Dr Rob Meyers

Rob's research interests focus upon Strength and Conditioning and Physiology of performance within paediatric/ youth populations, and the implementation of Long Term Athletic Development. These interests include the development of strength, power, speed and agility in youth athletes with age and maturation, Long Term Athlete Development, Youth Physical Development and the physiology of tennis performance. Rob's PhD was completed in June 2016, with a thesis entitled "The influence of age, growth and maturation upon maximal sprint speed in male youth."

Refereed Academic Journal Articles

Meyers, R.W., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G, Lloyd, R.L. and Cronin, J.B. (2016) The influence of age, maturity and body size on the spatiotemporal determinants of maximal sprint speed in boys. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (Published ahead-of-print) http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001310

Meyers, R.W., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G, Lloyd, R.L. and Cronin, J.B. (2015) Reliability of the spatio-temporal determinants of maximal sprint speed in adolescent boys over single and multiple steps, Pediatric Exercise Science 27, 419 – 426 http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/pes.2015-0038

Meyers, R.W., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Lloyd, R.L. and Cronin, J.B.  (2015) Maximal Sprint Speed in Boys of Increasing Maturity, Pediatric Exercise Science, 27, 85-94 http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/pes.2013-0096

Stone, K.J., Hughes, M.G., Stembridge, M.R., Meyers, R.W., Newcombe, D.J. & Oliver, J.L. (2014) The influence of playing surface on physiological and performance responses during and after soccer simulation, European Journal of Sport Science, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2014.984768  

Lloyd, R.S., Oliver, J.L., Meyers, R.W., Read, P., Nimphius, S., and Jeffreys, I. (2013). Considerations for the Development of Agility During Childhood and Adolescence. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 35(3): 2-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e31827ab08c

Hughes, M.G., Birdsey, L., Meyers, R., Newcombe, D., Oliver, J., Smith, P., Stembridge, M., Stone, K. and Kerwin, D. (2013) Effects of playing surface on physiological responses and performance variables in a controlled football simulation. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(8), 878-886. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.757340

Lloyd, R.S., Oliver, J.L., Meyers, R.W., Moody, J. and Stone, M.H. (2012). Long-term athletic development and its application to youth weightlifting. Strength and Conditioning Journal 34(4), 55-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e31825ab4bb         

Oliver, J.L., Lloyd, R.S. and Meyers, R.W. (2011). Training elite child athletes: promoting welfare and wellbeing. Strength and Conditioning Journal 33(4): 73-79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e318216a9b6

Ford, P.A., De Ste Croix, M.B.A., Lloyd, R.S., Meyers, R., Moosavi, M., Oliver, J., Till, K. & Williams, C.A (2011). Critical review of the Long-Term Athlete Development Model – Problems with its physiological application.  Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(4): 389-402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.536849

Stone, K., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Newcombe, D., Stembridge, M. & Meyers, R.W. (2011). Development of a soccer-simulation protocol involving agility and repeated sprints.  International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 6: 427-431. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21911867

Roberts, T., Turner, A. and Meyers, R. (2011) A Field-Based Test Battery for Tennis. Professional Strength and Conditioning (UKSCA Journal). 20: 13-22.

Lloyd, R., Meyers, R. and Oliver, J. (2011) The natural development and trainability of plyometric ability during childhood. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 33(2): 23-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e3182093a27

Oliver, J. L. and Meyers, R.W. (2009). Reliability and generality of measures of acceleration, planned agility, and reactive agility. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 4(3): 345-354. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19953822

Hughes, M. and Meyers, R. (2005) Movement patterns in elite level men's singles tennis,

International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 5(2): 110-134.

Book Chapters


Hughes. M.G., Lloyd, R.S. and Meyers, R.W. (2012). Chapter XIII: Sprinting and plyometric ability in youths: the effect of natural development and training. In Reviews in Paediatric Exercise Science (Duncan, M. eds.). Nova Science Publishers. p201-216.  https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28200

Meyers, R.W. (2009) Comparison of laboratory and on-court fitness testing of aerobic fitness in tennis players. In: Lees, A., Cabello, D. and Torres, G. Science and Racket sports IV. Oxon, Routledge. pp 29-35. http://www.taylorandfrancis.com/books/details/9780415666930/

Conference Presentations

Footwork and Conditioning for Mini Tennis Players. Presented at the Tennis Wales Level 1/2 Conference, Cardiff, October 2012.

