As the world stays at home together to combat the spread of COVID-19, the 2020 edition of the club’s annual Sports Science Seminar presented by adidas has pivoted to a virtual format.
Originally slated as an in-person event in July, Sounders FC head strength & conditioning coach Sean Muldoon moved quickly to shift the seminar to a video series. Starting on April 15, the program will run from 12 p.m. PT to 4:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday afternoons. Each day will feature four, 45-minute presentations by selected speakers, followed by an hour-long roundtable discussion.
All proceeds from the Sports Science Seminar will go directly to the Seattle Sounders FC Relief Fund, which directs financial support to individuals and businesses impacted by COVID-19.
“This idea that lends itself to a much broader audience will be showcased to a much broader audience virtually,” said Muldoon. “We’ve already raised over $20,000 for the Sounders FC COVID-19 Relief Fund, so that’s been inspiring. All of the money is going to a really good cause for our community here in Seattle. I feel really honored to be a part of it, and I’m really excited for it to kick off.”
This year’s event features a star-studded roster of presenters and panelists, including representatives from the Sounders, NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL, as well as the major European soccer clubs like Borussia Dortmund. With so many experts across various fields and disciplines aggregating in one place, the 2020 Sports Science Seminar is sure to be filled with fascinating discussions.
While each day is not packaged under a particular theme, the makeup of the presenters and panelists is geared toward sparking discussion amongst experts whose respective roles might overlap or conflict with one another.
“As I was setting up the roundtables, I was trying to identify roles that I think would be interesting in a conversation,” said Muldoon. “The way I set up the first day was getting a head coach, someone on the strength and conditioning side, an athlete and then a psychologist. I think those spheres will overlap quite a bit. It’s about hearing how they interact with one another or hearing each other’s perspective.”
With so many experts across various fields and disciplines aggregating in one place, the 2020 Sports Science Seminar is sure to be filled with fascinating discussions.
“Hearing the interactions between a sports agent and someone in the front office, I think that’s really interesting because their specific objectives are probably in direct competition with one another,” noted Muldoon. “Then you add in someone from the coaching staff, which is interesting because they’re coming from a different place than the front office in terms of building rosters vs. how you use the roster.
“Do you build the roster and then the coaches find the best way to play with that roster? Or do you have a playing identity first, and then sign people that fit the way you want to play? It’s not that one approach is right or better, but rather an interesting conversation.”
Beyond the behind-the-scenes experts representing the different sports and leagues, individuals like U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter, NFL great Rondé Barber and USMNT stalwart Landon Donovan are on the docket. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the unvarnished perspectives of people at the top of their fields.
You can learn more about the 2020 Sounders FC Sports Science Seminar HERE.
