Exploring methods to support coach learning in skill acquisition.

QUT, QAS, AIS

Dr. Adam Gorman; Dr. Vince Kelly; Dr. Michael Maloney; Dr. Scotty Russell

BSc: Sports Science with Exercise Physiology (2011-2015)

MSc: Performance Coaching (2019 – 2021)

MPhil: Skill acquisition and coaching (2022 – 2024)

PhD: Skill acquisition and coach learning (2024 – present)

I have worked in multiple roles (S&C, Sports Science, PE teacher) in Ireland, UK, Hong Kong, and now Australia. I was fortunate to complete my BSc work placement in WAIS in 2014, which provided an initial insight into working in high-performance sport. After my BSc, I spent 5 years as a sports science and conditioning manager with the Hong Kong rugby union, where I provided sports science, S&C, and skill acquisition support to coaches and athletes. From here I transitioned into a PE teaching position in the UK to gain a taste of working with coaches on the other end of the development-performance spectrum. In Sept 2022, I arrived in Brisbane to start my MPhil in skill acquisition and coaching, which has now transitioned into my PhD where I am co-funded by QUT, QAS, and AIS, to explore how skill acquisition specialists can support coach learning.

I started exploring skill acquisition in my role as a strength and conditioning coach and particularly applying skill acquisition principles to support the development of agility. Here I started to become more aware of skill acquisition in my own strength and conditioning coaching and sport coaching, and it also enabled me to have more informed conversations with coaches I was working with at the time. I was interested to explore how I could support coaches to become more aware of skill acquisition principles and apply them while recognising the contextuality, conditionality and complexity of coaching.

I am interested in how athletes learn to move in sport, how coaches learn, and the development of a practitioner’s judgement and decision-making skills.

Miracle at Medinah. The story of the 2012 Ryder cup.

Three sport international representative for Hong Kong (very much a social level) – Gaelic football, hurling, and Australian rules football.