About
PhD Title: Evaluation of a theory-based coach education programme: Advancements in implementation, method of assessment and social inclusion
Supervisor: Professor Joan Duda - Co-supervisors: Dr Eleanor Quested, Dr Paul Appleton
Nathan Smith is a first year PhD student in the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
Qualifications
BSc (1st class) in Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK (2010)
Biography
On completion of his undergraduate degree, Nathan went to work for the Professional Golfers Association at the PGA’s National Training Academy. Whilst there, he contributed towards the development of online learning material for the PGA’s distance learning foundation degree. After several months, he chose to return to the University of Birmingham to begin his PhD studies.
Research
Research group: PAPA Project Research Team
Nathan’s PhD is closely linked to the work of the PAPA project (www.projectpapa.org) which aims to help coaches foster an empowering motivational climate and optimize their players’ motivation and well-being. Specifically, his research relates to the development of an observation tool designed to assess the motivational climate created by youth sports coaches. His research will also involve the inclusion of currently underrepresented groups in youth sport.
Other activities
As part of the PAPA project, Nathan is being educated to deliver the Empowering Coaching curriculum to grassroots football coaches. Since starting his PhD studies, he has also been involved in the organization of a one-day conference aimed at ‘promoting healthy physical activity experiences’ in children.
In addition to his PhD work, Nathan is a tutor and marker for the PGA’s sport science foundation degree. He also blogs about the world of sports psychology in an attempt to link theory to real-life events (www.psyched4sport.co.uk). In his spare time, Nathan enjoys playing football, golf and currently coaches a U12’s football team. Aside from sport, Nathan enjoys music and is an avid record collector.
Publications
Conference Presentation
Tessier, D., Tzioumakis, Y., Smith, N., Sarrazin, P., Digelidis, N., Papaioannou, A., Quested, E., and Duda, J. L. (2011). Development of an observational instrument assessing the coach-created environment. 13th FEPSAC European Congress of Sport Psychology, Madeira, Portugal, July 2011