Sled hockey programs have empowered disabled athletes around the world, and the sport is expanding faster than ever. But the same cost issues plaguing traditional hockey may be cause for concern. Mackenzie Rodrigues looks at the adaptive sport's impact on Western Pennsylvania and how some of its advocates are working to make it accessible to all.

Find full transcripts for Field Study here:

https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/

Many people may not consider esports a particularly dangerous sport, but esport players are vulnerable to serious health risks unique to their sport. There’s a lack of research into how colleges backing the teams can protect and train these athletes. Who is looking out for the young players coming up through a culture notorious for unhealthy habits?

Find full transcripts for Field Study here:

https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/

While wearable technology and performance tracking have fundamentally changed sports betting and coaching, regulation of the industry has not kept up. Privacy experts are worried that players’ rights are at risk, and the topic has become a key question as Major League Baseball negotiates its next collective bargaining agreement.

Find full transcripts for Field Study here:

https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Bill Brink set out to see whether research into head injuries has affected youth football participation in Western Pennsylvania, which has seen some decline in recent years. What he learned was that many people don’t even fully understand how to identify severe injuries when they happen. How are coaches, leagues and parents protecting the kids risking their bodies on each and every play?

Get ready for season 2 of "Field Study," a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette podcast about the intersection of science, sports and society. Each episode looks at how scientific discoveries or fields of inquiry affect the way we play and live. These stories will lend context to stat sheets, an approachable lens to lab reports and some lessons about the people behind both.

In this bonus episode, Matt Moret interviews Dr. Meredith Wills, a sports data scientist who has spent the last several years tearing MLB baseballs to shreds. Dr. Wills has researched how changes to baseball manufacturing are affecting home run rates and pitch control. For the season finale of Field Study, Moret and Dr. Wills discuss her discoveries.

Find a full transcript of this episode here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/mlb-baseball-construction-home-run-boom/

What metric should decide whether women can compete against other women? South African Olympic star Caster Semenya has a rare condition called "hyperandrogenism," which causes her body to produce high levels of testosterone. Post-Gazette reporter Lacretia Wimbley breaks down the science behind hyperandrogenism and the battle around Semenya's career.

Find a full transcript here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/hyperandrogenism-competition-caster-semenya-iaaf/

Most of baseball isn't uniform. But for the first time in its 116 year history, Major League Baseball may soon standardize the storage of its teams' baseballs. In this episode of "Field Study," host and producer Matt Moret examines the science driving some teams to reconsider everything from equipment storage to player evaluation.

Find a full transcript of this episode here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/humidors-baseball-storage-environment/

There's a good chance you've heard the loud noises many tennis players make while striking a ball. These loud exertions tangibly increase an athlete's strength, so why don't players in other sports make them?

Readings:

"Something to Shout About" by Amy S. Welch and Mark Tschampl

"The effects of 'grunting' on serve and forehand velocity in collegiate tennis players" by Dennis O'Connell, Martha Hinman, Kevin Hearne, Zach Michael and Sam Nixon

The NFL has gotten tech savvy, even using artificial intelligence to predict player injuries or coaching decisions. But will this fundamentally change the game? In this episode of "Field Study," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette technology reporter Courtney Linder examines the potential future of football.

Find a full transcript of this episode here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/artificial-intelligence-in-the-nfl/

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Theme: "We Can Groove"