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    • Dr Tania Spiteri
      https://www.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0007/758257/tania-spiteri.jpg
    • Dr Tania Spiteri

      Dr Tania Spiteri

Dr Tania Spiteri

Staff Health Coordinator

Staff Member Details
Email: t.spiteri@ecu.edu.au
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6730-7738

Dr. Tania Spiteri is an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Medical and Health Sciences

Current Teaching

  • Motor Control
  • Biomechanics
  • Strength and Conditioning
  • Exercise and Sport Science Practicum

Background

Tania earned her PhD at Edith Cowan University, completing research in the area of Sports Biomechanics, Strength and Conditioning and Motor Control. Her research focuses around investigated performance based differences in change of direction, agility, decision-making, strength and neuromuscular strategies between genders and level of expertise in various high performance sports. Tania is engaged in a variety of ongoing research collaborations with universities, sporting institutes and high performance sport across Australia and the United States. In addition to this Tania is currently working as the Sports Biomechanist for the Australian Men's Wheelchair Basketball team implementing several athlete monitoring and screening procedures and performance analysis interventions with the athletes in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympics. She is also consulting as the sport scientist for Claremont football club (WALF), and provides ongoing consultation services to Purdue Sports Performance, several WNBA teams and the National Football League (NFL). Tania currently coordinates and lectures in the undergraduate and postgraduate units within the school of health sciences, upholding a strong emphasis of promoting student engagement and providing opportunities to put theory into practice.

Professional Associations

  • ESSA - Exercise & Sport Science Australia (member)
  • ASCA - Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (member)
  • NSCA - National Strength and Conditioning Association (member)
  • ANZSB - Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics (member)

Awards and Recognition

National and International Awards

  • National Strength and Conditioning Association, Young Investigator Grant, ($15,000 USD), 2016.
  • National Football League Research Collaboration Grant, ($60,000 USD), 2014

Other

  • Level 2 Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCA)
  • eResearch Technology Funding Scheme ($4,405), Edith Cowan University, 2016.
  • Australian Postgraduate Award ($75,000), Edith Cowan University, 2013-2015.
  • Research Excellence Award ($15,000), Edith Cowan University, 2013-2015.
  • Higher Degree Research Mobility Grant ($5,000), Edith Cowan University, 2014.

Research Areas and Interests

  • Change of Direction
  • Agility in Sport
  • Decision Making
  • Strength and Conditioning
  • Athlete Monitoring and Testing
  • Biomechanics

Qualifications

  • CERT IV in Work Health & Safety, Australia, 2024.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2015.
  • Master of Science(Exercise & Sports Science), Edith Cowan University, 2012.
  • Bachelor of Science(Exercise & Sports Science), Edith Cowan University, 2009.

Research Outputs

2022

Journal Articles

  • Jacob, Y., Hart, N., Cochrane Wilkie, J., Spiteri, T., Laws, S., Jones, A., Rogalski, B., Kenna, J., Anderton, R. (2022). ACTN3 (R577X) genotype is associated with Australian Football League players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(2), 573-576. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003458.
  • Jacob, Y., Anderton, R., Cochrane Wilkie, J., Rogalski, B., Laws, S., Jones, A., Spiteri, T., Hince, D., Hart, N. (2022). Genetic Variants within NOGGIN, COL1A1, COL5A1, and IGF2 are Associated with Musculoskeletal Injuries in Elite Male Australian Football League Players: A Preliminary Study. Sports Medicine - Open, 8(1), Article number 126. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00522-y.
  • Dolci, F., Kilding, A., Spiteri, T., Chivers, P., Piggott, B., Maiorana, A., Hart, N. (2022). Characterising running economy and change of direction economy between soccer players of different playing positions, levels and sex. European Journal of Sport Science, 22(8), 1167-1176. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1953151.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Dolci, F., Kilding, A., Spiteri, T., Chivers, P., Piggott, B., Maiorana, A., Hart, N. (2021). High-intensity Interval Training Shock Microcycle Improves Running Performance but not Economy in Female Soccer Players. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 42(08), 740-748. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1302-8002.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Hart, N., Newton, R., Weber, J., Spiteri, T., Rantalainen, T., Dobbin, M., Chivers, P., Nimphius, S. (2020). Functional basis of asymmetrical lower-body skeletal morphology in professional Australian Rules Footballers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(3), 791-799. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002841.
  • Dolci, F., Hart, N., Kilding, A., Chivers, P., Piggott, B., Spiteri, T. (2020). Physical and energetic demand of soccer: A brief review. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 42(3), 70-77. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000533.

