The Coretex Athletic Review

Evan Kurylo
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Host Evan Kurylo distills current sport science research it through the lens of modern athlete development, coaching methodology, and goaltender performance. The aim is to simplify complex research, highlight the key findings, and connect them to real-world coaching decisions — from anticipation and pattern recognition, to visual cognition, to the latest in coaching pedagogy. Short episodes. Strong insights. Better athletes.

  1. Jul 23

    28. Foundations 1: Schmidt's Schema Theory

    In 1975, Richard Schmidt proposed a new way to explain how we learn, adapt, and evaluate movement. Rather than storing a separate motor program for every action we might perform, Schmidt argued that we develop generalized rules—or schemas—connecting the situation we encounter, the movement we produce, what that movement feels like, and its eventual outcome. In this episode, I explore: The storage and novelty problems that challenged earlier motor-learning theories Generalized motor programs and adjustable movement parameters Schmidt’s recall and recognition schemas How unsuccessful attempts can still contribute to learning Why variable practice may improve adaptability to unfamiliar situations The difference between producing a movement and recognizing whether it was correct The limitations, unanswered questions, and lasting influence of Schmidt’s theory Schema theory did not definitively reveal how the nervous system stores movement—and Schmidt was candid about the limited evidence available in 1975. Its importance lies in providing a testable framework for understanding how previous experience can become adaptable movement. Article discussed: Schmidt, R. A. (1975). A schema theory of discrete motor skill learning. Psychological Review, 82(4), 225–260. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0076770

  2. Jul 9

    27. Social Media & Athletic Performance

    Elite athletes often speak openly about the psychological toll of social media. From abusive comments to relentless criticism, online negativity has become an unavoidable part of professional sport. But does that criticism actually show up on the field? In this episode, we examine a newly published study analyzing more than 1.2 million Instagram comments directed at English Premier League defenders during the 2022–23 season. Using sentiment analysis, machine learning, and player-level statistical models, the researchers asked a simple but important question: Can what fans say online predict how athletes perform in their next game? The answer is more nuanced than you might expect. We discuss: How social media has fundamentally changed the relationship between athletes and fans The psychological theories behind "choking under pressure" How researchers analyzed over one million Instagram comments using AI language models Why the study focused exclusively on Premier League defenders What an R² value actually tells us (and why it matters) Why general online negativity wasn't associated with poorer technical performance The surprising relationship between critical comments and disciplinary actions like yellow and red cards The difference between statistical significance and practical significance What this means for coaches, parents, and developing athletes The study suggests that elite technical performance may be remarkably resilient to online criticism, while emotional regulation may be more vulnerable. It's an important reminder that the effects of social media may be more selective—and more complex—than headlines often suggest. Winchester, S., & Chang, H.-C. H. (2026). Does online negativity influence performance? Investigating the impact of social media on male professional soccer players. Online Social Networks and Media, 54, 100353. 🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@CoretexAthletics 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/coretexathletics If you enjoyed the episode, consider subscribing and leaving a review—it helps more coaches, athletes, and parents discover the science behind high performance.

