Institute of Coaching and Performance (ICaP)
The Institute of Coaching and Performance (ICaP) at UCLan focuses on the enhancement of performance, either directly or by developing providers and systems to bespoke needs.
Overview
The institute works across a broad spectrum of elite performance including coaching, science and medicine, as single and integrated disciplines. Several taught and post graduate elite performance research programmes sit within the capacity of the institute of which are supported with interdisciplinary world leading practitioner-researchers to provide an integrated support team.
Our approach is interdisciplinary, but with an emphasis on practitioner decision making and the evolution of an optimum practice environment.
- Work areas span performance support in high level performance, through adventure sport, to the development of both performers and support staff, particularly coaches.
- Our research is published in a wide range of outputs, with a focus on application rather than fundamental work. This focus notwithstanding, several of our on-going initiatives are driving practice in both research and applied domains.
- From a consultancy perspective, we look to develop client independence and autonomy, rather than trying to build dependency. Effective, practical and evidence-based application is a key objective of our work.
- In achieving these goals, ICaP works with a wide range of individuals across the University and, through links to key stakeholder organisations and individuals, both nationally and internationally.
The Professional Masters (MProf) or Professional Doctorate (DProf) in Elite Performance are high level programmes of study open to active professionals within their area(s) of experience and expertise. Both programmes enable professionals with or without undergraduate/postgraduate degrees to apply and be credited with their experience and skills, allowing direct entry on to the courses.
The MProf or DProf in Elite Performance both provide an opportunity for those working in performance related roles to complete a programme of study focused on career-based needs and aspirations.
This is an exciting and original initiative, capable of providing a high level, vocationally focused award to a broad range of professionals. The studying is designed specifically around your professional work, with the aim of enhancing your practice or progression in your chosen performance environment.
Professionals working as coaches and performance specialists across all disciplines in sport are welcomed. The course welcomes, for example:
- Scientists
- Strength and conditioners
- Psychologists
- Analysts
- Medical practitioners
- Military personnel
- Police
- Fire service
- High-performance environments
Our aim is to support experienced professionals working in performance environments to develop evidenced based solutions to ‘real world’ workplace problems. The MProf and DProf are carefully designed with shared modules providing learners with a seamless transition between the two programmes.
At Master’s level (MProf) or at Doctoral level (DProf), each programme provides an opportunity for those working in elite performance to complete a study programme based on individual needs.
The approaches taken in each of the programmes reflects current thinking on this type of award, being more a matter of guidance and mentoring than a didactic transfer process, closer in many respects to the relationship between supervisor and research student, than that of lecturer and undergraduate student. The aim is to provide a flexible and individualised learning experience that allows the programme and content to tailor learning around their professional work.
The majority of student learning is achieved through guided reading, with subsequent supported synthesis and discussion through formal (with your supervisor) and informal (with peers) methods.
Assessments vary, are agreed with your supervisor and can be via professional and academic reports, case studies, a personal development plan, a learning diary, presentation and a final piece of research, at MProf a dissertation, at DProf a thesis.
- Programmes led by academics currently working in elite sport environments
- Innovative course delivery, taught by academics with extensive research and industry experience
- Access to state-of-the-art resources and facilities
- Strong links to professional bodies and organisations regionally, nationally and internationally
- All courses are vocationally relevant and career enhancing
- Bespoke teaching disciplines underpinned by continuing staff research
- Steadfast support and guidance
- International consultancy in the USA, China, Ireland, Wales, Norway, Netherlands, Singapore, and Thailand and international organisations (e.g., FA Premier League, MLS and FEI)
- National working relationships with professional sports Academies, National Governing Bodies (e.g. English Golf, England Hockey, EFA, GAA, BJA, RFU, UK Athletics), national organisations (e.g. MoD, DfE, UK Coaching)
Find all of ICaP's publications and outputs here.
Football Performance Hub - This hub has been developed and led by the ICaP team in collaboration with the Head of Medical at the Premier League Hon. Prof Mark Gillett is attributed to the strands of football performance, which include medical, physical performance, coaching, social and economic. This virtual hub for Football Performance where programme development is driven by industry provides a centre for learning, innovation and knowledge exchange with internal and external partners to inform practice and produce world leading research in the field. For more information contact Dr Jill Alexander.
Alexander, J. (2023) Cryotherapy: A cold reception or warming our practice? Considerations around contemporary debate and research for the use of cryotherapy for recovery in sport. National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) May, 2023, Chicago, USA.
Alexander, J. (2023) The use of cooling modalities in the recovery of injury. Post-exercise Cooling and Physiological Recovery: From Theory to Practice. The 5th ASK Global Symposium in Conjunction with KAKACEP, October 2023, Hong Kong.
Alexander, J. (2023) Cryotherapy for Recovery in Elite Sport: Considerations for contemporary practice. Oklahoma Thunder NBA Practitioner Workshop, December 2023, Oklahoma, USA.
Alexander, J. (2022) Performance markers to establish the effectiveness of cold-water immersion as a recovery modality in elite football. FIFA Isokinetics Conference, June, 2022. Lyon, France.
Alexander, J. (2022) Contemporary cryo-compressive applications for post-training recovery in elite academy footballers. FIFA Isokinetics Conference, June, 2022. Lyon, France.
