Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Professor David Morley
Head of Subject
Professor David Morley is currently the Carnegie Professor of Physical Education at Leeds Beckett University and Adjunct Professor of Sport Coaching at La Trobe University, Melbourne. He leads local, regional, national and global projects concerned with improving children’s health, wellbeing, physical activity, movement and physical literacy on behalf of national and international physical education and sport organisations.
Dave completed his BEd (Hons) degree in Secondary PE teaching, Masters in PE and PhD in talent development in PE at Leeds Metropolitan and Leeds Beckett Universities. He has held professorial positions at Liverpool John Moores University as Associate Dean for Research, Sheffield Hallam University as Dean of the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity and La Trobe University (Melbourne) as Professor of Sport Coaching.
Dave has been responsible for designing and evaluating programs reaching thousands of children and young people, teachers and coaches. He has also led on the creation of national strategies, such as ‘talent matters’ that was used to improve talent identification and development in schools PE. He has worked with numerous professional clubs and national governing bodies in youth talent development, appreciating an understanding of practitioner and player perspectives on systems and approaches. He is currently lead advisor for Nike and the Youth Sport Trust developing and evaluating a games-based, movement assessment intervention involving 25 million children across over 20 countries.
Dave is also, more recently, co-director of the Centre for Child & Adolescent Physical Literacy (CAPL) that aims to promote healthier and happier children and adolescents, whilst supporting others involved with their development as well.
Current Teaching
- Level 5 Research Methods
Research Interests
Dave has a strong interest in measuring, evaluating and transforming interventions and practices that are designed to improve children's and adolescents' physical literacy. He has led projects that have had significant impact on the lives of children and adolescents globally, nationally, regionally and locally. He readily employs a range of models within evaluative work, such as Group Concept Mapping, Delphi polls, RE-AIM, feasibility modelling and the Double Diamond approach and has worked with a range of organisations when using these.
Ask Me About
- Children
- Coaching
- Education
- Exercise and physical activity
- Games
- Physical education
- Sport
- Wellbeing
Selected Outputs
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Gavigan N; Belton S; Whyte E; O’Connor S; Morley D; Issartel J (2022) Design of a new movement competence assessment for children aged 8–12: A Delphi poll study. European Physical Education Review, 28 (4), pp. 985-1005.
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Prieto-Ayuso A; León MP; Contreras-Jordán OR; Morley D (2022) Spanish physical education teachers’ perceptions of talent development. European Physical Education Review, 28 (1), pp. 3-19.
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Morley D; Rudd J; Issartel J; Goodway J; O'Connor D; Foulkes J; Babic M; Kavanagh J; Miller A (2021) Rationale and study protocol for the Movement Oriented Games Based Assessment (MOGBA) cluster randomized controlled trial: A complex movement skill intervention for 8-12 year old children within 'Made to Play'. PLoS One, 16 (6),
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Van Rossum T; Foweather L; Hayes S; Richardson D; Morley D (2021) Expert recommendations for the design of a teacher-oriented movement assessment tool for children aged 4-7 years: a Delphi study. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, pp. 1-11.
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Maher AJ; Morley D (2020) The Self stepping into the shoes of the Other: Understanding and developing self-perceptions of empathy among prospective physical education teachers through a special school placement. European Physical Education Review, 26 (4), pp. 848-864.
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Morley D; Banks T; Haslingden C; Kirk B; Parkinson S; Van Rossum T; Morley I; Maher A (2020) Including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities in mainstream secondary physical education: A revisit study. European Physical Education Review
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Morley D; Morgan G; McKenna J; Nicholls AR (2014) Developmental contexts and features of elite academy football players: Coach and player perspectives. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 9 (1), pp. 217-232.
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Morley D; Nicholls A; Polman R; Taylor N (2009) Coping and coping effectiveness in relation to a competitive sport event: pubertal status, chronological age, and gender among adolescent athletes. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31 (3), pp. 299-317.
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Morley D; Bailey R; Dismore H (2009) Talent development in physical education: a national survey of policy and practice in England. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 14 (1), pp. 59-72.
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Gorse C; McKinney I; Shepherd A; Morley D; Ellis R (2006) Internal support mechanisms in groups and teams. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2006 - Procs 22nd Annual ARCOM Conference, 2 pp. 925-934.
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Bailey R; Morley D (2006) Towards a model of talent development in physical education. Sport, Education and Society, 11 (3), pp. 211-230.
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Holt NL; Morley D (2004) Gender differences in psychosocial factors associated with athletic success during childhood. Sport Psychologist, 18 (2), pp. 138-153.
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Morley D (2011) Coaching in Schools. In: Bailey R; Stafford I ed. Coaching Children in Sport. London: Routledge,
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Muir R; Morgan G; Abraham A; Morley D (2011) Developmentally Appropriate Approaches to Coaching Children. In: Stafford; Bailey R ed. Coaching Children in Sport. London: Routledge, pp. 17-37.
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Muir R; Morley D; Morgan G; Abraham A; Webb V (2011) A 'Fit for Purpose' approach within the Rugby Football League. In: Navin A ed. Sports Coaching: A reference guide for students, coaches and competitors. Marlborough: Crowood Press, pp. 237-275.
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Morley D; Muir B (2012) Becoming CAYPABLE: Level 1 coach qualification support resource.
News & Blog Posts
LBU experts to develop online resources for Creating Active Schools
