Anna Cruse: Building Collaborative Sport Science Systems

What does effective sport science actually look like in practice?

In this episode of VALDCAST, host Dylan chats to Anna Cruse, Assistant Athletic Director for Applied Health and Performance Science at the University of Utah. They delve into the systems, relationships and decision-making processes that underpin successful sport science programs — explaining why collaboration, data quality and athlete-centered thinking are essential for turning information into meaningful action.

The conversation explores:

• Why sport science looks different in every organization
• Building collaborative performance teams that break down silos
• The importance of data hygiene and reliable testing processes
• Why collecting more data isn't always the answer
• Communicating performance insights effectively to coaches
• Balancing athlete-specific information with team-wide decision-making
• Creating flexible systems that adapt to the realities of high-performance sport

Whether you work in sport science, strength & conditioning, rehabilitation or athlete performance, this episode is packed with practical insights on building systems that help practitioners make better decisions while keeping athletes at the center of the process.