Will Roberts - Staff Profiles

Having worked in sport all of my life I have been fortunate that these experiences have formed the basis of my critical appreciation of sport and physical culture, exploring the ways that young people engage in society through sport. Chevron icon

Biography

My teaching and research interests revolve around two key areas; coaching pedagogy and the sociology of sport. My research has been largely focused on constraints-based methodologies and physical literacy, particularly examining the role of the environment and practice design on learning.

This body of work underpins various projects focussed on coach education and the development of coaching practice nationally and internationally. I am series editor for Constraints-Based Methodologies in Sport which focuses on translating academic materials for coaches.

Awards

1st Prize for Outstanding work in early career research (Philosophic, Historical and Cultural Aspects of Physical Education and Sport): VI International Scientific Conference, 2011. Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

Teaching Fellowship for Excellence and Leadership in Higher Education (2013 – 2015)

Accreditation

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Membership of professional bodies

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Member, British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES)

Teaching & Research

Teaching

My teaching coheres around constraints-based approaches to pedagogy and coaching practice across both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. I also contribute to socio-cultural modules at undergraduate level.

Research

My research is aligned with my teaching expertise and focuses on two distinct areas. Firstly, I have a focus on constraints-based methodologies and nonlinear pedagogy. Secondly, my research focuses on the role of coaching and teaching in developing physical literacy, particularly as it relates social exclusion and social change.

Publications

More publications from Will Roberts can be found in the Research Repository.

External responsibilities

I work with a variety of external organisations supporting the development of coaching at both policy and practitioner level. In particular, I am currently leading research for the Boing social enterprise (www.boingkids.co.uk), a collaborative project with Oxford Brookes University and the University of Gloucestershire focussing on free accessa for teachers and coaches to a developmental curriculum. I also serve on a number of advisory boards including: UK Coaching Advisory Panel The Children’s Coaching Collaborative – Sport England Vice Chair (Research) for the International Physical Literacy Association