Dr Martin Toms JP BA(Hons) MPhil CertEd PhD FHEA

• BA (Hons) Sport Science and English Literature, University of Surrey, 1993
• MPhil Youth Sport & Education, University of Brighton, 1997
• Cert Ed -post secondary education, University of Plymouth, 2000
• PhD Youth Sport Talent & Developmental Socialisation, Loughborough University, 2005

Following his appointment in 2000, Dr Toms established the world leading partnership with the PGA, and since then he has worked with multiple international organisations (most notably in India) to develop education and sports systems around talent identification and development.

His work - publications, consultancy and public speaking/conferences - in youth sport and in Indian contexts mean he is a world leader in the area. His continued work and partnership development focuses upon the importance of understanding cultural and cross cultural contexts within sport.

Dr Toms is a trained QAA Subject Reviewer (Sport & Leisure) and an active External Examiner across the globe. He has also examined Masters and Doctoral theses around the the world. He has advised public and private institutions and been on validation panels for programme developments at Universities in the UK and abroad. In terms of research, he regularly presents at National and International conferences on youth sport, talent journeys and the importance of sports sampling in elite performance.

Dr Toms is currently involved in the development of sport and sports science in India, working very closely with governmental and private institutions to support curriculum development and also youth sport contexts and talent systems. This work is alongside the University of Birmingham India Institute as well as organisations in India.

He has been involved in projects at a European level (as co-editor of the 'European Journal for Sport & Society' and on the Europe-wide Golfstand project), as well as International level as (a board member of the World Scientific Congress of Golf and Emeritus Editor in Chief of the 'International Journal of Golf Science').

He sits on a number of bodies internally and externally and with a remit to develop Transnational Education, and is also an adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Regina, Canada.

As a former professional coach and PE teacher coach he has spent time with Club, County and Regional junior cricket squads, as well as exploring the grass roots and developmental experiences of elite athletes on a international level. Committed to make a difference in education and youth sport, Dr Toms is always keen to explore partnership developments on a global scale.

Undergraduate modules – Sport Development; Global Challenges in Sport and Physical Education; Developing Professional Practice; Dissertations

Postgraduate Taught: Talent Management and Development; Player and Participant Development; Interdisciplinary Research and Impact; thesis supervision

Current supervision projects:

• Talent identification in elite Indian sport (MRes)
• Talent development in elite academy cricket (MRes)
• A Bourdieu/Goffman exploration of performance self-management in elite golfers (PhD)
• The concept of expertise in elite level street dance (PhD)
• Talent development journeys of elite US female footballers (Prof Doc)
• The professional journey of PGA Pros (Prof Doc)

Research interests:

• Youth sport in international contexts (notably in India);
• Youth sport;
• talent identification;
• socio-cultural contexts;
• family involvement & youth sport;
• interrupted childhoods and sport;
• grass roots sport; sport education programmes.

He has edited multiple text books – most notably on Sport in India and Coaching Children

• External examiner and assessor for programmes in the UK and abroad (current)
• Roles within professional sports organisations (e.g. PGA) (current)
• Advisor for sport education programmes and developments in India (current)
• Adjunct Professor in Sports Science (University of Regina, Canada) (current)
• Consultancy in China and Europe around young people, golf and education (2019)