SHAH ALAM - Over the past decade, Malaysia has made significant strides in sports science, transitioning from a ‘tick box’ approach to a more integrated practice.
However, challenges persist, including an insufficient ratio of sports science practitioners to athletes, highlighting the need for continued investment and development.
Sport psychology consultant for the Selangor Red Giants esports team, Phillip Lew described that while sports science was acknowledged as vital a decade ago, its application—particularly in sports psychology—often seemed more like a formality than a meaningful integration.
He stated that, at the time, the inclusion of sports psychologists in professional sports teams was often superficial, intended to show that a psychologist was on board without a clear understanding of their role or purpose.
"The key issue is understanding why you include someone in the system, particularly a sports psychologist and ensuring their role contributes meaningfully to advancing sports.
"This principle applies broadly to sports science in Malaysia, especially in football. You can bring in experts, but it’s crucial to understand their purpose and how they align with the overall strategy for sports development," Phillip told Sinar Daily in an interview rcently.
Phillip, who spent 10 years at the National Sports Institute (NSI) after earning his Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master of Science (MSc) from Liverpool John Moores University, observed that while Malaysia has made notable progress in sports science, a significant gap remains in the operational practices of professionals in the field.
In the United Kingdom (UK), many university lecturers also serve as practitioners with elite teams such as Liverpool FC, Everton FC or England Rugby, seamlessly blending academic research with practical application.
This integration, Phillip said elevates the quality and relevance of research, making it directly impactful to professional sports.
"In Malaysia, this model is emerging with practitioners primarily in institutions like NSI and educators in universities but the gap between theory and application remains wider.
"High-quality research must not only look impressive but also translate effectively into practical settings, which is where UK universities excel.
"Their lecturers bring insider knowledge from elite sports environments, enabling research that is both impactful and applicable. This is the standard we aspire to achieve as we continue to grow," he said.
When asked whether Malaysia has fully leveraged the potential of sports science, Phillip acknowledged that there is always room for improvement, particularly in addressing the shortage of sports science professionals relative to the number of athletes.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh raised this concern in her Olympic Games post-mortem, especially highlighting the shortage of psychologists available to support national athletes.
"Countries like the UK have a higher number of registered psychologists catering to athletes which demonstrates the importance of financial investment in sports.
"While Malaysia has made progress, more needs to be done. For sports science to thrive, we need more qualified professionals working with athletes and teams," Phillip said.
Phillip, who also holds a Licence C coaching licence from the English Football Association (FA), stressed that the integration of sports science, particularly psychology, is lacking across all levels of athlete development.
For example, he pointed out that in the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) A coaching licence, psychology is covered only in a brief two-hour session, while it is entirely absent from grassroots, C, and B licences.
This fragmented approach is ineffective, Phillip argued stressing that sports science should be integrated throughout an athlete’s development, starting as early as age seven or eight.
"While the depth of topics may vary with age, concepts like confidence and communication should be introduced early.
"It does not make sense to wait until athletes reach the elite level to emphasise psychology.
"Imagine telling someone like Datuk Lee Chong Wei (former national badminton player), at the peak of his career, about the importance of sports psychology—it would be far too late by then.
"We need to implement sports science progressively, like climbing a staircase, one step at a time. Skipping steps doesn’t work. To maximise its impact, sports science must be integrated from the grassroots level and consistently developed throughout an athlete’s journey," Phillip added.
This comprehensive approach, Phillip stated, will ensure that sports science continues to play a crucial role in developing athletes who are not only physically capable but mentally resilient as well.