JCU > Research Portfolio > Mr Wade Sinclair

About

Wade Sinclair joined Sport and Exercise Science (SES) in 2003 as a Research Officer after completing his honours thesis investigating the thermoregulatory responses of junior surf lifesavers exercising in protective clothing. Wade completed his undergraduate education with James Cook University and has also completed a Graduate Certificate in Education (Tertiary teaching) progressing to an Associate Lecturer (2008-2009), Lecturer (2010-2019) and Senior Lecturer (2020-).

Previously Wade has held collaborative arrangements with the Townsville JCU FIRE WNBL side, Surf Life Saving Australia, the National Rugby League and North Queensland Cowboys, Aspetar - Qatar's Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital as well as various Australian and International Universities. Away from University, Wade has served as the Assistant Coach for the Australian Life Saving Team (2013-2016) as well as the Performance Analyst for the North Queensland Cowboys (2017-2020) and the current Queensland State of Origin team (2021 to present).

Wade is the coordinator of the SES Honours program and has previously supervised 13x Honours and 2x PhD to completion and is currently supervising the following projects:

Use of performance analysis to enhance success within an elite rugby league environment (PhD, Secondary Advisor, James Cook University);
Use of Rugby League specific activities to assess effects of training (PhD, Secondary Advisor, James Cook University);
Examining playing performance in Rugby Union via static and dynamic appraoches (PhD, Secondary Advisor, James Cook University);
Novel strategies for athlete preparation in elite rugby league players (PhD, Secondary Supervisor, James Cook University); and
Quantifying the Acute Physical, Cognitive and Physiological Responses of various Training Modalities in Australian Soldiers (PhD, Secondary Advisor, James Cook University).

Teaching

SP3006: Environmental and Sports Medicine (Level 3; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Professional

Sport science consultant for professional athletes and sporting organisations

Research

Performance analysis in elite rugby league;
Physiological performances in aquatic sports;
Short term heat acclimatisation interventions;
Travel strategies for sporting teams.

Teaching

Student empowerment and engagement across all year levels of exercise science

Experience

2020 to present - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
2010 to 2019 - Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
2008 to 2009 - Associate Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
2003 to 2008 - Research Officer, James Cook University (Townsville)

Research Disciplines

Honours

Awards

2012 to 2013 - Surf Life Saving Queensland - Coach of the Year
2012 to 2013 - Surf Life Saving Australia - Coach of the Year

Memberships

2012 - International Society of Exercise and Immunology
2018 to 2020 - Applied Level 3 Performance Analyst
2013 to 2015 - European College of Sport Science
2010 to 2015 - Professional Member - American College of Sports Medicine

Other

2021 - Surf Life Saving Australia Research Advisory Working Group
2015 - Scientific Committee - "Performance and recovery enhancement in sports", Special issue of Journal of Human Kinetics
2015 to 2016 - Assistant Coach, Australian Life Saving Team 2015-2016 - Head Coach, 2015 SANYO Cup, Aoshima Beach, Japan - Asssistant Coach, 2016 World Championships in Eindhoven and Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
2011 to 2015 - Surf Life Saving Australia Research Advisory Committee
2013 to 2014 - Assistant Coach, Australian Life Saving Team 2013-2014 - Team Manager, European Tour, 2013 - Asssistant Coach, 2014 World Championships in Montpellier, France

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Simmons R, Doma K, Sinclair W, Connor J and Leicht A (2021) Acute effects of training loads on muscle damage markers and performance in semi?elite and elite athletes: a systematic review and meta?analysis. Sports Medicine, 51, pp. 2181-2207, DOI:10.1007/s40279-021-01486-x.
Wedding C, Woods C, Sinclair W, Gomez Ruano M and Leicht A (2021) Exploring the effect of various match factors on team playing styles in the National Rugby League. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16 (4), pp. 976-984.
Heilbronn B, Doma K, Gormann D, Schumann M and Sinclair W (2020) Effects of periodized vs. nonperiodized resistance training on army-specific fitness and skills performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34 (3), pp. 738-753, DOI:10.1519/JSC.0000000000003029.
Pearce L, Leicht A, Gomez-Ruano M, Sinclair W and Woods C (2020) The type and variation of evasive manoeuvres during an attacking task differ across a rugby league development pathway. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 20 (6), pp. 1134-1142, DOI:10.1080/24748668.2020.1834490.
Wedding C, Woods C, Sinclair W, Gomez M and Leicht A (2020) Examining the evolution and classification of player position using performance indicators in the National Rugby League during the 2015-2019 seasons. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23 (9), pp. 891-896, DOI:10.1016/j.jsams.2020.02.013.
Connor J, Sinclair W, Leicht A and Doma K (2019) Analysis of cricket ball type and innings on state level cricket batter's performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article: 2347, DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02347.
Doma K, Nicholls A, Daniel G, Damas F, Libardi C and Sinclair W (2019) The effect of a resistance training session on physiological and thermoregulatory measures of sub-maximal running performance in the heat in heat-acclimatised men. Sports Medicine - Open, 5, Article: 21, DOI:10.1186/s40798-019-0195-y.
Leicht A, Fox J, Connor J, Sargent C, Sinclair W, Stanton R and Scanlan A (2019) External activity demands differ between referees and players during a sub-elite, men's basketball match. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 90 (4), pp. 720-725, DOI:10.1080/02701367.2019.1645268.
Pearce L, Sinclair W, Leicht A and Woods C (2019) Passing and tackling qualities discriminate developmental level in a rugby league talent pathway. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19 (6), pp. 985-998, DOI:10.1080/24748668.2019.1689750.
Connor J, Crowther R and Sinclair W (2018) Effect of different evasion maneuvers on anticipation and visual behavior in elite rugby league players. Motor Control, 22 (1), pp. 18-27, DOI:10.1123/mc.2016-0034.
Doma K, Leicht A, Sinclair W, Schumann M, Damas F, Burt D and Woods C (2018) The impact of exercise-induced muscle damage on performance test outcomes in elite female basketball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32 (6), pp. 1731-1738, DOI:10.1519/JSC.0000000000002244.
Fisher R, McLellan C, Sinclair W and Minahan C (2018) The perceived benefits and barriers for oral contraceptive use in women grouped for physical-activity level - an exploratory study. Journal of Women's Health, Issues & Care, 7 (1), DOI:10.4172/2325-9795.1000299.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 76+ research outputs authored by Mr Wade Sinclair from 2004 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Army - Contract Research

