We are pleased to announce that Mark Holland (supervised by Professor Joan Duda and Dr Jennifer Cumming) has received the Michael K. O’Rourke PhD Publication Award within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. Organised by the University Graduate School, this award recognises postgraduate researchers that have made an outstanding contribution in terms of publication.
Mark, a Doctoral Researcher within the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, was awarded the prize for his 2010 publication featured in a Special Issue on Youth Sports for the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology. Entitled, “Mental qualities and employed mental techniques of young elite team sport athletes” his paper is the second most downloaded article in the journal. The study explored the psychological needs of young elite athletes, identifying both the sport specific and broader life skills required by young athletes. His research draws attention to many of the needs that have otherwise been overlooked in both research and practice.
As part of a larger project in collaboration with the Scottish Rugby Union and funded by the Winning Scotland Foundation, the results presented in this paper informed the development of two mental skills training programs (one for players and one for coaches). In addition, this study prompted the forming of psychological key national themes within the Scottish Rugby Union to guide coaching practice and player development.
A ceremony will be held on the June 18 2012 at which winners from other colleges will be announced as well as an overall university prize awarded.
The article’s reference:
Holland, M. J. G., Woodcock, C., Cumming, J., & Duda, J. L. (2010). Mental qualities and employed mental techniques of young elite team sport athletes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 4(1), 19-38.
The article’s website http://journals.humankinetics.com/jcsp
Download the article from http://works.bepress.com/jennifer_cumming/
This research was funded by the Winning Scotland Foundation (http://www.winningscotlandfoundation.org/) and in collaboration with the Scottish Rugby Union (http://www.scottishrugby.org/)