figure S1A demonstrates absolute differences in time spent in each movement behaviour by cohort, while Supplementary data online , Figure S1B provides percent differences compared with the overall mean sample composition. Inter-cohort differences were largest for standing, LIPA, and MVPA, with comparable time spent in sleeping and SB. The maximal available sample in sex–age–cohort-adjusted models ranged from 11 270 (triglycerides; n = 9450 complete cases) to 15 204 (BMI; n = 12 166 complete cases).

Descriptive characteristics in maximal available sample ( n = 15 253)

ALSWH, Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health; BMI, body mass index; BCS70, 1970 British Cohort Study; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DPhacto, Danish PHysical ACTivity cohort with Objective measurements; FIREA, Finnish Retirement and Aging Study; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LIPA, light-intensity physical activity; MVPA, moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity; NES, Nijmegen Exercise Study; SD, standard deviation; SF-36, Short-Form 36; TMS, The Maastricht Study.

a Re-scaled to a 24 h day to create the composition.

b Response terminology differs slightly by cohort, given translation of original question (see Supplementary data online , Table S1 ).

c Covariates available in restricted cohorts only (see Supplementary data online , Table S1 ).

Association between movement behaviours and adiposity

A greater proportion of time spent sedentary was associated with higher BMI (see Supplementary data online , Table S4 ); conversely—and in order of size of association—more time engaging in MVPA, LIPA, standing, or sleep was associated with lower BMI. Associations were robust to adjustment for all covariates (Models 2 and 3, Supplementary data online , Tables S4 and S5 ). Reallocation of time from any behaviour into MVPA, while holding the others constant, had the largest theoretical reduction in BMI ( Figure 1 ). For example, reallocating 30 min of SB, sleep, standing, or LIPA into MVPA was associated with −0.63 (95% CI: −0.48, −0.79), −0.43 (95% CI: −0.25, −0.59), −0.40 (95% CI: −0.25, −0.56), or −0.15 (95% CI: 0.05, −0.34) kg/m 2 lower BMI, respectively. Conversely, reallocating time from LIPA or MVPA into sleep, standing, or SB was associated with higher BMI ( Figure 1A and B ). The minimal daily behavioural change required to observe significant theoretical reductions in BMI was displacement of 7.2 min of SB into MVPA.

Substitution models (n = 15 204) for body mass index for (A) sedentary behaviour; (B) sleep; (C) standing; (D) light intensity physical activity; (E) moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. Data to the left of the reference line indicate the predicted change in body mass index if a given behaviour (e.g. sedentary behaviour in A) is replaced by each of the other four behaviours. Data to the right of the reference line indicate the predicted change in body mass index if a given behaviour (e.g. sedentary behaviour in A) replaces each of the other four behaviours. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Substitution models ( n = 15 204) for body mass index for ( A ) sedentary behaviour; ( B ) sleep; ( C ) standing; ( D ) light intensity physical activity; ( E ) moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. Data to the left of the reference line indicate the predicted change in body mass index if a given behaviour (e.g. sedentary behaviour in A ) is replaced by each of the other four behaviours. Data to the right of the reference line indicate the predicted change in body mass index if a given behaviour (e.g. sedentary behaviour in A ) replaces each of the other four behaviours. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Associations were similar for waist circumference across MVPA, standing, sleep, and SB ( Figure 2 ). Reallocating 30 min of SB, sleep, or standing into MVPA was associated with lower waist circumferences of −2.44 (95% CI: −1.97, −2.78), 1.75 (95% CI: −1.38, −2.22), and −1.34 (95% CI: −0.98, −1.78) cm, respectively. Although displacement of LIPA into MVPA remained favourable for waist circumference [30 min: −2.49 (−1.95, −2.94) cm], there was a negative association with waist circumference if time spent in LIPA replaced time spent sleeping or standing ( Figure 2D ). However, associations were attenuated after adjustment for covariates (Models 2 and 3, Supplementary data online , Tables S4 and S5 ). The minimal behavioural change required to observe statistically significant theoretical reductions in waist circumference was displacement of 5.0 min/day of LIPA into MVPA. A 5% reduction in BMI (−1.33 kg/m 2 ) would be yielded if 64.8 (95% CI: 52.8, 76.8) minutes or 1.78 (95% CI: 1.37, 2.38) hours of SB were reallocated into MVPA or LIPA, respectively.

Substitution models (n = 14 541) for waist circumference outcome for (A) sedentary behaviour; (B) sleep; (C) standing; (D) light intensity physical activity; (E) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Substitution models ( n = 14 541) for waist circumference outcome for ( A ) sedentary behaviour; ( B ) sleep; ( C ) standing; ( D ) light intensity physical activity; ( E ) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Association between movement behaviours and lipids

A smaller proportion of time in SB and a greater proportion in MVPA was associated with higher HDL cholesterol, lower total:HDL cholesterol ratio, and lower triglyceride levels (see Supplementary data online , Table S3 ; Figures 3–5A–E ). For example, reallocation models suggested that improvements were observed after as few as 6.0, 8.9, and 12.7 min of SB were replaced by MVPA ( Figures 3 – 5E ), respectively. Associations remained after adjustment for covariates (Models 2 and 3, Supplementary data online , Tables S3 and S4 ).

