Alan Ruddock

Alan Ruddock

PhD FCASES SFHEA CSci

Associate Professor of Sport Physiology and Performance | Sheffield Hallam University, UK

Co-Founder of Boxing Science | Chair of CASES Physiology and Nutrition Division | CASES Applied Practitioner Award Recipient 2021

About Me

I am Associate Professor of Sport Physiology and Performance in the School of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University and Co-Founder of Boxing Science, an organisation that provides scientific support to boxers and combat athletes worldwide.

I am Chair of the CASES Physiology and Nutrition Division, have co-authored 50 scientific manuscripts in sport science and strength and conditioning, and worked with Olympians, Paralympians and notably professional boxers where I have led scientific support for boxers in 15 world-title contests, including Olympic Gold medallist and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, Anthony Joshua OBE.

In 2021, I was the recipient of the CASES Applied Practitioner Award for sustained, outstanding and innovative sport science service delivery. I am also Course Leader for BSc Sport and Exercise Science and Ethics Lead, School of Sport and Physical Activity for the School of Sport and Physical Activity.

Through Boxing Science, I have delivered workshops to over 500 coaches across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia, with the platform reaching 30,000 unique users per month. My research has accumulated over 225,000 reads on ResearchGate, and I have provided expert commentary for The Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, Sky Sports, Live Science and Runners World. In 2024, I provided scientific support for Russ Cook's ("Hardest Geezer") run across the full length of Africa.

Accredited Fellow (Physiology – Scientific Support), CASES Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Chartered Scientist, The Science Council

Work Experience

Director & Chair of Physiology and Nutrition Division

2024 - Present

Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES)

  • Providing strategic leadership for the Physiology and Nutrition Division
  • Overseeing professional standards and accreditation processes
  • Contributing to the governance and direction of the organisation

Associate Professor of Sport Physiology and Performance

2023 - Present

Sheffield Hallam University

  • Course Leader for BSc Sport and Exercise Science managing 350 students and 30 staff (2022 - present)
  • SHU Academic Board member (2021 - 2024)
  • Currently supervising 5 PhD candidates

Co-Founder

2013 - Present

Boxing Science

  • Provides scientific support to boxers and combat athletes worldwide
  • Led scientific support for boxers in 15 world-title contests

Ethics Lead, School of Sport and Physical Activity

2019 - Present

School of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University

  • Leading research ethics governance for taught programmes
  • Ensuring ethical compliance across student research projects
  • Providing guidance on ethical considerations in sport and exercise science research

Laboratory Director

2019 - 2024

School of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University

  • Managed laboratory operations and equipment
  • Oversaw research and teaching laboratory activities
  • Ensured compliance with safety and ethical standards

Chief External Examiner

2020 - 2024

Birmingham Newman University

  • Ensured academic standards and quality assurance
  • Reviewed assessment processes and student outcomes

Senior Lecturer

2017 - 2023

Sheffield Hallam University

Associate Lecturer

2013 - 2017

Sheffield Hallam University

Lab Technician

2007 - 2013

Sheffield Hallam University

Invited Talks & Keynotes

"Boxing Science: Past, present and future"

BASES Sport Performance Division Combat Conference (2025)

"The Science and Practice of Speed Endurance Training"

English Institute of Sport (2021)

"High-Intensity Interval Exercise for Combat Sports"

UKSCA National Conference (2021)

"The Science and Practice of HIIT"

Stoke City FC (2020)

"High-Intensity Conditioning for Combat Sports"

BASES Annual Conference (2019)

"New Concepts in Conditioning for Combat Athletes"

Sports Medicine & Science Conference (2017)

"The Science Behind Boxing"

S&C Education Conference (2015)