Quantifying the acute physical, cognitive and physiological responses of various training modalities in Australian Soldiers

Indicative Funding: $21,655 over 6 years
Summary: The project sets out to answer the following research question: What is the degree of stress, fatigue and recovery experienced by Australian Soldiers after bouts of occupationally specific physical activities? To answer this question, the project will develop an evidence-based assessment protocol to assess levels of fatigue and stress in Soldiers after bouts of occupationally related strenuous activities across various periods of employment. This will inform the chain of command on appropriate recovery times for different modalities of training, ensuring that soldiers remain combat-ready throughout their training cycles and minimise symptoms overtraining.
Investigators: Brian Heilbronn, Kenji Doma, Wade Sinclair and Anthony Leicht in collaboration with Jace Drain (College of Healthcare Sciences and Defence Science and Technology Group)
Keywords: Sport Science; Military; Injury Prevention; Tactical Athlete; Army

Rugby Australia Ltd - Contract Research

Examining playing performance in Rugby Union via static and dynamic approaches

Indicative Funding: $49,750 over 3 years
Summary: Innovative technology within elite sport has provided high performance staff with an abundance of player and team performance metrics ? `big rugby data?. Despite the availability of this information, the crucial keys to match success in rugby union remain unknown, possibly due to the complexity of match play. This project will evaluate the complexity of elite rugby union matches by examining teams? performance via novel sport analytics considering static and dynamic approaches. Outcomes will identify the keys to success from a micro to macro level and assist coaching staff to optimise strategies for enhanced success within rugby union.
Investigators: Wade Sinclair, Anthony Leicht, Jonathan Connor and Miguel Gomez Ruano in collaboration with Mikaela Callinan (College of Healthcare Sciences)
Keywords: Athletes; Sports & Exercise; Analysis

Cowboys Rugby League Football Limited - Contract Research

Game, Training and Individual Performance Analytics of Elite Rugby League Players

Indicative Funding: $110,000 over 4 years
Summary: Evaluating training and game performances I elite sport is an information-rich environment particularly with the additional of data analytic companies providing real-time and post-competition analyses for coaching staff. Additionally, the inclusion of wearable technology and in particular, the inclusion of global positioning systems in to the elite training environment have empowered high performance personnel with an overabundance of performance data through which evidence-based evaluations can be made. However, with the inclusion of such technology in to the contemporary elite training environment, coaching staff are now faced with interpretative decisions pertaining to what metrics are suitable and under what constraints.
Investigators: Wade Sinclair, Anthony Leicht and Carl Woods in collaboration with Paul Bowman (College of Healthcare Sciences and Cowboys Rugby League Football Ltd)
Keywords: Performance Analytics; Machine Learning

National Rugby League - Rugby League Research Committee

Identifying the impact of cognitive fitness on decision-making capacity of elite NRL officials

Indicative Funding: $11,369 over 1 year
Summary: Officiating team sport matches requires engagement of complex physical and mental/cognitive processes. Superior cognitive fitness may assist with management of match stresses for greater decision-making. This project will: 1) identify the current cognitive fitness levels of elite NRL officials; and 2) examine the impact of cognitive and/or physical stress on elite NRL official?s decision-making proficiency; 3) clarify how cognitive fitness level moderates elite NRL officials? decision-making proficiency. This project will provide recommendations to enhance the decision-making capacity of elite NRL officials with reference to cognitive fitness.
Investigators: Jonathan Connor, Anthony Leicht, Anne Swinbourne, Kenji Doma and Wade Sinclair (College of Healthcare Sciences)
Keywords: referee; Elite Athlete; Rugby League; Decision Making

National Rugby League - Rugby League Research Committee

Identifying the impact of cognitive fitness on decision-making capacity of elite NRL officials

Indicative Funding: $11,369 over 1 year
Summary: Officiating team sport matches requires engagement of complex physical and mental/cognitive processes. Superior cognitive fitness may assist with management of match stresses for greater decision-making. This project will: 1) identify the current cognitive fitness levels of elite NRL officials; and 2) examine the impact of cognitive and/or physical stress on elite NRL official?s decision-making proficiency; 3) clarify how cognitive fitness level moderates elite NRL officials? decision-making proficiency. This project will provide recommendations to enhance the decision-making capacity of elite NRL officials with reference to cognitive fitness.
Investigators: Jonathan Connor, Anthony Leicht, Anne Swinbourne, Kenji Doma and Wade Sinclair (College of Healthcare Sciences)
Keywords: referee; Elite Athlete; Rugby League; Decision-making

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Quantifying the Acute Physical, Cognitive and Physiological Responses of various Training Modalities in Australian Soldiers (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Examining playing performance in Rugby Union via static and dynamic approaches (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Use of Performance Analytics to Enhance Success within an Elite Rugby League Environment (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Use of Rugby League Specific Activities to assess effects of Training (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Novel strategies for athlete preparation in elite rugby league players. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

Quantifying the physical, technical, and tactical qualities discriminant of development level in the Queensland Rugby League talent pathway (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.