Substitution models (n = 13 060) for HDL cholesterol outcome for (A) sedentary behaviour; (B) sleep; (C) standing; (D) light intensity physical activity; (E) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Substitution models ( n = 13 060) for HDL cholesterol outcome for ( A ) sedentary behaviour; ( B ) sleep; ( C ) standing; ( D ) light intensity physical activity; ( E ) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Substitution models (n = 13 059) for total:HDL cholesterol ratio outcome for (A) sedentary behaviour; (B) sleep; (C) standing; (D) light intensity physical activity; (E) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Substitution models ( n = 13 059) for total:HDL cholesterol ratio outcome for ( A ) sedentary behaviour; ( B ) sleep; ( C ) standing; ( D ) light intensity physical activity; ( E ) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Substitution models (n = 12 240) for triglycerides outcome for (A) sedentary behaviour; (B) sleep; (C) standing; (D) light intensity physical activity; (E) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Substitution models ( n = 12 240) for triglycerides outcome for ( A ) sedentary behaviour; ( B ) sleep; ( C ) standing; ( D ) light intensity physical activity; ( E ) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Beyond the beneficial impact of reallocating time from LIPA to MVPA, there was little evidence that LIPA displacement was associated with HDL or total:HDL cholesterol ratio ( Figures 3 – 5D ; Supplementary data online , Tables S3 and S4 ). Conversely, positive associations between a greater proportion of time spent standing and favourable lipid outcomes remained across all outcomes and models. Standing was detrimental when displacing MVPA time but advantageous when replacing 1+ hour sleep or 1.75+ hour of SB ( Figures 3 – 5C ). Reallocating time between LIPA and standing—in either direction—was negligible for HDL and total:HDL cholesterol ratio, while theoretical reductions in triglycerides level were observed after 39 min of LIPA was displaced into standing.

Finally, more time spent sleeping relative to other behaviours was associated with poorer lipid outcomes; however, this differed by displaced behaviour ( Figures 3 – 5B ). When sleep displaced MVPA or standing time ( Figures 4 – 6B ), there were deleterious associations with all outcomes. For example, replacing 30 min of MVPA with sleep was associated with a −0.10 mmol/L (−0.08, −0.12), +0.17 (0.12, 0.21), and +0.13 mmol/L (0.08, 0.17) difference in HDL, total:HDL cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides. Reallocation between sleep, SB, and LIPA was negligible, with a meaningful change in HDL only emerging after ∼1.5 h of displacement from SB to sleep ( Figure 3B ).

Association between movement behaviours and HbA1c

A greater proportion of time spent in MVPA, standing, or sleeping and a smaller proportion of time spent in SB were associated with lower HbA1c. Associations remained after adjustment for covariates (see Supplementary data online , Tables S3 and S4 ). Relative to other time reallocations, displacement of any other behaviour into MVPA was associated with the most favourable estimates for HbA1c levels ( Figure 6 ). When MVPA replaced 30 min spent in SB, sleep, standing, or LIPA, we observed lower HbA1c of 1.33 (1.06, 1.61), 1.12 (0.80, 1.40), 1.04 (0.72, 1.36), and 2.00 (1.63, 2.37) mmol/mol, respectively ( Figure 6E ).

Substitution models (n = 11 270) for HbA1c outcome for (A) sedentary behaviour; (B) sleep; (C) light intensity physical activity; (D) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Substitution models ( n = 11 270) for HbA1c outcome for ( A ) sedentary behaviour; ( B ) sleep; ( C ) light intensity physical activity; ( D ) moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Model adjusted for sex (ref: female), age (ref: 53.7 years; mean-centred), and cohort (ref: Maastricht Study)

Light-intensity physical activity was the most deleterious behaviour for HbA1c; e.g. a 30 min displacement of MVPA, standing, sleep, or SB into LIPA was associated with 2.33 (1.89, 2.77), 0.70 (0.31, 1.11), 0.63 (0.29, 1.00), and 0.42 (0.11, 0.78) mmol/mol higher HbA1c, respectively ( Figure 6D ). Note these displacement changes were observed in the age–sex–cohort models, but associations were attenuated after adjustment for covariates, most notably with the addition of physical limitations (Models 2and 3, Supplementary data online , Tables S3 and S4 ). While more time in SB was associated with higher HbA1c levels, with no impact of displacement between standing and sleeping ( Figure 6A–C ). The minimal daily behavioural change needed to observe a significant change in HbA1c was 3.8 min of MVPA displacing LIPA. A summary of all behavioural displacements across each outcome is provided in Supplementary data online , Table S6 .

