Impact case study database

Since 2000, researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan University have worked closely with a large number of sporting bodies nationally and internationally in relation to coach development and professional practice [E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, E9]. The underpinning research has therefore impacted sporting organisations worldwide. Indeed, over the assessment period, the total number of coaches impacted by our research is estimated to be over 67,000, with a further 500 coach educators being similarly influenced. The importance of the research to the field is further illustrated by the 53 keynote/invited conference presentations given globally since 2014 (27 by Irwin, 16 by Jones, and 10 by Cropley).

Internationally, our research has underpinned a crucial part of New Zealand’s elite ‘Coach Accelerator Programme’ [R1, R3, E8], whilst also comprising considerable elements of the coach education pathways of Olympiatoppen [the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee], the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique [FIG] [R6, E5], and the Gaelic Athletic Association [GAA] [R1, E1]. The number of coaches per year impacted by these coaching programmes alone is more than 9,000.

Nationally, work by Jones and colleagues has also informed the top-level coach development provision of several national sporting governing bodies, including the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) [R1, E3] and the British Canoe Union’s (BCU) Level 4 Coach Certification programmes [E4], and the Football Association (FA) [E9] and the WRU’s coach mentoring systems [E3]. The research has also been incorporated into the coach education content of Welsh Volleyball, British Gymnastics [R6, E5], and the British Canoe Union (Level 2) [E4], and helped develop a more culturally sensitive talent-development programme within Welsh Hockey [R4, E6].

Similarly, research by Cropley has been used extensively by the Football Association of Wales Trust to develop its national policy syllabus, titled ‘The Welsh Way’ [E2]. For example, Cropley’s work on reflective practice has been integrated into all levels of the Association’s coach education provision from national certification (e.g., Level 1 Football Leader’s Award and Level 2 ‘C’ Certificate) to European accredited UEFA qualifications (e.g., UEFA ‘B’ Licence [Level 3]; UEFA ‘A’ Licence [Level 4], and the UEFA Pro Licence [Level 5]). Since 2015, over 3,300 coaches have been exposed to, and had their coaching practice informed by, this body of work [R5, E2].

Meanwhile, research by Irwin and colleagues [E5] has considerably influenced the sport specific components of both the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique and British Gymnastics’ coach education programmes [R6, E5]. Specifically, the work has involved translating biomechanical and motor control concepts crucial for successful gymnastics performance into meaningful provision for coaches [R6]. Such knowledge has been embedded into various national and international coach education courses covering numerous gymnastic-related disciplines (including Men’s’ and Women’s Artistic, Trampoline, DMT, and Sports Acrobatics). Over the past 10 years, over 3,000 coaches have directly benefited from the content [E5].

In addition, Cropley’s research has been integral to the redevelopment of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences’ reflective practice workshop; a core component of the organisation’s ‘supervised experience’ programme [E7]. It is estimated that over 180 sport science practitioners have attended the workshop since 2014, with their subsequent professional practice benefitting from the content.

Finally, reflecting its world leading nature and status, our body of knowledge has been integrated into a considerable number of HEIs coaching-related teaching provision in the UK and abroad. Examples include Loughborough University [R2, E10], University of Birmingham [R1, E10] Manchester Metropolitan University [R1, E10], Cardiff Metropolitan University [R1, E10], University of St Mark and St John [R1, E10], Robert Gordon University [R1, E10], Northumbria University [E10], University of South Wales [R1, E10], University of Worcester, Edge Hill University [R1, E10], Hull University [R1, E10], Edinburgh Napier University and Loughborough College [R1, E10] in the UK; and the University of Ostrava (Czech Republic) [R6, E10], University of Osaka (Japan) [R6, E10], Seoul National University (South Korea) [E10], Ohio University [E10], Denver University [E10], University of Georgia (USA) [E10], University of Ottawa [E10], University of Alberta (Canada) [E1, E10], University of South East Norway, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (Norway) [E10], and University College Dublin (Ireland) [R1, R3, E10].