Samuel Abecassis Email & Phone Number

Research Question What is the relationship between flow and athletic performance? What are the differences between elite traditional soccer players and elite amputee soccer players as it relates to flow and performance?● Curriculum Development● Developed a research study that delves into the underexplored intersection of flow experiences, a psychological state characterized by heightened concentration and athletic performance, specifically examining elite traditional soccer players and elite amputee soccer players● Designed a game setting simulation course, focused on measuring participants' attainment of the flow state, through completion time, timing equipment, and expert coaching evaluations● Partnerships● Built relationships with leading Prosthetic and Orthotic research experts at Stony Brook University, New York, to explore how the flow state enhances the pinnacle for performance in amputee athletes● Developed partnerships with the American Amputee Soccer Association in order to conduct data collection at the inaugural U.S. Amputee Soccer Cup in Columbus, Ohio● Research● Applied the Short Flow State Scale (SFSS; Jackson & Martin, 2008), each corresponding to one of the nine flow dimensions, utilized to assess the flow experience post-simulation course● Ran statistical analyses to explore the quantitative relationship between flow and athletic performance in order to determine differences in flow scores and soccer technical performance between data groups● Technology● Collaborated with Dr. Jill McNitt-Gray, Director of the University of Southern California's Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Laboratory, to analyze key temporal agility tasks and mechanical demands for elite amputee soccer players● Uploaded data collection videos from my self directed research project into Kinovea software to identify planting strategies, mass velocity, reaction forces, and ground impact for elite amputee soccer players● Conference Presenter● Accepted abstract pr

Led interactive programs to dismantle disability biases for over 300 Pre-K through 8th grade students in San Francisco Bay Area schools, to share my experience in working with the U.S. Amputee Soccer Team and USA Blind Soccer Team● Designed pre-and post-intervention exit tickets to measure changes in students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of disabilities following adaptive sports demonstrations● Blended educational presentations with hands-on adaptive sports experiences, allowing students to play crutch soccer simulations to cultivate awareness and acceptance in students' understanding of disabilities

● Established field orientation for players to identify spacing through voice recognition and sound recall● Designed technical and physical drills based on anticipated play style of competing international teams● Worked individually with players to improve dribble-shot coordination prior to coaching call outs● Organized and lead local blind soccer training clinics for students from the Braille Institute Los Angeles Center through the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks and USABA Soccer

UCSF Human Performance Center (HPC) Lab Research Intern (selected as sole intern for the lab) Advisor Dr. Richard Souza, Program Director and Vice Chair for Research Project Narrative Secondary Injury in Amputee Populations: Individuals with above-knee amputation experience significant mobility limitations due to diminished proprioception in the affected limb.● Conducted motion capture analysis using Qualisys software to export data into Visual 3D, comparing pre and post-biofeedback intervention during 2-minute walk tests.● Evaluated the effectiveness of the SageMotion Haptic Biofeedback wearable system, developed by San Jose State University (SJSU), to provide real-time gait asymmetry feedback via vibrations● Presented findings to the UCSF HPC team and SJSU affiliates to demonstrate no significant improvement post biofeedback in gait patterns for the prosthetic side● Attended multiple UCSF RunSafe running clinics to observe biomechanical running patterns by placing markers on patients in order to ensure foot landing stability and athletic form

High School Diploma, Philosophy And Human Performance, 10 To 12

Activities and Societies: Soccer

Ap Capstone Diploma, Flow And Performance, 11

A self-directed 2-year research program offered in only 5% of U.S. high schools