  3. Jun 25

    26. Sleep Strategies for Traveling

    Returning for season 2: In this episode, I dive into the science behind athlete travel and explore why crossing time zones, long flights, poor sleep, dehydration, and disrupted routines can affect everything from reaction time and decision-making to recovery and injury risk. Drawing from the latest sports medicine research, we separate common travel fatigue from true jet lag, explain why eastward travel is generally more challenging than westward travel, and discuss the concept of circadian advantage—the hidden edge teams gain when their internal clocks are better aligned with game time. I also break down practical, evidence-based strategies that athletes, coaches, and parents can implement immediately, including sleep scheduling, hydration, meal timing, strategic light exposure, caffeine use, napping, and recovery planning. Whether you're flying across the country for nationals or driving across the province for a weekend tournament, optimizing travel may be one of the easiest ways to gain a competitive advantage. In this episode I discuss: The difference between travel fatigue and jet lag Why your biological clock matters for athletic performance Why traveling east is usually more difficult than traveling west Circadian rhythms and their impact on strength, reaction time, and decision-making How sleep disruption affects recovery, performance, and injury risk The relationship between travel and illness Hydration challenges during air travel The role of nutrition and gut health while traveling Chronotypes: are some athletes naturally better travelers? Evidence-based travel strategies used by elite performance staff Hatamiya, N., Holmes, K. E., Grosicki, G. J., et al. (2026). Optimizing Athlete Travel for Performance: A Scientific Blueprint for Athletes, Coaches, and Sports Medicine Staff. Sports Medicine, 56, 1381–1403. Follow Coretex Athletics 🎙 Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever you listen. 📺 YouTube: Coretex Athletics 📧 Email: coretexathletics@gmail.com 💻 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CoretexAthletics If you're enjoying the podcast... Leaving a five-star rating, following the show, and sharing episodes with coaches, athletes, and hockey families helps us continue bringing high-quality, evidence-based sport science to the hockey community. As always, thanks for listening.

  4. May 21

    25. Athletes and their Music...

    This week we explore the dissertation Music to Move You: Comparing Effects of Music Genre on Subjective Performance of Football Players in a Practice Setting by Devin DeTurk. Music is built into sport almost everywhere: bus rides, dressing rooms, warmups, training sessions, and competition environments. But does music simply get athletes "fired up," or can different types of music create different performance states? In this episode: • A theory on why NHL powerplay and penalty-kill music may have the intensity backwards• Why previous music studies often relied on laboratory settings• Rap vs EDM vs Alternative vs Classical vs No Music• Why athletes' favorite music didn't automatically produce the strongest outcomes• How different genres influenced motivation, mood, fatigue, competence, and perceived performance• The strange EDM finding that produced both higher fatigue and greater calmness• Why "what I like" and "what helps me" may not always be the same thing• Whether music may be shaping athlete state rather than simply increasing arousal Main takeaway: "What's my favorite music?" may not be the same question as: "What state am I trying to create?" Questions, feedback, article suggestions, or discussion: 📧 ek.coretexgoaltending@gmail.com Support the show / help keep independent research content going: Patreon - Coretex Athletic Review

  5. May 14

    24. Sleeping to Perform

    Episode 24 dives into the strange and often overlooked relationship between sleep and athletic performance. This week’s paper explored whether a simple 14-day sleep hygiene intervention could measurably influence recovery, performance, and physiological stress responses in university soccer players. The findings were more nuanced than “better sleep = better everything.” Topics explored in this episode include: Sleep as part of training rather than post-training downtime Why sleep quality and sleep duration are not the same thing Dual-career athletes and modern recovery challenges Aerobic vs anaerobic performance responses Fatigue resistance and autonomic regulation Cortisol and anticipatory stress responses before exercise Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system balance Why improved recovery may not always mean maximal explosiveness Environmental and behavioral factors influencing recovery The broader idea that adaptation occurs during recovery, not just during training Article:Broodryk, A. & Broodryk, R. (2026). A 14-Day Sleep Hygiene Intervention Improves Aerobic Performance and Reduces Anticipatory Cortisol in University Soccer Players. Sports, 14(179). Coretex Athletic Review Podcast explores academic research through the lens of athlete development, performance, coaching, physiology, cognition, and complex sport systems.

