Minnesota Twins star Byron Buxton has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a bruised left rib

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Anthony Richardson rushed for two touchdowns before leaving with a concussion and Gardner Minshew threw for 171 yards and a TD as the Indianapolis Colts held off the Houston Texans for a 31-20 win

Virtual reality could help footballers improve their heading without the repetitive head impacts from a ball, a new study indicates. Players involved in a study at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Institute of Sport and its Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences demonstrated greater performance in ‘real world’ heading after training with a VR headset compared to a control group who did no training. The VR group also reported greater self-confidence and efficacy in their heading compared to the control group, the study found. Our findings show that virtual reality (VR) based training can be used to improve real-world heading performance. Dr Ben Marshall, Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport The study, titled: ‘A preliminary investigation into the efficacy of training soccer heading in immersive virtual reality’, has been published in the journal Virtual Reality on Tuesday. It provides some insights into how players may be able to improve heading technique amid restrictions on training. Football Association guidelines advise against any heading training in under-12s, while a trial is ongoing in the current season and next season to eliminate deliberate heading completely from matches up to and including that age group. At ages 12 and 13, heading should be limited to a single session of no more than five headers, and no more than 10 headers per session for children aged 14 to 17, according to FA guidance. Even in adult football at all levels, players are advised to perform only 10 ‘higher force headers’ per training week, such as headers from crosses, corners, free-kicks and returning of goal kicks. The exposure to heading has been limited because of concerns over the sub-concussive impact of repetitive heading on a player’s longer-term wellbeing. The 2019 FIELD Study found professional footballers were three and a half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the general population. “With increasing restrictions of heading exposure to professional and youth soccer, it is evident that alternative methods for training heading confidence and technique will be required while it remains an integral part of the game,” the VR paper concluded. “The work presented here provides some initial evidence suggesting that immersive VR may have a place in any new approach to training this important skill.” A group of 36 adult recreational-level players, made up of 30 men and six women, participated in the study in total. The 36 were split into two groups of 18, with 16 men and two women in the control group who did not use the VR headsets between ‘real world’ heading sessions, and 14 men and four women in the VR group. The VR group used the Oculus Quest 2 head-mounted display, with the Rezzil Player 22 application used to provide the VR football heading training. Dr Ben Marshall, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, said: “Our findings show that virtual reality (VR) based training can be used to improve real-world heading performance and that this method is more effective than not training the skill at all. “This is important as current training guidelines recommend limiting the number of physical headers performed in training for all age groups due to the associated long-term risks to player health. “Our findings suggest the inclusion of VR-based training could play an important role in developing football heading skills whilst reducing the number of real-world headers and sub-concussive head impacts that players need to be exposed to – which is really positive.”

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A UK judge on Tuesday ordered three climate activists to do dozens of hours of unpaid work after they trespassed on the pitch during an Ashes Test...

Dan Evans has won his second ATP Tour title by beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-5, 6-3 in a rain-interrupted DC Open final

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce came into the 100-meter finals at world championships with every chance to make history, as she has so many times before

With so much of the gorgeous countryside on our doorsteps, or a train ride away unexplored, we all are looking for new ways to get out and about. Trail running could be the adventurous workout that helps us do just that, as it combines hillwalking, running and hiking, taking runners to remote corners of the planet, and travelling the world in their trainers. With sports brands like Nike, Salomon and Vivobarefoot placing an increasing emphasis on their trail options for runners, and a gradual increase in Google searches for ‘trail running’ over the past five years, what actually is it? “Technically speaking, trail running is a form of running that takes place on varied terrains, away from paved paths or tracks,” says Jodie Gauld, run leader for Love Trails Festival. “However, it’s so much more, it’s a special feeling and a welcoming community.” The benefits “I find trail running very calming, and my focus will be very present. You’re typically in nature, so rather than modern distractions like cars, bustling streets and flashing signs, you can instead be in the moment of your running and in awe of your surroundings, which can give life a new perspective on what really matters,” Gauld reflects. There is less focus on speed and more on experience. “Trail running can also be very playful. It’s typically less serious, because the nature of running over varying terrains and up and down different gradients, means pacing and timing are less controllable or comparable,” she says. “Then, even if you hit a path with a good rhythm, you still have to concentrate, because there could be obstacles. You can hit an ultimate high – your focus becomes super-zoned, while your pace is good and you feel like you’re flying.” It’s easy to find community in trail running, because it’s an equaliser. “Because trail running is less about pace, it’s really inclusive. Seriously, if you do a trail race, the first question won’t be about your time, it’ll be about your experience,” says Gauld. “These factors and so many more, mean that trail running attracts a wonderful, supportive community. I’ve run all my life and have been knowingly trail running for over a decade, and don’t think I’ve ever met another trail runner who hasn’t been encouraging and friendly.” The required kit “While road shoes will be fine on hard-packed trails, you’ll get even more fun with a pair of trail shoes. Trainers specifically designed for the trails will have grip for the varying terrains, and will save you slipping around,” Gauld continues. When looking for the right shoes, Ben Le Vesconte, head coach at Vivobarefoot says “Look for wide toe boxes which allow your toes to spread, to ensure you remain balanced and stable on the trail.” Next, he recommends looking for thin soles, so you can feel the trail underneath your feet. “It will help you feel the changing terrain, allowing you to react quickly and improve your stability. The more cushioning you add, the less you feel. “Think about the grip you choose, typically thicker and longer lugs [small points of raised rubber lining the outsole] are best for muddy terrain, with smaller lugs best for firmer terrain. If it’s wet weather or waterlogged terrain, you want a shoe that drains well and for the heat, it should be very breathable,” he explains. Your kit is more important than it is for road running, because you’re likely to be away from access to help, and there are more things that can potentially go wrong. “With this in mind, I typically take my running vest or a hydration pack, no matter how short the distance, in which I’ll pack my phone – for photos but also safety – water, snacks, a foil blanket, a basic first aid kit, a waterproof and possibly spare layers,” says Gauld. “I also have a GPX watch, mainly for the mapping tools, but this is expensive, and there are loads of accessible mapping apps on phones now.” The risks “In a lot of trail races, there will be a kit list – this will be for safety reasons and encourages respect in nature where the conditions can change very quickly. I started a race in nearly 30-degree heat, and within just a few hours, we were in hypothermic conditions and hail storms. I finished that race – while others more experienced than me dropped out – because I had all the kit,” Gauld reveals. “Of course, like any activity, there are things to be wary of. When you’re starting, take your time and get used to the uneven and varied terrain,” says Matt Buck, a trail running coach, owner of Running Adventures and guide runner for Love Trails Festival. “Make sure you take a friend, or at the least tell someone where you are going, and always have a phone on you in case you need to call for help. Take it slow, and you will be fine.”

Hinata Miyazawa scored a pair of goals and Mina Tanaka and Jun Endo each added a goal and an assist as Japan beat Zambia 5-0 to open Women’s World Cup play for both sides

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