Beyond the Court: How the Centre for Human Performance Enhances Lancer Athletes with Innovative Technology

By: Agatha Godlewski

The Centre for Human Performance and Health (CHPH) has brought a data-driven approach to the varsity programs, creating better performance and outcomes.

Technology has transformed athlete training with an enhanced focus on performance, injury prevention and holistic care. Graduate students who work with the CHPH to aid Lancer athletes also receive valuable hands-on learning.

Jordyn Brearley, a member of the women’s volleyball team, says the CHPH’s involvement is all about enriched support.

“[The CHPH] makes us feel like we’re a lot more involved in the school and that our goals are attainable. It’s not just our team around us—we have a whole science team behind us.”

Jordyn Brearley, Lancer Women’s Volleyball Player. Photo by: golancers

A key component of the CHPH’s work is integrating wearable technology to provide individualized training and recovery plans. The volleyball team, for instance, uses wearable accelerometers clipped to their jerseys, which provide real-time data on jumps, landing forces, and other metrics during practices and games.

Dr. Andrew Perrotta, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and principal investigator of the Sports Science Lab, explains how this data enables coaches to make informed decisions about workloads and health.

Dr. Andrew Perrotta, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and principal investigator of the Sports Science Lab. Photo by: the University of Windsor.

“The data allows coaches to adjust training in real-time – they can call practice early if needed or tailor exercises to match the specific stress levels of each player,” said Perrotta.

Patrick Monforton, a graduate student working with the centre, plays a pivotal role in implementing a data-driven approach.

“I’m with the team every step of the way,” Monforton said. “I travel with them, set up workouts, and use data from tools like the accelerometers to ensure each athlete is training efficiently and safely.”

This personalized approach has shown promising results. Previously, training loads were often uniform, and practices could be intense without accounting for individual differences. Now, with real-time data, each athlete’s load is monitored more closely with the potential for improving load management and reducing fatigue-related injuries.

As an example, force plates were introduced to athletic assessment. This tool assesses how athletes land after jumps, providing useful injury prevention insights.

Patrick Monforton, Human Kinetics graduate student at the University of Windsor. Photo by: CHPH.

“Seeing how we land and getting immediate feedback helps us adjust and reduce our risk of injury,” Brearley shared. “Monforton can tell if we’re landing with too much force, and we make real-time adjustments to soften our landings.”

The support from the CHPH extends beyond physical training and dimensions such as nutritional guidance are also involved. Monforton and others conduct nutrition meetings to help athletes better understand their dietary needs.

“We had our nutrition meetings with Monforton where he (broke) down how many calories we should be eating for the amount of training we do, along with how much protein and carbs (we need),” Brearley noted.

Perrotta emphasized that his graduate students truly guide the CHPH’s ability to help Lancer athletes.

“These students are doing such a great job because it’s like a full-time job for them. They not only work directly with the teams but also manage their coursework and research. Their commitment and the buy-in from the players and coaches is a testament to their dedication,” said Perrotta.

Graduate students like Monforton work directly with varsity teams, collecting data and developing strength and conditioning programs, directly benefiting the athletes. Perrotta acknowledges that injuries are inevitable in sports, but focusing on managing fatigue through load management and recovery can help reduce the risks.

Ultimately, the CHPH’s involvement has created an environment where athletes feel additionally supported.

“Having Monforton and the CHPH behind us makes us feel like we’re part of something bigger,” Brearley said. “There’s purpose behind everything we do, and we can see the results both in our performance and in how we feel.”

In the end, it’s not just about training harder but about training smarter. For Lancer athletes, the CHPH is the difference-maker in making every effort count.