Negative momentum detrimental to athletes
Losing the lead has a significant negative influence on the performance of athletes, according to PhD student Ruud den Hartigh . He discovered that the feeling of unity in a rowing team which is in the lead decreases strongly when their opponents are visibly drawing nearer. In addition, in such situations of ‘negative momentum’ during competition, the power behind the rowing strokes of the leading team will drop relatively rapidly.
Den Hartigh's research

The weekly online video magazine Unifocus highlights topics related to the University of Groningen in the fields of research and society, student life, teaching, policy and internationalization.
Last modified: | 30 March 2020 3.41 p.m. |
More news
-
30 June 2025
Science for Society | The right job for asylum seekers with a residence permit
Many asylum seekers with a residence permit (known in Dutch as status holders) are eager to work in an environment that recognizes and values their skills. Cultural differences and expectations play a major role for both the newcomer with a residence...
-
17 June 2025
The brain as tumble tower
For decades, Monicque Lorist, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology, has been trying to unravel how the human brain works. What influences our thinking? What happens when we are tired, or when we age? ‘There‘s still so much we don’t know. Questions...
-
16 June 2025
Science for Society | Wild & Willful
Quite a few children display energetic and headstrong behaviour that does not fit in with the demands our society places on them. Parents, teachers, and pedagogical staff are therefore looking for tools to deal with this behaviour without...