Charles Leddon

As director of Sports Science Initiatives, Charles Leddon works to advance the science of athletics using new technologies in player development while also providing insight and direction for research initiatives. On Jan. 25, he will bring that knowledge and expertise to Ohio University as part of the College of Health Sciences and Professions’ Grover Lecture series.

Titled “The Past, Present and Future of Technology in Sports Science and Orthopedics,” Leddon, PhD, ATC, CSCS, will speak to the history of athletic training, technological advances in the field and on how to evaluate the new information that technology delivers.

“I’m excited to come to OHIO. The University is great and has success in Athens. It is a leader in terms athletic training and in education overall and I’m excited to be a part of that,” said Leddon.

Leddon is in his 12th season with the Reds and his third as director of Sports Science Initiatives. He’s served as the Sports Medicine Research Director at the Andrews Research and Education Foundation and before joining the Reds also worked with the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals minor league systems. He’s been named Athletic Trainer of the Year four separate years at different organizations.

The event will be held inside the Walter Hall Rotunda at noon on Friday, Jan. 25. Leddon provided a brief preview of the lecture.

“We’re going to look at technological advances from the past 10 years. Things are now smaller and more wearable which gives us the ability to project information via Bluetooth and wireless communication. We’re able to monitor and evaluate our athletes in real time as opposed to only being able to take measurements before or after a sporting event. That has completely changed the landscape of sports science,” he said.

“Technological advances have put us in a position where we can evaluate risk injury and performance more effectively because we’re seeing that information in real time. That’s led to a boon in the world of technology in sports,” Leddon continued. “There’s so much more that we can understand now.”

Established by Ann O. Grover and her husband, Brandon T. “Tad” Grover Jr., the Grover Lecture series brings nationally recognized speakers to Ohio University to address health-related topics.

What: Grover Lecture

Speaker: Dr. Charles Leddon, Director of Sports Science with the Cincinnati Reds

When: Friday, January 25, 2019, 12:00PM

Where: Walter Rotunda