Sports Administration “Subsidy Program for Sports Science Team Support for Grassroots Athletes” helps universities support grassroots athletes with sports science training
To encourage the application of sports science in supporting grassroots school sports training, and to root the practical application of research in sports and sports science related departments of higher education institutions, the Sports Administration (SA) has implemented the “Subsidy Program for Sports Science Team Support for Grassroots Athletes”. Under the program, subsidies have been approved for 24 schools and 34 sports science teams for 2025. It is expected to assist at least 63 schools and 949 student-athletes with sports science support. Notably, in the east of Taiwan which has a shortage of sports science resources, National Dong Hwa University, Tzu Chi University, and National Taitung University have been granted subsidies, benefiting more student-athletes with help from sports science.
The program began on a trial basis in the 2020 academic year and has been executed for three years. It utilizes a regional guidance concept, combining six domestic universities with sports science expertise. From 2020 to 2022, the project assisted 47 schools and approximately 1,000 student-athletes, with the number of assisted schools increasing to 54 and approximately 1,100 student-athletes in 2023.
To expand the implementation of the policy of providing sports science support for grassroots athletes, the program has adjusted to adopting subsidies format from2024. This approach encourages both public and private universities with sports and sports science-related departments to apply for funding, assisting school sports teams of sports classes of local schools under senior high school level with sports science training. After the program’s transformation, 21 schools and 26 sports teams received subsidies in 2024, helping 79 schools and 1,530 student-athletes benefit from sports science support. The student-athletes who received assistance have shown marked improvements in their performance and results in various competitions.
Focusing on areas like exercise physiology, sports psychology, biomechanics, sports nutrition, sports medicine, and physical training methods, sports science teams target sports class athletes, top-performing students, and school sports teams below senior high school level, assisting them with precise training, reducing training time, avoiding sports injuries, enhancing mental strength, and improving technical skills.
For example, Associate Professor Hsu Yi-Ju’s team from National Taiwan Sport University supports the swimming teams of Linkou Senior High School, Xintai Junior High School, and Hsin Chung Senior High School. The team focus on sports nutrition intervention, conducting nutrition assessments, health education, and nutrition lectures to improve the athletes' understanding of diet and nutrients . Through scientific dietary control and adjustments, they enhance athletes' physical fitness and recovery ability during training. The team tracks body composition and fatigue levels over cycles, providing precise feedback to ensure athletes remain in optimal condition. The team also use scientific data based on athletes' physical condition to assist coaches in planning the most appropriate training, optimizing training results. Combining nutrition and training strategies helps improve the athletes' sports performance and competition results.
In the area of sports biomechanics, Professor Chen Wei-Han’s team from National Dong Hwa University assisted the Hualien Physical Education Senior High School canoeing team by conducting eight rounds of sports science testing. This helped coaches monitor athletes' body composition, explosiveness, and performance on ergometers. To help coaches and athletes better understand the role of sports science in training, the team organized seven sports science lectures on topics such as "Scientific Training and Testing," "Sports Recovery," "Sports Nutrition," "Sports Psychology," "Pre-competition Carbohydrate (CHO) Supplementation," "Muscle Building Diet Strategies," and "Strength Training." These lectures enhanced the sports teams' sports science understanding and skills, improving training efficiency and utilizing them in training and competition.In the year of 2024, the program substantially reduced injuries among the school’s canoers, and these athletes achieved top-three finishes in the junior male and female categories at the 2024 National Canoeing Short Distance Championship.
Furthermore, the SA invited experts and scholars from various fields of sports science and the Taiwan Institute of Sports Science to form advisory teams for on-site visits. They evaluated the implementation of subsidized sports science team programs, offering guidance and suggestions to maintain the professional quality of the sports science teams’ implementation. The goal is to use sports science assistance to help grassroots student-athletes avoid injuries and continue their sports careers in the future.