Sex-stratified analyses

Males spent more time sedentary (10.2 ± 1.9 vs. 9.3 ± 1.8 h/day), less time sleeping (6.9 ± 1.5 vs. 7.4 ± 1.3 h/day), and less time engaging in LIPA (4.5 ± 1.4 vs. 4.9 ± 1.5) and MVPA (1.2 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.5 h/day) than females ( Table 1 ). Given poorer risk factors in males (i.e. lower HDL and higher BMI, waist circumference, HDL:total cholesterol ratio, HbA1c, and triglycerides) and greater time spent in unhealthy movement behaviours as well as potential sex differences in physiological responses to exercise, 47 we subsequently stratified by sex. Associations did not change, although there were larger associations between the movement compositions and outcomes in females (see Supplementary data online , Table S7 and Figures S2 and S3 ). For example, associations between more time spent in LIPA or standing relative to other behaviours were attenuated for some outcomes in males, whereas reallocation models indicated steeper associations in females.

Moderate-vigorous physical activity–stratified analyses

Similarly, associations largely did not change when stratified by MVPA (low MVPA: <76.2 min/day; high MVPA: ≥76.2 min/day; see Supplementary data online , Table S8 and Figures S4 and S5 ), although associations between time spent in sleeping—relative to other behaviours—and poorer lipid outcomes weakened in stratified groups (see Supplementary data online , Table S8 ). Reallocation models indicated steeper associations in those with low MVPA, compared with those with high MVPA (see Supplementary data online , Figures S4 and S5 ). For example, in those with low MVPA, a 5% reduction in BMI (−1.38 kg/m 2 ) would be yielded if 1.22 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.64) or 1.29 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.67) hours of SB were reallocated into MVPA and LIPA, respectively. Conversely in those with high MVPA, a 5% reduction in BMI (−1.28 kg/m 2 ) was outside of the modelled reallocation range for SB, MVPA, and LIPA (e.g. >1.5 h).

Sensitivity analyses

When analyses were repeated in a subset of individuals with greater adherence to wear protocol (i.e. ≥3 valid wear days including ≥1 weekend day; maximal sample size ranging from n = 10 998 for triglycerides to n = 14 668 for BMI), results did not change (see Supplementary data online , Table S9 ). Compared with the complete cases sample (up to n = 12 193), those missing one or more covariate ( n = 3047) had lower HDL cholesterol (1.48 ± 0.42 vs. 1.57 ± 0.47 mmol/L), lower HDL:total cholesterol ratio (3.61 ± 1.22 vs. 3.79 ± 1.28), higher triglycerides (1.53 ± 1.12 vs. 1.47 ± 1.02 mmol/L), and higher HbA1c (38.6 ± 9.8 vs. 37.9 ± 8.6 mmol/mol) levels. However, adiposity measures were comparable, and there was no different in movement behaviour compositions (see Supplementary data online , Table S10 ).

In this large individual participant data analysis of over 15 000 participants, we examined cross-sectional associations between device-measured 24 h movement behaviours and cardiometabolic health outcomes. Our findings revealed a clear hierarchy of favourable movement behaviours across the 24 h day; MVPA was most strongly associated with healthier cardiometabolic outcomes. Using the mean 24 h behavioural composition as a starting point (7.7 h sleeping, 10.4 h SB, 3.1 h standing, 1.5 h LIPA, and 1.3 h MVPA), we observed theoretical benefits across all outcomes when as little as 4–12 min/day were reallocated into MVPA. Conversely, a greater proportion of time spent sedentary was detrimentally associated with all outcomes ( Structured Graphical Abstract ). More time spent in standing was favourably associated with outcomes, although there were inconsistent—and often null—associations for LIPA. Associations between sleep and biomarkers were complex, with an unfavourable association when sleep replaced any time spent active (MVPA, LIPA, and standing) and modest theoretical benefits when it replaced SB.

Hypothesized mechanisms

The inflammatory, metabolic, or vascular mechanisms through which MVPA contributes to improved cardiovascular health are well established. 11 , 12 Our findings further suggest that even small changes in MVPA are associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful cardiometabolic benefits. This builds on recent evidence reporting that small amounts of daily vigorous physical activity (accumulated in <2 min bouts) are associated with lower mortality, cancer, and CVD risk. 48 , 49 The acute benefits of standing on postprandial glucose response may partially explain the small but significant associations observed above. 50 , 51 High muscle contractions involved in extended standing periods may also influence lipoprotein lipase activity, a key enzyme in glucose and lipid metabolism, and contribute to decreased inflammatory pathways. 50 , 51 There were some positive associations of displacing SB or sleep into LIPA for BMI, but we largely observed null associations when examining other cardiometabolic biomarkers, which has been observed in other studies of device-measured LIPA and incident CVD. 52–54

Given the inclusion of fast walking in MVPA, there may have been some higher level LIPA classified as MVPA. In additional, higher levels of MVPA within the study sample is likely to be due to the inclusion short bursts of daily activity (e.g. taking the stairs, running for the bus) that is not typically captured in questionnaire-based physical activity assessment and may also be due to the younger and narrower age range as well as the overall health status of the cohort. Finally, there may be a ceiling effect of physical activity driven by high levels of MVPA in our active and healthy sample; specifically, if an individual with high levels of MVPA is engaging in additional LIPA above and beyond this, there may be little association with subsequent risk factors.

