Mike Ferrandino

Mike is an accredited strength and conditioning coach whose research focuses around all elements of rugby performance, with a particular interest in the impact of the pitch.

[email protected]

Background

While in the final stages of his PhD research, Mike joined ARU as a Lecturer in Sports Sciences. He teaches on our Sports and Exercise Science, Sports Coaching and Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Therapy, and Strength and Conditioning with Rehabilitation degrees.

Here at ARU, Mike's research continues to focus on Rugby Union with an interest in the player-turf interaction in rugby, using motion capture and performance analysis techniques to determine its impact. He also has interests in applied strength and conditioning research related to the development of strength and power and youth athletic development. He is a member of the Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences (CCSES).

Mike continues to work as an S&C coach with a local Rugby Club, having previously had roles at Northampton County Cricket Club, City of Leeds Swimming Club, and the University of Leeds sports performance programme.

Research interests

• Biomechanics of the player surface interaction
• Biomechanics of rugby 
• Biomechanics of strength and conditioning
• Performance sport environments
• Youth athletic development
• Strength & Power Development
• Injury prevention

Areas of research supervision

• Biomechanics
• Strength and conditioning

Teaching

Mike teaches across all courses in the discipline, leading the two Strength & Conditioning modules at level 5 and level 6.

Qualifications

• MSc by Research, The Biomechanical Effect of Strength & Conditioning on Ankle Joint Function (Biomechanics), School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Leeds
• BSc Sports Science with Physiology, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Leeds
• UKSCA-accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Sports Massage Tutor, Active Associates/University of Leeds

Selected recent publications

Merzbach, V.; Ferrandino, M.; Gernigon, M.; Marques Pinto, J.; Scruton, A.; Gordon, D. Impact of Prescribed Exercise on the Physical and Cognitive Health of Adults with Down Syndrome: The MinDSets Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023,20,0.

Memarzadeh A, Morrison AP, Merzbach V, et al. Validating the Cambridge Protocol: Reliability of Hip Muscle Strength Measurements Using a Motorized Dynamometer and Electromyography. Sports Health. 2022;14(5):740-746. doi:10.1177/19417381211056869

Gordon, D., Wightman, S., Basevitch, I., Johnstone, J., Espejo-Sanchez, C., Beckford, C., Boal, M., Scruton, A., Ferrandino, M., & Merzbach, V. (2017). Physiological and training characteristics of recreational marathon runners. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 8, 231–241. doi.org/10.2147/OAJSM.S141657

Timmis, M. A., Ferrandino, M., Morrison, A., Allen, P. M., & Latham, K. (2021). How Is Jump Performance Affected in Male Athletes when Completed with a Visual Impairment? Optometry and Vision Science, 98(7).

Fleming, P., Ferrandino, M., & Forrester, S. (2016). Artificial Turf Field-A New Build Case Study. Procedia Engineering, 147, 836–841.

Ferrandino, M., Forrester, S., & Fleming, P. (2015). The player surface interaction of rugby players with 3G artificial turf during rugby specific movements. Procedia Engineering, 112, 308–313. doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.249

Michael Ferrandino, Dr Andrew Morrison, Sharon Boswell. Identification of Types and Levels of Physical Activity Throughout Childhood for Healthy Growth and Development.