Jill Costanza | Exploring the “Wild West” of Sport Science
About this episode
Jill Costanza discusses her journey in sport science and the importance of assessing athlete effectiveness and holistic interventions.
The path to the top is not always linear. For Jill Costanza, it included returning to school and stops in collegiate and military performance before becoming Director of Sport Science and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with the National Football League (NFL) Detroit Lions. Costanza describes today’s sport science landscape as a “Wild West,” where definitions differ by perspective. Her focus centers on assessing the athlete and program effectiveness against the demands of the game to identify holistic interventions. She outlines how intentional systems, a clear communication funnel, and data visualizations help athletes and stakeholders understand the “why,” build buy-in, and tap into competitiveness. Addressing common misconceptions, Costanza clarifies that elite athletes can still have foundational qualities that need rewiring. She emphasizes movement quality, proprioception, and breathing while adapting for individual needs and neurological fatigue. Learn how to build sport science systems, turn insights into action, and keep progressing on your professional path. Reach out to Jill by email at: jill.costanza@lions.nfl.net | Find Eric on…
People in this episode
Guest: Jill Costanza
Topics covered
- sport science
- athlete assessment
- program effectiveness
- holistic interventions
- movement quality
- neurological fatigue
Keywords
- sport science
- athlete assessment
- program effectiveness
- movement quality
- neurological fatigue
- data visualization
- communication
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Football League, Detroit Lions
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