Mechanisms underlying association between insufficient sleep or too much SB and poor cardiometabolic health often focus on indirect factors that lead to weight gain or decreased energy expenditure. 55 However, chronic sleep deprivation has also been linked to the modification of gene expression and lipoproteins involved in inflammatory and cholesterol pathways. 56 , 57 Our findings suggest that any theoretical cardiometabolic benefits from increased sleep—beyond the reference composition of 7.7 h—are secondary to the direct physiological benefits of physical activity. However, it is unclear how the effects of displacing sleep and physical activity would differ in individuals with high levels of sleep deprivation. We hypothesize that individuals with insufficient sleep (i.e. <6 h) may benefit from prioritizing sleep over physical activity; the need for a more personalized approach to 24 h behaviour is further discussed below.

Comparison to existing evidence

Our study provides novel insights by distinguishing standing from ambulatory LIPA and identifying the minimal theoretical displacements between behaviours required to observe statistical associations with cardiometabolic health outcomes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to suggest that more time spent in standing may be more beneficial than LIPA for cardiometabolic outcomes. This must be interpreted with caution, given the likely inclusion of moderate fast-paced walking in MVPA rather than LIPA and the lack of context on the active or passive nature of the standing behaviour (e.g. stationary resistance training, standing desk, waiting for a bus). Further research must investigate how context and the cognitive and musculoskeletal demands of standing and LIPA activities impact cardiometabolic health. Previous compositional studies have identified the benefits of MVPA and the detrimental consequences of SB for various health outcomes 22–24 ; however, these studies reported inconsistent evidence regarding the role of sleep or LIPA activity on cardiometabolic outcomes, which may have been due to inadequate ascertainment of sleep using self-reported data. 22

Implications

Our findings have substantial implications from both research and clinical perspectives. First, they underscore the importance of MVPA across different adiposity and cardiometabolic biomarker outcomes. Our modelled reallocation suggests that population-level benefits can theoretically be observed after relatively short displacements of time (e.g. replacing other behaviour with 4–12 min of MVPA). However, it is crucial to examine if these effect sizes can be replicated in longitudinal observational or interventional studies that use posture-based accelerometer data. Recently, there have been increased public recommendations on the ‘sit less, move more’ approach that highlights benefits of any level of physical activity, including LIPA, for reduced mortality risk and improved cardiovascular health. 58–60 However, given more subtle cardiovascular adaptations resulting from LIPA compared with MVPA, 61 the benefits of lighter activities may be more meaningful for mental health or musculoskeletal outcomes 62 , 63 rather than cardiometabolic outcomes. The findings here reaffirm the importance of the intensity of the activity that is replacing SB; our models suggest that replacing 30 min of SB with MVPA rather than LIPA result in substantially better cardiometabolic outcomes. It was notable that replacing SB with standing had positive associations across all outcomes, a finding that highlights potential intervention opportunities aimed at minimizing sitting or targeting groups who have challenges engaging in MVPA (i.e. those in poorer health, those with few occupational opportunities). Nevertheless, it is crucial finding a balance between increasing time spent in higher intensity activities and decreasing time spent sedentary. For example, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey suggest comparable mortality risk between meeting US physical activity guidelines or by an additional 2.5 min of MVPA to ‘offset’ every 1 h of SB. 23 Therefore, optimal cardiometabolic outcomes can be achieved most efficiently if MVPA is specifically targeted.

Findings must be interpreted at the population level as the starting point for all reallocation plots is the mean sample composition, which has relatively high levels of sleep (7.7 h/day), standing (3.1 h/day), and MVPA (1.3 h/day). Displacement into and away from MVPA did not demonstrate symmetrical associations with outcomes ( Figures 1 – 6 ), and as introduced above, outcomes resulting from behavioural changes are likely to diverge depending on the initial starting profile. For example, previous investigation of dose-response associations between MVPA and cardiovascular outcomes has demonstrated steep risk reductions at low levels of MVPA, with benefits plateauing at higher MVPA volumes. 49 , 60 , 64 This was consistent with MVPA-stratified results, where reallocation plots indicated greater theoretical benefits in those with lower levels of MVPA at baseline. This highlights an increasing need to identify personalized recommendations—or the ‘sweet spot’ 65 —based on an individual’s current 24 h movement behaviours.