2018

Journal Articles

  • Dolci, F., Hart, N., Kilding, A., Chivers, P., Piggott, B., Spiteri, T. (2018). Movement economy in soccer: current data and limitations. Sports, 6(4), article no.124. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6040124.
  • Jacob, Y., Spiteri, T., Hart, N., Anderton, R. (2018). The potential role of genetic markers in talent identification and athlete assessment in elite sport. Sports, 6(3), article no.88. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6030088.

2016

Journal Articles

  • Hart, N., Cochrane Wilkie, J., Spiteri, T., Nimphius, S., Newton, R. (2016). Relationship between leg mass, leg composition and foot velocity on kicking accuracy in Australian Football. Journal of Sport Science and Medicine, 15(2), 344-351.

2015

Journal Articles

  • Hart, N., Nimphius, S., Spiteri, T., Cochrane Wilkie, J., Newton, R. (2015). Segmental musculoskeletal examinations using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA): Positioning and analysis considerations. Journal of Sport Science and Medicine, 14(3), 620-626.
  • Spiteri, T., Newton, R., Nimphius, S. (2015). Neuromuscular strategies contributing to faster multidirectional agility performance. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 25(4), 629-636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2015.04.009.
  • Spiteri, T., Newton, R., Binetti, M., Hart, N., Sheppard, J., Nimphius, S. (2015). Mechanical determinants of faster change of direction and agility performance in female basketball athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(8), 2205-2214. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000876.

2014

Journal Articles

  • Spiteri, T., Hart, N., Nimphius, S. (2014). Offensive and defensive agility: a sex comparison of lower body kinematics and ground reaction forces. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 30(4), 514-520. https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2013-0259.
  • Spiteri, T., Nimphius, S., Hart, N., Specos, C., Sheppard, J., Newton, R. (2014). Contribution of strength characteristics to change of direction and agility performance in female basketball athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(9), 2415-2423.
  • Hart, N., Spiteri, T., Lockie, RG., Nimphius, S., Newton, R. (2014). Detecting deficits in change of direction performance using the preplanned multidirectional Australian Football League Agility Test. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(12), 3552-3556.
  • Sheppard, J., Dawes, JJ., Jeffreys, I., Spiteri, T., Nimphius, S. (2014). Broadening the view of agility: A scientific review of the literature. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning, 22(3), 6-25.
  • Hart, N., Nimphius, S., Spiteri, T., Newton, R. (2014). Leg strength and lean mass symmetry influences kicking performance in Australian Football. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 13(1), 157-165.

Conference Publications

  • Blanco Ochoa, P., Haff, G., Hart, N., Seitz, L., Spiteri, T., Tufano, J., Nimphius, S. (2014). Bone; Body composition and isometric rate of force development are associated in female ballet students and university ballet students. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning (106-110). Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.

2013

Journal Articles

  • Spiteri, T., Cochrane Wilkie, J., Hart, N., Haff, G., Nimphius, S. (2013). Effect of strength on plant foot kinetics and kinematics during a change of direction task. European Journal of Sport Science, 13(6), 646-652. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2013.774053.
  • Spiteri, T., Cochrane Wilkie, J., Nimphius, S. (2013). The evaluation of a new lower-body reaction time test. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(1), 174-180. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318250381f.
  • Sheppard, J., Nimphius, S., Haff, G., Tran, T., Spiteri, T., Brooks, H., Slater, G., Newton, R. (2013). Development of a Comprehensive Performance-Testing Protocol for Competitive Surfers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 8(5), 490-495.

Conference Publications

  • Spiteri, T., Nimphius, S., Wolski, A., Bird, S. (2013). Monitoring neuromuscular fatigue in female basketball players across training and game performance. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning (73-74). Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.
  • Hart, N., Spiteri, T. (2013). Quantifying performance deficits between limbs using a modified version of the AFL agility test.. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning (105-107). Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.
  • Spiteri, T., Hart, N. (2013). Ball inclusion into the AFL agility test can improve change of direction performance. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning (75-77). Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.
  • Spiteri, T., Nimphius, S. (2013). Relationship between timing variables and plant foot kinetics during change of direction movements. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning (73-77). Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.
  • Nimphius, S., Geib, G., Spiteri, T., Carlisle, D. (2013). "Change of direction deficit" measurement in Division I American football players. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning (115-117). Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.
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