Speed Development in Youth Athletes (Part of Enhancing Power and Speed in Youth: New Insights symposium). Presented at the International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport, Glasgow, July 2012.

The Role of Needs Analysis: Strength and Conditioning. Presented at the Cardiff Sports and Exercise Medicine Conference 2012, University Hospital of Wales, March 2012.

The development of effective on-court movement with juniors: Implications for Strength & Conditioning. Presented at the LTA Strength and Conditioning Workshop, National Tennis Centre, Roehampton, August 2011.

The development and trainability of speed with age and maturation. Presented at the Researching Youth Sport Conference, Loughborough University, Nov 2010.

The influence of maturation status on maximal sprint speed characteristics in boys. Presented to the International Conference of
Physical Education and Sports Science, National Institute of Education, Singapore, May 2010.

Providing sport science support to a national athlete development project. Presented at the Researching Youth Sport Conference, Brunel University, Sept 2009.

9-12s - The physical foundation for tomorrows players. Presented to the Tennis Wales Coaches Conference, Welsh National Tennis Centre, Cardiff, Feb 2008

U9s - Getting the physical fundamentals right. Presented to the Tennis Wales Coaches Conference, Welsh National Tennis Centre, Cardiff, Feb 2008

Physical Development – What coaches need to know. Presented to the Tennis Wales Coaches Conference, Welsh National Tennis Centre, Cardiff, Feb 2008

Comparison of laboratory and on-court testing of aerobic fitness in tennis players. Presented to the Fourth World Congress of Science and Racket Sports, Madrid, Sept 2006.

Conference Abstracts

Radnor, J.M., Moeskops, S., Davies, M. and Meyers, R.W. (2015) Relationship between lower limb force-time characteristics and change of direction speed. Proceeding of the UKSCA's 11^th Annual Conference, Chesford Grange, Warwickshire, July 2015.

Pedley, J.S., Bennett, J and Meyers, R.W. (2015) Relationship between trunk strength and isometric closed kinetic chain performance. Proceeding of the UKSCA's 11^th Annual Conference, Chesford Grange, Warwickshire, July 2015.

Meyers, R.W., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Lloyd, R.S. and Cronin, J.B. (2015) The influence of age, maturity and body size on maximal sprint speed in boys. Proceeding of the UKSCA's 11^th Annual Conference, Chesford Grange, Warwickshire, July 2015.

Meyers, R.W., Morris, S., & Lloyd, R.S. (2014) The effects of concurrent strength and high-intensity interval training on indices of strength, power and endurance performance. Proceeding of the UKSCA's 10^th Annual Conference, Chesford Grange, Warwickshire, July 2014. Awarded best Poster presentation in conference.

Moeskops, S., Radnor, J.M., Meyers, R.W., Oliver, J.L., de ste Croix, M.B.A. & Lloyd, R.S. (2014) The effects of an eight-week integrated neuromuscular training programme on pre-pubescent female gymnasts' anterior cruciate ligament injury risk: a preliminary study. Proceeding of the UKSCA's 10^th Annual Conference, Chesford Grange, Warwickshire, July 2014.

Oliver, J.L., Meyers, R.W., Lloyd, R.S., Rumpf, M., and McMaster, D.T. (2012) Enhancing Power and Speed in Youth: New Insights symposium. Proceedings of the International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport, Glasgow, July 2012.

Hughes, M.G., Archer, M., Meyers, R.W., Stembridge, M., Oliver, J., Cronin, J., Sephton, A. & Smith, P. (2010) The effect of training in the development of sprint-speed and power in groups of 11 to 16 year old boys. Proceedings of the BASES annual conference, Glasgow University, September 2010.

Hughes, M.G., Archer, M., Meyers, R.W., Stembridge, M., Oliver, J., Cronin, J., Sephton, A. & Smith, P. (2010) The influence of maturation and age on speed-training gains in 11-16-year old boys. Proceedings of the International Conference of
Physical Education and Sports Science, National Institute of Education, Singapore, May 2010.