Modelling displacement of time between five key daily behaviours can inform design of more realistic lifestyle-based interventions and enable personalized behavioural changes. For example, interventions focusing on displacement between sleep, SB, standing, and LIPA would likely require >1 h of daily behavioural change to impact desired outcomes. This may have limited real-world plausibility compared with the potential impacts of displacing an additional ∼5 min in any other behaviour into MVPA. Notably, there are promising occupation-based interventions demonstrating the feasibility of reducing SB at this magnitude (e.g. standing desks or encourage active commuting via cycle to work schemes), 66–68 yet interventions targeting non-working aged individuals or those in non-desk based roles have demonstrated much smaller effects on overall sedentary time. 66 , 67

Strengths and limitations

Strengths of this study include the inclusion of 15 000+ participants from six cohorts and five countries to increase generalizability of our findings; the use of a thigh-mounted accelerometer wear position to sensitively capture postural changes; uniform ActiPASS processing of raw accelerometer data files; separation of standing from ambulatory LIPA; ascertainment of blood-based cardiometabolic biomarkers; and the complex compositional data analysis approach that simultaneously considered how time spent in different movement behaviours influences cardiometabolic outcomes.

There are some limitations that must be acknowledged. First, the data are cross-sectional, and therefore causality between movement behaviours and outcomes cannot be inferred. Recent mendelian randomization of device-measured activity in UK Biobank suggests causal associations between MVPA and adiposity, with bidirectional associations between SB and adiposity. 69 It is clear that there are complex bidirectional and dynamic associations between movement behaviours and cardiometabolic outcomes; therefore, longitudinal follow-up data (preferably with repeat measures) is crucial to further investigate these associations. Despite clear advances in the ActiPASS-based detection of activity intensity and SB, sleep time may have been overestimated as time spent in bed rather than biological sleep; nevertheless, previous work has suggested strong agreement between our sleep algorithm and polysomnography. 41 Moderate-vigorous physical activity levels were very high in this cohort. This may be due to both specific cohort characteristics (e.g. high exercise sample in NES, manual occupation in DPhacto, etc.) or high levels of moderate activity classified as MVPA.

Overall characteristics of the sample and the relatively high levels of MVPA indicate that this is a healthy sample. Furthermore, previous evidence suggests that individuals without valid accelerometer data may have poorer health, lower socio-economic position, and lower physical activity levels than those who wore the device. 70 However, previous evidence has suggested that poor sample representativeness does not necessarily impact the estimates of physical activity with cardiovascular outcomes. 71 The MVPA-stratified results suggests we may have underestimated the benefits of reallocation of behaviour, which appear to be greater at lower levels of MVPA. There may be some residual confounding; due to differences in measurement protocols between studies, some harmonized covariates had lower granularity than the original data collected (e.g. smoking, alcohol, medication use), whilst there were some differences in measurement and analysis of outcomes (see Supplementary data online , Table S3 ). Nevertheless, methodologies were extremely similar, which allowed the data to be pooled across six cohorts and >15 000 participants. We selected established covariates with known associations with movement behaviours and cardiovascular outcomes; 22–24 however, we recognize that there remains some potential for overadjustment; therefore, adjusted estimates may underreport true effect sizes. To avoid overadjustment, we did not adjust the blood biomarker models for adiposity measures, given that adiposity is likely to be on the causal pathway. 72

This study provides novel evidence of the hierarchy of movement behaviours and their impact on cardiometabolic health markers. Findings emphasize a key public health message that positive cardiometabolic health outcomes can be most efficiently and feasibly achieved with small increases in MVPA. Standing—and for some outcomes LIPA—had positive associations with outcomes, although this was only observed after displacement of substantial amounts of time. Sedentary behaviour was the sole behaviour with clear adverse associations with outcomes, regardless of duration. Compositional data analysis sheds novel insights on the complex interplay of 24 h behaviours for cardiometabolic health outcomes. Taken together, our results suggest that prioritizing a balance of more time in MVPA and less time in SB is the most efficient and effective way to improve and/or maintain good cardiometabolic health.

The data on which this research is based were drawn from six observational studies in the Netherlands, UK, Australia, Denmark, and Finland. We are grateful to all participants who provided the survey data.

Supplementary data are available at European Heart Journal online.

Disclosure of Interest

All authors declare no disclosure of interest for this contribution.

Data Availability

Access to data is not available directly from the authors of this manuscript. Access to cohort data may be available by contacting individual cohort and following their specific governance and access requirements.

This project was funded by a British Heart Foundation Special Grant (SP/F/20/150002) and National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) Investigator (APP1194510) and Ideas (APP1180812) Grants. The establishment of the ProPASS consortium was supported by an unrestricted 2018-20 grant by PAL Technologies (Glasgow, UK). ActiPASS development was partly funded by FORTE, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (2021-01561). E.S. is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (APP1194510). G.M. is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Principal Research Fellowship (APP1121844). A.D.H. receives support from the British Heart Foundation, the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union, the National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, the UK Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research, and the Wellcome Trust and works in a unit that receives support from the UK Medical Research Council.

Ethical Approval

Ethical approval was provided by each individual study during data collection and permitted use of data for secondary analysis (e.g. consortium).

