Human beings have always sought ways to gain a competitive edge over their opponents, but sports science is a relatively young discipline. So what is it all about, and how can it help athletes perform better? Sports science is the application of scientific principles to explain sporting phenomena and provide a basis for improving the performance of teams and individuals. In this comprehensive yet easy-to-use introduction, you will learn everything you need to know about it in one place including the key research and current knowledge, providing you with a well-informed starting point in your study of this fascinating subject. The focus of the book is on the three disciplines of biomechanics, physiology and psychology: -Biomechanics: using mechanical principles to understand human movement and how the human body interacts with equipment and apparatus -Physiology: using biological sciences to investigate how the body responds to exercise and training -Psychology: using psychological principles to provide answers to questions about human behaviour in sports settings It includes chapters on the key systems in the body - skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular and nervous - as well as covering sports nutrition and planning research in sport. Whether you are a student preparing for study on a university course in sport or sports science, involved in sport at any level and want to understand more about your performance, or simply interested in sport and sport performance,  Sports Science: A Complete Introduction  is your go-to guide. Simon Rea is Senior Lecturer in Sport and Fitness at the Open University and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. As well as spending over 20 years teaching in higher education, he has worked in several sports science related roles and written extensively about all sports science disciplines. His current research area is in developing the employability skills of sports science students so they can be effective when supporting athletes in sport and fitness environments.