  6. May 7

    23. What Is Norway Doing So Well? | Athlete Development

    Episode 23 examines a comparative analysis of elite sport systems in four Nordic countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Despite sharing many similarities including strong grassroots participation, publicly supported sport infrastructure, welfare-state models, and broad access to sport, these countries have increasingly diverged in international elite sport performance and organizational structure over recent decades. This episode explores: Why similar countries can produce very different elite sport outcomes Centralized vs decentralized athlete development systems Olympiatoppen and the Norwegian high-performance model Fragmentation, coordination, and “path dependence” in sport systems Why organization itself may function as a performance variable The tension between egalitarian values and elite sport prioritization Athlete welfare, dual-career support, and legitimacy in Nordic sport culture Why Sweden and Finland are beginning to reform aspects of their systems Cross-sport learning, knowledge transfer, and performance environments The episode also discusses broader ideas around systems design, coaching alignment, organizational friction, and whether elite performance is driven less by “secret sauce” and more by how efficiently systems communicate, coordinate, and learn over time. Article Reviewed:Nielsen, K. & Storm, R. K. (2026). Elite Sport in the Nordic Countries: A Comparative Analysis of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. In Toppidrett i Skandinavia: En samfunnsvitenskapelig forskningsantologi om utviklings- og prestasjonsmiljø. Cappelen Damm Akademisk.

  7. Apr 30

    22. Reaction Speed vs Stress

    This week’s episode reviews a 2026 paper published in Sports Medicine – Open titled:Predictors of Latent Reaction Speed in Athletes: The Role of Performance Level and Stress Tolerance at Different Competitive Levels by Katrina Volgemute and colleagues. The study examines how reaction performance—modeled as a combination of stimulus recognition, decision-making, and movement execution—is related to two factors: Performance efficiency Stress tolerance (ability to maintain performance under cognitive load) Across 300+ athletes (amateur, pre-elite, elite), the authors found small but statistically significant relationships between these factors and reaction performance—but only within the pre-elite group. No significant relationships were observed in amateur or elite athletes. The findings suggest that the relationship between psychological factors and reaction performance may be stage-specific, rather than consistent across development. Key ideas: Reaction performance is not a single metric—it reflects multiple processes working together Stress tolerance and task efficiency showed small associations with reaction performance These relationships were only detected in pre-elite athletes Development stage may influence which factors are most closely tied to performance As always, the goal is to stay true to the research while exploring how these ideas might fit within athlete development. Listen / Follow / Contact:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoretexGoaltendingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coretexathletics/Email: ek.coretexgoaltending@gmail.com

  8. Apr 23

    21. Russian Goaltender Development Framework | Proposed Model

    Episode 21 takes a look at a research paper out of Lesgaft University in Russia exploring how goaltender training can be structured to better reflect the realities of game play. The article, “Structure of the Technical-Tactical Training Methodology for Ice Hockey Goaltenders aged 15–17, Based on Action Variability Under Conditions of Uncertainty,” proposes a four-block framework built around one core idea: The game is unpredictable. Training usually isn’t. Most traditional development models rely on linear progression—clean reps, stable conditions, and step-by-step mastery. But real game environments are non-linear. Every pass, bounce, screen, or rebound changes the problem in real time. This episode breaks down the authors’ proposed model: • Block 1 – Stability (predictable, controlled reps)• Block 2 – Single-variable variability (one element changes)• Block 3 – Multi-variable uncertainty (traffic, rebounds, sequences)• Block 4 – Time pressure (decision-making under compressed time) The key concept is “controlled variability”—treating uncertainty as something that can be deliberately scaled within training, rather than something that only exists in games. The episode also explores: The gap between practice performance and game transfer Why clean technique doesn’t always hold under pressure The difference between linear training models and nonlinear game environments How coaches might think about designing drills that better reflect real play This is a goalie-specific paper, but the framework applies more broadly to athlete development, decision-making, and skill transfer across sport. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoretexGoaltendingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coretexathletics/Email: ek.coretexgoaltending@gmail.com

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Host Evan Kurylo distills current sport science research it through the lens of modern athlete development, coaching methodology, and goaltender performance. The aim is to simplify complex research, highlight the key findings, and connect them to real-world coaching decisions — from anticipation and pattern recognition, to visual cognition, to the latest in coaching pedagogy. Short episodes. Strong insights. Better athletes.

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