Pre-registered Clinical Trial Number

Not applicable.

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Tudor-Locke C , Mora-Gonzalez J , Ducharme SW , Aguiar EJ , Schuna JM Jr , Barreira TV , et al.  Walking cadence (steps/min) and intensity in 61–85-year-old adults: the CADENCE-adults study . Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2021 ; 18 : 129 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01199-4

Hettiarachchi P , Aili K , Holtermann A , Svartengren M , Palm P . Validity of a non-proprietary algorithm for identifying lying down using raw data from thigh-worn triaxial accelerometers . Sensors (Basel) 2021 ; 21 : 904 . https://doi.org/10.3390/s21030904

Crowley P , Skotte J , Stamatakis E , Hamer M , Aadahl M , Stevens ML , et al.  Comparison of physical behavior estimates from three different thigh-worn accelerometers brands: a proof-of-concept for the Prospective Physical Activity, Sitting, and Sleep consortium (ProPASS) . Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2019 ; 16 : 65 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-019-0835-0

Clark B , Winker E , Ahmadi M , Trost S . Comparison of three algorithms using thigh-worn accelerometers for classifying sitting, standing, and stepping in free-living office workers . J Meas Phys Behav 2021 ; 4 : 89 – 95 . https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2020-0019

Johansson PJ , Crowley P , Axelsson J , Franklin K , Garde AH , Hettiarachchi P , et al.  Development and performance of a sleep estimation algorithm using a single accelerometer placed on the thigh: an evaluation against polysomnography . J Sleep Res 2023 ; 32 : e13725 . https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13725

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Stamatakis E , Ahmadi MN , Gill JMR , Thøgersen-Ntoumani C , Gibala MJ , Doherty A , et al.  Association of wearable device-measured vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity with mortality . Nat Med 2022 ; 28 : 2521 – 9 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02100-x

Ahmadi MN , Clare PJ , Katzmarzyk PT , Del Pozo Cruz B , Lee IM , Stamatakis E . Vigorous physical activity, incident heart disease, and cancer: how little is enough? Eur Heart J 2022 ; 43 : 4801 – 14 . https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac572

Healy GN , Winkler EA , Owen N , Anuradha S , Dunstan DW . Replacing sitting time with standing or stepping: associations with cardio-metabolic risk biomarkers . Eur Heart J 2015 ; 36 : 2643 – 9 . https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehv308

Henson J , Edwardson CL , Bodicoat DH , Bakrania K , Davies MJ , Khunti K , et al.  Reallocating sitting time to standing or stepping through isotemporal analysis: associations with markers of chronic low-grade inflammation . J Sports Sci 2018 ; 36 : 1586 – 93 . https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1405709

Walmsley R , Chan S , Smith-Byrne K , Ramakrishnan R , Woodward M , Rahimi K , et al.  Reallocation of time between device-measured movement behaviours and risk of incident cardiovascular disease . Br J Sports Med 2021 ; 56 : 1008 – 17 . https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-104050

Peter-Marske KM , Evenson KR , Moore CC , Cuthbertson CC , Howard AG , Shiroma EJ , et al.  Association of accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior with incident cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke: the women’s health study . J Am Heart Assoc 2023 ; 12 : e028180 . https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.122.028180

Dempsey PC , Strain T , Khaw KT , Wareham NJ , Brage S , Wijndaele K . Prospective associations of accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time with incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality . Circulation 2020 ; 141 : 1113 – 5 . https://doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.119.043030

Grandner MA , Jackson NJ , Izci-Balserak B , Gallagher RA , Murray-Bachmann R , Williams NJ , et al.  Social and behavioral determinants of perceived insufficient sleep . Front Neurol 2015 ; 6 : 112 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2015.00112

Aho V , Ollila HM , Kronholm E , Bondia-Pons I , Soininen P , Kangas AJ , et al.  Prolonged sleep restriction induces changes in pathways involved in cholesterol metabolism and inflammatory responses . Sci Rep 2016 ; 6 : 24828 . https://doi.org/10.1038/srep24828

Yaribeygi H , Maleki M , Sathyapalan T , Jamialahmadi T , Sahebkar A . Pathophysiology of physical inactivity-dependent insulin resistance: a theoretical mechanistic review emphasizing clinical evidence . J Diabetes Res 2021 ; 2021 : 7796727 . https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7796727

Dunstan DW , Dogra S , Carter SE , Owen N . Sit less and move more for cardiovascular health: emerging insights and opportunities . Nat Rev Cardiol 2021 ; 18 : 637 – 48 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-021-00547-y

Greenwalt D , Phillips S , Ozemek C , Arena R , Sabbahi A . The impact of light physical activity, sedentary behavior and cardiorespiratory fitness in extending lifespan and healthspan outcomes: how little is still significant? A narrative review . Curr Probl Cardiol 2023 ; 48 : 101871 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.101871

