BASES Expert Statement Grant

Number Offered: 5 of up to a total of £1,500 each year

Target BASES Membership Category: Professional (for the past two years)

Application Closing Date: To be announced

Apply for this grant: Click here

Results Available: Within 2 months of the application closing date

Aim

The BASES Expert Statement Grants aim to assist the development of expert statements on topics, related to the application of scientific principles to sport and exercise science, about which there is interest, confusion, or controversy. The statements are to be written for all persons interested in sport and/or exercise sciences and answer the following questions: What is the role of sport and/or exercise science within this topic? Why is this topic important? What are the issues and what evidence is available? What conclusions can be drawn?

Grant Criteria

• The applicant is a Professional Member of BASES for the past two years.
• The applicant has read the Terms and Conditions of the BASES Expert Statement Grants.
• The applicant has not submitted a BASES Expert Statement Grant application within the past year.
• The applicant has not received a BASES Expert Statement Grant within the past 3 years.
• The applicant must submit the BASES Expert Statement Grant application form. Only information contained within the application form will be considered.
• Each application is assessed against the following criteria: The importance, impact and interest of the topic; the role of sport and exercise science within this topic; the expertise of the development team.

Additional Information

• Development of Expert Statements is overseen by the Board.
• Ideas for the development of Expert Statements may arise from BASES members, the Board or divisional committees.
• Expert Statements are evidence-based and provide concise representations of a stance or opinion on a specific topic. It is succinct and brief, while at the same time providing sufficient rationale and evidence for the position. The evidence is drawn from the literature and references carefully selected so that readers may explore issues in greater depth at their discretion.
• The evidence upon which Expert Statements are built is compiled by a multidisciplinary group of between four and six individuals (including the lead person) with content knowledge and expertise. Development team members should be BASES members whenever feasible, but external evidence builders are also seen as capable contributors.
• The process is similar for an update of an existing Expert Statement. Statements are reviewed at least every three years and are revised as needed to reflect current knowledge.
• When the Expert Statement is completed BASES will pay for a professional press release. The Expert Statement will also be published as a supplement in The Sport and Exercise Scientist.

Timescale

Because of the importance of Expert Statements the entire development and sign off process should take no more than six months.

 Format for Expert Statements

The Expert Statement should be 1,500 words in total and a maximum of three sides of laid-out text in 11 point font. It should have:

Title

Introduction. The introduction should consider what is the topic, why is it important, what is the context, and how can sport and/or exercise science contribute? The introduction will be around half of a page in length.

Background and evidence: The background and evidence makes up the body of the statement. It will be about one and a half pages in length. It should provide a structured and logical coverage of the topic and the key evidence.

Conclusions and Recommendations. This section includes a summary of the key points along with any recommendations. These should be in the form of a bulleted list.

Acknowledgements

References. Around 5 to 8 key references, formatted in accordance with that used by the Journal of Sports Sciences.

Terms and Conditions

1. In making an application for a grant, the applicant agrees to abide by each of the terms and conditions contained within this schedule, upon and following any award of a grant.
2. This schedule, together with the requirements set out in the application guidelines and any subsequent grant offer letter, constitute the agreement between BASES and the recipient.
3. BASES Expert Statement Grants are to cover bringing the development team together for a day or two at which they can discuss the topic, reach conclusions, structure the statement and produce a first draft. Payment of members is not allowed.
4. The grant awarded shall not be used for any purpose other than that stated in the grant offer letter. The recipient must notify BASES of any changes, so that the grant can be re-assessed.
5. Only one submission per applicant is permissible in a year. Recipients of a grant can only apply for a grant every 3 years.
6. The decision is final in all cases.
7. Grants will not be made in the absence of submissions of sufficient merit.
8. To receive the grant recipients of a grant shall within six months of the grant award letter submit by post an expense claim form, including all receipts to Jane Bairstow, BASES, Leeds Metropolitan University, Fairfax Hall, Beckett Park, Leeds, LS6 3QT. If expenses claim forms are not received within six months of the grant award letter, recipients will not receive the grant and will be ineligible for funding again.
9. The payment of a grant is subject, at all times, to BASES being satisfied that all these conditions are being complied with. Failure to do so may result in grant entitlements being rescinded, and grant payments having to be refunded to BASES.
10. The Expert Statement is an official Association document, and will be titled ‘The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Expert Statement on ....’. The authoring team will each be mentioned by name in the sub-heading as “Produced on behalf of BASES by x,y and z. Copyright will remain with BASES but the authors are free to use the statement in their own work with restriction. The BASES logo should be used and a link to www.bases.org.uk