PhD Supervision

Completed

Dr Lee Bell

Completed 2025

Now Senior Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning, SHU

Dr Ollie Turner

Completed 2024

Now Head of Sports Nutrition for Aquatic Sports, UK Sports Institute

Dr Steve Thompson

Completed 2022

Now Senior Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning, SHU

Dr Matthew Debney

Completed 2021

Now Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology, SHU

Current

Jonathan Fraser

Towards a novel physical training language framework in Tennis

Kieran Burke

Sleep restriction in team sports athletes

Max Jones

Recovery methods in elite professional soccer

Owen McNally

Speed training in elite professional soccer

Jordan Boriel

Blood flow restriction interventions to enhance recovery

Grants & Funding

>£130,000 Total Research Funding Contributed To

Recovery Methods in Elite Professional Football

Aston Villa FC

£40,000

Nutritional Characteristics of Elite Squash Players

England Squash

£24,000

Boxing Science Innovation Project

South Yorkshire Innovation Programme, Research England

£7,500

SHU Speed Symposia

TASS

£6,000

Control of Thermal Stress Experienced by Specialist Police Officers

Metropolitan Police of London

£5,000

Velocity Based Training Research

UKSCA

£2,000

Professional Skills Matrix Development

Sheffield Hallam University

£1,800

Consultancy

Strength & Conditioning Consultancy

Boxing Science

>£50,000

Publications

50+ Publications
1624 Citations
25 h-index
31 i10-index
View Full Profile on Google Scholar

Selected Publications

Bell, L., Ruddock, A., Boriel, J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Thompson, S., Wright, K., ... Rogerson, D.

Effects of a 5-Day Back Squat Overreaching Protocol on Strength Performance, Perceived Recovery and Wellness Responses: A Pilot Trial

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10(2) (2025)

Beattie, K., & Ruddock, A.

Strength Training Practices in Amateur and Professional Boxing

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 39(6), 672-679 (2025)

Turner, O., Mitchell, N., Ruddock, A., Purvis, A., & Ranchordas, M.

Physiological and Nutritional Considerations for Elite Squash: A Systematic Review

Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise (2024)

Omcirk, D., Vetrovsky, T., O'Dea, C., Ruddock, A., Wilson, D., Malecek, J., ... Tufano, J.

Reliability of three landmine-punch-throw variations and their load-velocity relationships performed with the dominant and nondominant hands

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (2024)

Weldon, A., Cloak, R., Kirk, C., Ruddock, A., Langan-Evans, C., Detanico, D., ... Kons, R.

Strength and conditioning practices of judo athletes and S&C coaches: a survey-based investigation

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(4), e160-e173 (2024)

Turner, O., Mitchell, N., Ruddock, A., Purvis, A., & Ranchordas, M.

Fluid balance, sodium losses and hydration practices of elite squash players during training

Nutrients, 15(7) (2023)

Thompson, S., Olusoga, P., Rogerson, D., Ruddock, A., & Barnes, A.

"Is it a slow day or a go day?": the perceptions and applications of velocity-based training within elite strength and conditioning

International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching (2022)

Beattie, K., & Ruddock, A.

The role of strength on punch impact force in boxing

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(10), 2957-2969 (2022)

Bell, L., Ruddock, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Rogerson, D.

"I want to create so much stimulus that adaptation goes through the roof": high-performance strength coaches' perceptions of planned overreaching

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4 (2022)

Ruddock, A., James, L., French, D., Rogerson, D., Driller, M., & Hembrough, D.

High-intensity conditioning for combat athletes: practical recommendations

Applied Sciences, 11(22) (2021)

Skills

Areas of Expertise

Applied Physiology Sport Performance Thermoregulation High-Intensity Interval Training Strength & Conditioning Combat Sports Science Microvascular Function

Teaching & Supervision

PhD Supervision Module Leadership CASES Supervised Experience Reviewer Course Leadership

Editorial & Professional

Academic Editor, PLOSone Topic Editor, Frontiers Chief Guest Editor, Applied Sciences CASES Accreditation Reviewer

Peer Review

Sports Medicine EJSS IJSPP JSCR Frontiers Applied Sciences

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Sport Physiology

Sheffield Hallam University

2017

Research focused on sport physiology and performance

Master of Science (MSc)

Sport Science

Sheffield Hallam University

2007

Advanced study in sport science principles and applications

Bachelor of Science (Hons.)

Sport Science

Sheffield Hallam University

2005

Foundation in sport and exercise science

Media & Public Engagement

Over 100 media outputs providing expert commentary and public engagement across broadcast, print and digital platforms.

The Times Wall Street Journal BBC Sky Sports Live Science Runners World The Conversation

"Here's how we helped 'Hardest Geezer' run the full length of Africa"

Scientific support for Russ Cook's record-breaking run across Africa (2024)

Expert commentary on boxing science and combat sports

Featured in The Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC and Sky Sports

The Conversation articles

Multiple articles with 20,000+ combined reads

ResearchGate

225,000+ reads across published research

Get In Touch

I'm always open to discussing new opportunities, collaborations, or just having a conversation about our industry. Feel free to reach out!

Google Scholar

View Publications

Location

School of Sport and Physical Activity
Sheffield Hallam University, UK