Harper, D.J. (2024) Changing Pace for Injury Mitigation: The importance of Deceleration Training. National Basketball Association Health and Performance Meeting. May 16, 2024. Chicago, USA.
Harper, D.J.. (2024) The potentially damaging demands of decelerations. Do we adequately prepare players. European Clubs Association High Performance Advisory Group. April 4-5, 2024. Benfica Football Club, Lisbon, Portugal.
Harper, D.J. (2023) The complex and damaging demands of decelerations in football. FIFA Isokinetic Medical Conference: Football Medicine: The Pursuit of Excellence. May 27-29, 2023. The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, UK.
Harper, D.J. (2022) Deceleration: Importance for speed performance and injury-risk reduction in multi-directional sports. UK Strength & Conditioning Annual Conference. Sept 30-Oct 02, 2022. East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, UK.
Yiannaki, C. (2024) The Physical Returns of Futsal - The Research and 'Skills Transfer' to Football. The Estonian Football Association - UEFA B. January 2024.
Yiannaki, C. (2023) Lessons from Futsal: Socialisation & Coaching Principles. Hong Kong Baptist University: Conference - Conversations in Coaching - Perspectives to Improve Performance. March 2023.
David Grecic is the Director of ICaP. Having previously worked in a variety of sport and education settings for 15 years. David has been instrumental in establishing a number of sports education academies. These include programmes for Lancashire County Cricket Club, Sale Sharks and Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Union Football Clubs, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Everton football, rugby union, basketball, cricket and golf. David is still an active coach in a variety of sports including rugby union and golf. It is here that his specialist interest lies and that drives his academic research. In particular David is interested in how sports coaches, leaders and performance teams align epistemologies. His current focus is based around the amateur to professional transition stage of talent development.
Damian is currently a lecturer in coaching and performance and a member of the Institute of Coaching and Performance. Damian has vast experience both lecturing and leading undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in sports and exercise sciences. He is an accredited sport and exercise scientist (BASES) and strength and conditioning coach (UKSCA) and has a wide range of applied experiences working with clients in exercise, health and sports performance settings. Most recently Damian has consulted with the English Football Association around the preparation of international football players for competition demands.
Pamela Richards
Pamela has worked in both academic contexts and external organisations. Pam’s research specialism is in high pressurised team decision-making. Specifically, Pam focuses on the development and operationalisation of shared mental models in high pressurised naturalistic settings, exploring both the psychomotor and psychosocial aspects. Pam’s research has centred on high pressurised team decision-making in several elite sports and she works as a consultant with the English Institute of Sport and UK Coaching in the area of decision-making. In addition, Pam also researches decision-making in other applied environments including the police, military, extreme outdoor environments and the emergency services. Pam approaches research from both a multi and interdisciplinary perspective.
Chris is a lecturer supervising postgraduate candidates on the Professional Doctorate (DProf) and Professional Masters (MProf) in Elite Performance. Chris also contributes to our MSc Sports Coaching course. He has expertise in coaching, talent development, coach education, football and futsal having worked in elite environments for over 15 years.
Chris has several peer-reviewed publications in these areas culminating in a book publication in 2023. Chris works with a number of external football clubs and governing bodies around the world in football, futsal and coaching exploring R&D initiatives. Chris has recent consultancy work with England Futsal, The Premier League, The FA, The Estonian FA and UEFA sharing his research and developing real-world impact. Chris uses these experiences to contribute to ICaP and the Football Performance Hub here at UCLan.
Jill is a Senior Lecturer and programme lead for the DProf and MProf in Elite Performance. She also delivers on the MSc Football, Science and Rehabilitation and MSc in Football Medical Leadership and Performance courses. Her findings from her Ph.D. titled; Utilisation of Cryotherapy in Elite Sport: Understanding the Multifaceted Response, provide a framework for potential optimisation of cryotherapy for injury, recovery and performance in sport. She has recently presented this work at the FIFA Medical Conference in Lyon, Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Staff Education Programme 2023, NBATA NBA conference in Chicago, and several FA Premier League clubs.
Jill is the Research and Funding Lead for the Football Performance Hub at the University of Central Lancashire, with research interests for the optimisation of cryotherapy and performance recovery strategies within elite sport. She has published over 60 peer-reviewed publications in cryotherapy and elite performance.
She currently works as an independent Performance Recovery Consultant for several Championship and FA Premier League Football (Soccer) clubs, currently leading several projects to maximise individual player recovery strategies, player education materials and R&D initiatives for improved player, department and club recovery and performance.
Jill has recent consultancy work with the FA Premier League, through funded research projects to aid the development of policy guidelines within the elite football environment and founder and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Elite Sport Performance.
For the Institute:
David Grecic, PhD, MBA, FHEA, PGCE
Dgrecic1@uclan.ac.uk
In relation to the MProf or DProf in Elite Performance:
In relation to the Football Performance Hub:
- ICaP works within the Centre for Applied Sport, Physical Activity and Performance.
- ICaP works closely with Professor Jim Richards in the Allied Health Research Unit.
- ICaP leads the Football Performance Hub with Jill Alexander.
- Athletic preparation management
- Talent identification and development
- Decision making in high performance environments
- Performance Recovery in Elite Sport – Dr Jill Alexander
- Human Breaking Performance – Dr Damian Harper
- Futsal Coach Education – Dr Chris Yiannaki
- Equine Rider and Horse Performance