Ekelund U , Tarp J , Steene-Johannessen J , Hansen BH , Jefferis B , Fagerland MW , et al.  Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis . BMJ 2019 ; 366 : l4570 . https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4570

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Glass NL , Bellettiere J , Jain P , LaMonte MJ , LaCroix AZ . Evaluation of light physical activity measured by accelerometry and mobility disability during a 6-year follow-up in older women . JAMA Netw Open 2021 ; 4 : e210005 . https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0005

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Bakker EA , Lee DC , Hopman MTE , Oymans EJ , Watson PM , Thompson PD , et al.  Dose-response association between moderate to vigorous physical activity and incident morbidity and mortality for individuals with a different cardiovascular health status: a cohort study among 142,493 adults from the Netherlands . PLoS Med 2021 ; 18 : e1003845 . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003845

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Author notes

  • physical activity
  • body mass index procedure
  • lack of exercise
  • hemoglobin a, glycosylated
  • medical devices
  • sitting position
  • data analysis
  • moderate to vigorous physical activity

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Identifying Talent in Business, Sports, and Education

  • Educational Psychology
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Members in the Media
  • Sport Psychology

A  new paper  published in  Frontiers in Psychology: Performance Science  led by  Andy Parra-Martinez  at the University of Arkansas “describes the general status, trends, and evolution of research on talent identification across multiple fields globally over the last 80 years,” by drawing from the Scopus and Web of Science databases and conducting a bibliometric analysis of 2,502 documents.

Bibliometric analysis is a way of understanding the structure and citation patterns of research around a given topic, in this case, talent identification research.

Read the whole story (subscription may be required): Forbes

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IMAGES

  1. 60+ Sports Research Paper Topics to Win Over Your Profs

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  2. Sports Psychology Research Paper Example

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  3. 100 Best Sports Research Paper Topics For All

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  4. Sports Writing

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  5. 🏅Sports Research Paper Topics for Students

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  6. Sports Research Paper Rubric

    sports for a research paper

COMMENTS

  1. Physical Activity and Sports—Real Health Benefits: A Review with

    Recommendations for healthy sports are summarized. Keywords: youth, adolescent, elderly, quality of life, relative age effect, exercise, strength and conditioning Go to: 1. Introduction Sport is a double-edged sword regarding effects on health. Positive effects are achieved primarily through physical activity, which is the main part of most sports.

  2. 500+ Sports Research Topics

    January 1, 2024 by Muhammad Hassan Sports research topics cover a vast array of areas in the world of athletics, from the physical and psychological impacts of sport on athletes to the social and cultural implications of sports on society.

  3. 150 Best Sports Research Paper Topics

    Table of contents hide 1 Best sports essay topics in December 2023 2 Sports history research paper topics 3 Women in sports topic suggestions 4 Running sports paper topic ideas 5 Sports medicine research paper topics 6 Sports injury research paper topics 7 Sports psychology research paper topics 8 Sports theory research paper topics

  4. How to do Research on Sports

    Sports are the stuff of legends and players of every caliber, of grit, determination, and heart pumping action, of athleticism, psychology, and individual performance, and, more importantly, love and appreciation for the sport itself. Today, the sports business is a billion-dollar industry and an integral part of American and world culture.

  5. Full article: Qualitative research in sports studies: challenges

    The impact on our field of research cultivated by the foundation of the International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise and its associated journal (Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health), for example, is notable, whilst qualitative studies are a mainstay of many sociological journals (Dart, Citation 2014 ...

  6. 174 In Depth Sports Research Topics You Will Appreciate

    In-depth research: An excellent sports paper should show an element of intensive research detailing the topic's background. For instance, if you are tackling why football stadiums are always full, you would bring in the psychological and social factors. Sports jargon: Such papers should communicate clearly with sports jargon at the core.

  7. 188 Sports Research Topics: Fresh Ideas 2023

    If you are assigned to write a research paper about sports, you should know that choosing a great topic is the first step in crafting a great assignment. It is easier to brainstorm several sports topics by listing your interests, opinions, and points of view on things you already have some background in and want to learn more about.

  8. The Impact of Physical Activity and Sport on Mental Health

    Full-text available. September 2020 Journal of Physical Education. Tamadher Abdul aziz Muhsen. Muroj Abdulaziz Muhsen. Scientists have researched different aspects of physical exercise and sports ...

  9. Performance Nutrition for Athletes

    The first paper [ 1] addresses the intriguing topic of translating sports performance nutrition research into the real world and ultimately the chances of it helping an athlete maximize their performance to reach the "podium.". The authors present a framework they call the "Paper-2-Podium Matrix" which provides several criteria to ...

  10. Sport psychology and performance meta-analyses: A systematic ...

    Sport psychology as an academic pursuit is nearly two centuries old. An enduring goal since inception has been to understand how psychological techniques can improve athletic performance. Although much evidence exists in the form of meta-analytic reviews related to sport psychology and performance, a systematic review of these meta-analyses is absent from the literature. We aimed to synthesize ...

