The Centre for Human Performance Sciences, under the leadership of Prof Liz Bressan, pursues research and development as well as community interaction in the interdisciplinary field of Adapted Sport and Physical Activity. Adapting participation in sport and physical activity has been found to be a promising approach to enhancing performance and promoting rehabilitation, not only for people with disabilities, but also for other vulnerable groups such as women and youths.
Through partnerships with other Stellenbosch University entities as well as with other South African and international universities, public sector and corporate organisations, the Centre is engaged in the implementation of projects in the following six focus areas:
Current research projects include using advanced biomechanical analysis and mobile-eye technology to improve the performance of golfers with disabilities (Key partner: University of Limerick, Ireland)
Inclusive sport and recreation
Empowerment training for persons with disabilities is the focus of a community interaction project through which persons with disabilities learn how to coach sport and teach self-defence to other persons with disabilities (Key partner: Royal Embassy of the Netherlands).
Youth sport
The application of advanced technology to the assessment of the speed and acceleration of runners supports the “Southern African Sprinting Project”. The analysis of sprinters has already made substantial contributions to their talent development as well as more precise assessment of injuries, leading to more efficient and effective rehabilitation. (Key partners: TimeTronics Corporation, Belgium and Katholiek Universiteit Leuven, Belgium).
Youth development through sport
A sense of urgency to find ways to deal with increasing levels of violence among South African youth has led to the initiation of a new project, “Boys Development through Rugby”. The focus is to design and implement effective interventions that target anger management, emotional regulation and goal-setting. (Key partners: Maties Rugby Club and the SU Department of Psychology).
Girls' leadership and sport development
The Academy for Girls’ Leadership and Sport Development is devoted to the empowerment of high school girls through leadership development programmes that take the form of training camps where girls (ages 12-19) can develop a positive vision for themselves and their communities. Two different programme streams are offered. They can combine their Leadership Education with either: (1) improving their performance in a competitive sport or (2) acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitude to pursue a physically active lifestyle. The Academy uses a mentoring system where female students from the University work with the girls to guide them.
Women's physical activity and wellness
An Africa collaboration research project has begun to gain insight into the prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome (a cluster of indicators of diseases of lifestyle associated with high blood pressure and diabetes) in Gaborone, Botswana, and to communicate findings to relevant government officials (Key partners: University of Botswana and SU’s Department of Physiological Sciences).