Nicholas is a Teaching Focused Academic in biomechanics within the First Year College.

While undertaking his PhD, which specialised in coaching science (Biomechanics and Skill acquisition) in using training tools, he worked as a research assistant and subject tutor. Through this, he became involved in an ongoing collaborative project with the Major League Baseball team, the Boston Red Sox. Previously, he worked with the New York Yankees and Australian Defence Force.

Nicholas is also an Applied Sports Biomechanist having supported athletes in a range of sports from youth to professional, namely professional tennis players Felix Auger-Aliassime (ATP #7) and Tung-lin Wu (ATP #166), and other top WTA and ATP athletes from Data Driven Sports Analytics.

A pracademic at heart, Nicholas also works as a Performance Tennis Coach and is the Head of Strategy at the Maribyrnong Sports Academy, contributing to the coaching team that won the 2022 Tennis Australia National High School Challenge, and placing 3rd in 2023.

Over the course of his career, Nicholas has developed a varied skillset and has experience in:

  • qualitative research practices
  • motion capture analysis and providing practical application for sports performance
  • data analytics
  • contemporary skill acquisition coaching.

 

Portfolios

Areas of expertise

  • Sports Biomechanics
  • Skill development
  • Physically constraining tools
  • Coaching science
  • Racket sport biomechanics

Contact details

+61 (3) 9919 5147
[email protected]

Refereed journal articles

  • Busuttil, N. A., Connolly, M., Roberts, A. H., Reid, M., Dascombe, B. J., & Middleton, K. J. (2022). Grip position affects upper limb kinematic chain during tennis double-handed backhand topspin strokes: considerations for transitioning tennis grip position technique. Sports biomechanics, 1-20.
  • Busuttil, N. A., Reid, M., Connolly, M., Dascombe, B. J., & Middleton, K. J. (2020). A kinematic analysis of the upper limb during the topspin double-handed backhand stroke in tennis. Sports biomechanics, 21(9), 1046-1064.
  • Busuttil, N. A., Roberts, A. H., Dunn, M., Connolly, M., & Middleton, K. J. (2023). The use of physically constraining tools for grip-specific skill development in racket, stick and club sports: A scoping review. Journal of sports sciences, 41(8), 788-795.

 

Conference Presentation

  • 41st ISBS (International Society of Biomechanics in Sports) Conference – Milwaukee, United States, 2023 (July). Busuttil, N., Roberts Dr, A., Dunn Dr, M., & Middleton Dr, K. (2023). The acute effects of a grip-constraint tool on upper body and racket kinematics during tennis forehands. ISBS Proceedings Archive, 41(1), 16.
  • Australasian Skill Acquisition Network Conference (ASAN) 2022 – Melbourne, Australia, 2022 (November). Busuttil, N., Roberts Dr, A., Dunn Dr, M., & Middleton Dr, K. (2021). The effect of ball delivery modality on gaze behaviour during tennis forehands: A proposal for assessing gaze behaviour across skill level.
  • 39th ISBS (International Society of Biomechanics in Sports) Conference – Canberra, Australia, 2021 (September). Busuttil, N., Roberts Dr, A., Dunn Dr, M., & Middleton Dr, K. (2021). Perspectives and practices of accredited tennis coaches when developing stroke technique. ISBS Proceedings Archive, 39(1), 17.

 

VURR

Victoria University Research Repository (VURR) - Nick Busuttil

Professional Memberships

International Society of Biomechanics in Sport

Industry Experience

Current

2021 (Jan) – Current; Applied Sports Biomechanist - ATP & WTA Professional Tennis Players

2022 (Jan) – Current; Tennis Performance Coach, Head of Strategy – Maribyrnong Sports Academy

2023 (Nov) – Current; High Performance Manager - Heidelberg United