Meyers, R., Oliver, J., Hughes, M.G., Stembridge, M. and Cronin, J. (2010). The influence of maturation status on maximal sprint speed characteristics in boys. Proceedings of the International Conference of
Physical Education and Sports Science, National Institute of Education, Singapore, May 2010.

Ford, P.A., Hughes M.G., Lloyd, R., Meyers R., Moosavi, M., Plat G., Oliver, J., Stretch, D.J. & Williams, C.A (2008). Application of the Long-Term Athlete Development Model - Tracking Physiological Parameters. Proceedings of the BASES annual conference, Brunel University, September 2008.

Hughes, M.G., Deutsch, M., Meyers, R., Reid, A. (2007). Correlates of speed-test performance among contestants in a football talent identification scheme: the Football Icon project. Proceedings of the BASES conference, September 2007. University of Bath.

Meyers, R. (2006) Comparison of laboratory and on-court testing of aerobic fitness in tennis players, Proceedings of the Fourth World Congress of Science and Racket Sports, Madrid, Sept 2006, pp59-60.

I deliver on modules within the BSc Sport Conditioning Rehabilitation and Massage and MSc Strength and Conditioning degree programmes, primarily in the area of Strength and Conditioning with some contributions to Rehabilitation and Physiology modules. I'm currently the module leader for the Introduction to Strength and Conditioning module.  I currently sit on the Cardiff School of Sport Research Ethics committee and have previously fulfilled the role of Programme Director for the BSc Sport Conditioning Rehabilitation and Massage (2010-2014).

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (UWIC, Cardiff, 2003)
MSc (Hons) Coaching Science (UWIC, Cardiff, 2005)
FHEA – Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) – (Achieved 2008)
UKSCA – Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ACSS) – (Achieved 2008)
LTA CCA performance coach (Achieved 2005)
1st4Sport Level 3 Introduction to Assessment Practice in Sport (Achieved 2009)
LTA Certificate in tutoring skills (Achieved 2009)

I am linked with a number of external organisations through research, professional practice, enterprise activities and learning and teaching. Current consultancy and links include:

• Cardiff Met Tennis Academy – Head of Strength and Conditioning (2004-date)
• Llandaff Rowing Club – Strength & Conditioning Mentor (2014-present)
• Tennis Wales – Head of Strength and Conditioning for high performance players based in South Wales (2011-present)
• Welsh Gymnastics – delivery of CPD workshops for coaches in the field of Youth Strength & Conditioning

Previous consultancy and links include:

• British gymnastics – Workshop on Level 3 coaching qualification on Strength and Conditioning
• LTA – CPD workshops to Strength and Conditioning Coaches working in tennis
• FIFA – Turf research projects (including Chelsea FC)
• Cardiff Blues - Physiological support (testing).
• Cardiff City FC - Physiological support (testing).
• Welsh Badminton – CPD for High performance coaches/ strength and conditioning for development players.
• Welsh Athletics - Physiological support (testing).
• Surrey Athletics - Physiological support (testing).
• Welsh Ski Squad – Strength and Conditioning support to individual team members.
• Badminton England – Physiological support (testing).
• Gloucester Rugby Club - Physiological support (testing).
• Cardiff Met Sport Teams – Strength and conditioning support to various teams including Tennis (men's and women's) and Netball
• Football Icon 2 project - Sports science testing and managerial team
• Fusion Sport – Former European sales and support manager.
  

External Examining

External Examiner:

• BSc (Hons) Sports Strength and Conditioning (3 Year) and BSc (Hons) Sports Strength and Conditioning (fast track), University of Gloucester (2014-Present)

External Panelist:

• Review and revalidation of the FdSc Physical Education and Football Coaching with Arsenal in the Community and FdSc Personal Training with Strength and Conditioning, City and Islington College, London Metropolitan University, June 2014.
• Validation of BSc (Hons) Physical Education and Coaching (top-up) and BSc (Hons) Personal Training with Strength and Conditioning (top-up) City and Islington College, London Metropolitan University, Dec 2014.

Sporting profile

• UWIC Tennis captain and player (2001-2003)
• UWIC Swimming and Waterpolo team (2002-2005)
• Tennis Professional/ Fitness consultant La Manga Club, Spain (2000-2006)

Coaching profile

• Cardiff Met BUCS Tennis Performance Director (2005-2012)
• Cardiff Met Tennis Academy Accredited tennis coach (2004-2010)