  11. Journal of Sport and Social Issues: Sage Journals

    SUBMIT PAPER. Journal of Sport and Social Issues (JSSI) brings you the latest research, discussion and analysis on contemporary sport issues. Using an international, interdisciplinary perspective, JSSI examines today's most pressing and far-reaching … | View full journal description. This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication ...

  12. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

    Innovation in Developmental Psychology, Education, Sports, and Arts: Advances in Research on Individuals and Groups - Volume II. Radu Predoiu. Alexandra Predoiu. Andrzej Piotrowski. Georgeta Panisoara. 442 views. A multidisciplinary journal which investigates all aspects of sports, physical activity, and active living to understand the benefits ...

  13. Sports Research Paper Topics for Students

    Paper topics related to sports involve many different areas of unique activities. Modern sport isn't just a physical activity - it's an entire philosophy and a way of life that provides people with a wide range of innovative leisure opportunities. This industry also offers solutions to many different cultural and social issues.

  14. (PDF) Impacts of sports on students' life

    Abstract Involvement in sport activities could improve one's life in terms of physical fitness and mental health. The participation of parents and children in sport activities is crucial in...

  15. 140 Gripping Sports Related Research Paper Topics for ...

    Introduction. The opening part explains why you have chosen this topic about sport. Methods and Materials. In this section, you present what ways you used to fill the knowledge gaps. Results. State objective outcomes and provide supportive data and statistics. Discussion.

  16. 180 Sports Research Topics and Ideas for Students

    Sports research papers look into several aspects of sports such as analyzing and exploring a range of topics related to competitions, athletics, and physical activities. The research papers provide critical analysis, uncover new insights and add to the existing knowledge in psychology, sports science, sociology, and other disciplines.

  17. 100 Best Sports Research Paper Topics For All

    Top 100 Sports Research Paper Topics November 19, 2020 More often than not, students invite the opportunity to create their own sports research paper topics when their teachers set simple parameters and give students a wealth of freedom.

  18. Sports Research Paper Topics and Ideas

    Sports Research Paper Topics and Ideas Last Updated: 24 August 2023 Research paper topics on sport, huh! The mere mention of sports research papers elicits biological reactions that can turn out good or bad. Sports is a global culture that connects people from diverse backgrounds.

  19. Sports Research Paper Topics: BEST Ideas for an A+ Result

    A sports research paper aims to enable students to analyze sports events and maintain theoretical knowledge about sports. You need to select an interesting topic that you can view from various angles as you are required to write a research paper that includes in-depth analysis. Following is the list of interesting sports research paper topics.

  20. Researching women in sport development: an intersectional approach

    Study population and research focus. On analysing the findings of the literature reviewed, we found that the overwhelming number of studies treated women and girls in sport as a homogeneous analytical category. Of the 439 studies in the sample, 398 had a sample of 'women' (277), mixed gender (73) and 'girls' (39).

  21. Sports Research Paper Examples

    Sports Research Paper Examples. See our collection of sports research paper examples . The modern concept of sport refers mainly to organized and competitive physical activities such as cricket, basketball, table tennis, golf, or soccer and excludes recreational activities such as walking or hunting. Thus it leaves out games such as bridge ...

  22. 100+ Youth Sports Research Paper Topics to Write About

    21 min. I know many sad stories of college students who write about non-interesting sports research topics such as the usefulness of teamwork or the history of football. Here in Homework Lab, I've got 21 students from the U.S. who came to us with D and even F marks for sports research paper topics, banned as hackneyed by their professors.

  23. Esports Research: A Literature Review

    Following Creswell and Creswell (2018), we developed a list of key words to guide our search, including esports, competitive video games, electronic/virtual/digital sports, and electronic/virtual/digital competition.With this set of key words, we conducted a search across multiple databases and search engines including Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost.

  24. Sticking with sports during school years linked to academic success

    Overall, they found that continued sports participation during school years was linked to lower absenteeism, better attention and memory, higher NAPLAN and end-of-school scores, and higher odds of ...

  25. Device-measured physical activity and cardiometabolic health: the

    ActiPASS development was partly funded by FORTE, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (2021-01561). E.S. is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (APP1194510). G.M. is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Principal Research Fellowship (APP1121844).

  26. Identifying Talent in Business, Sports, and Education

    A new paper published in Frontiers in Psychology: Performance Science led by Andy Parra-Martinez at the University of Arkansas "describes the general status, trends, and evolution of research on talent identification across multiple fields globally over the last 80 years," by drawing from the Scopus and Web of Science databases and conducting a bibliometric analysis of 2,502 documents.

  27. What sports psychology research reveals about athletes' performance

    Psychological studies of sports appeared as early as the late 19th century. During the 1970s and '80s, sports psychology became a fertile research field. And within the last decade or so, sports psychology research has exploded, as scientists have explored the nuances of everything from the pursuit of perfection to the harms of abusive coaching.

  28. US News

    Read today's latest breaking news from across the US on the New York Post.