Carnegie School of Sport and Fulham Football Club MRes | Research students

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Mode of Study

MRes Full-Time (1 Year)

Start Date

01 August 2026

Funding Available

Home (UK) Fees Only

Opportunities Available

Fulham Football Club: Coach Development Analysis

This MRes project will explore coach development processes within a professional football academy, with a specific focus on the Foundation and Youth Development Phases (U9–U14). Working alongside the Head of Coach Development (U9-U14), the project will examine how coaches learn, implement, and refine their practice within an applied, high-performance environment, with a particular focus on individualising their approach by responding to the needs of individual players.

Drawing on contemporary coaching literature and applied research design to investigate the effectiveness of current coach development strategies. Methods may include systematic observation of training sessions, semi-structured interviews with coaches, and analysis of coach development interventions.

The project will seek to offer a critical examination of how learning is situated within everyday coaching practice.

Findings aim to contribute to both academic knowledge and applied practice by identifying effective approaches to coach learning, informing future coach development programmes, and enhancing the quality of player development within the academy system.

Application Reference Number: 2026-August-FFC/CSS-MRES Coach Development Anaylsis

Start Date: 01 August 2026

Mode of Study: MRes Full-Time (1 Year)

Number of Opportunities Available: 1

Interviews to take place from: 01 June 2026 to 05 June 2026

A laptop will be provided

Type of Funding Available: Home (UK) Fees Only

The successful candidates would ideally have: 2:1 or higher in a relevant undergraduate degree.

This opportunity is open to UK candidates only.

The MRes will be awarded to the strongest applications assessed on the applicant’s academic excellence, the strength of the research proposal and how the proposal fits with the research project.

To apply, please go to the application portal which can be found through the 'Apply Now' button. To find this course on our portal you will need to search for a Postgraduate Research course, Autumn 2026/27, Full Time, and search for ‘Masters by Research Sport Coaching Fulham Studentship FT 2026/27 Autumn Entry’ as the programme title.

Please make sure that you complete the application process in full and also provide the following additional information:

1. RESEARCH PROPOSAL (include title and project reference)

Your research proposal must outline the topic of your proposed research, the questions it will address and some indication of how you will conduct your research. It is an integral part of the application process. It should be no more than 2000 words in length (not including references) and must include the research project title and reference.

The criteria listed below will be used in both selecting those applicants who will be called for interview and those who will be successful in securing a PGR award, and these should help you form your research proposal.

a) Context and significance of your research
Please outline the significance and originality of your proposed research, indicating:  aims, relationship to previous research in the field, research question(s) you are seeking to answer.
b) Research design and methods
Please outline the design of your proposed research, indicating: methodology and methods, a timetable for completion of the PGR award, ethical considerations that your research may raise.
c) Dissemination and impact
Please identify:  possible opportunities to disseminate your research to academic audiences during your PGR programme, the ways in which your research might be relevant outside academia.

You are strongly advised to discuss your proposal with a named Supervisor before making your application.

How applications will be assessed Your application will be considered by a Carnegie School of Sport selection panel. The panel will evaluate applications based on the quality of the proposal, preparedness of the applicant and feasibility of the research project.

2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This should be a maximum of 1000 words outlining: What knowledge, skills, and training would you bring to the proposed research? This may include relevant academic study, relevant experience as a professional or practitioner, and any specific training in research skills/methods.  Why do you want to undertake this research in the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University. How does the proposed research relate to your career goals.

3. CV
A current CV, including your employment history or other professional experience, including internships.

Please state clearly that you are applying for a Carnegie School of Sport studentship and include the reference for this opportunity (at the top of the page)
The closing date for applications is midnight on 18 July 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.
We aim to hold in person interviews for shortlisted applicants the week commencing 1 June 2026.
For queries about applying please contact Research Admissions
We regret that we are not able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within four weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with Dr Liam McCarthy

Application Deadline: 18 May 2026

Apply Now

Suggested Reading:

Coaching Theory & Pedagogy

Cushion, C. J., Armour, K. M., & Jones, R. L. (2006). Locating the coaching process in practice: Models “for” and “of” coaching. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 11(1), 83–99.

Jones, R. L. (2006). The sports coach as educator: Reconceptualising sports coaching. Routledge.

Jones, R. L. (2009). Coaching as a social process. In Lyle, J. & Cushion, C. (Eds.), Sports coaching: Professionalisation and practice (pp. 159–174). Elsevier.

Lyle, J. (2002). Sports coaching concepts: A framework for coaches’ behaviour. Routledge.

Potrac, P., Jones, R. L., & Armour, K. (2002). “It’s all about getting respect”: The coaching behaviours of an expert English soccer coach. Sport, Education and Society, 7(2), 183–202.

Coach Learning & Development

Cushion, C. J., Nelson, L., Armour, K. M., Lyle, J., Jones, R. L., Sandford, R., & O’Callaghan, C. (2010). Coach learning and development: A review of literature. Sports Coaching Review, 1(1), 45–64.

Nelson, L., Cushion, C., & Potrac, P. (2006). Formal, non-formal and informal coach learning: A holistic conceptualisation. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 1(3), 247–259.

Nelson, L., Cushion, C., & Potrac, P. (2013). Learning in sports coaching: Theory and application. Routledge.

Stoszkowski, J., & Collins, D. (2016). Sources, topics and use of knowledge by coaches. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(9), 794–802.

Skill Acquisition & Ecological Dynamics

Chow, J. Y., Davids, K., Button, C., Shuttleworth, R., Renshaw, I., & Araújo, D. (2007). The role of nonlinear pedagogy in physical education. Review of Educational Research, 77(3), 251–278.

Chow, J. Y., Davids, K., Button, C., & Renshaw, I. (2015). Nonlinear pedagogy in skill acquisition: An introduction. Routledge.

Davids, K., Button, C., & Bennett, S. (2008). Dynamics of skill acquisition: A constraints-led approach. Human Kinetics.

Davids, K., Araújo, D., Seifert, L., & Orth, D. (2015). Expert performance in sport: An ecological dynamics perspective. In Baker, J. & Farrow, D. (Eds.), Routledge handbook of sport expertise.

Performance Analysis in Sport

Hughes, M., & Franks, I. M. (2007). The essentials of performance analysis: An introduction. Routledge.

Mackenzie, R., & Cushion, C. (2013). Performance analysis in football: A critical review and implications for future research. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(6), 639–676.

O’Donoghue, P. (2010). Research methods for sports performance analysis. Routledge.

Youth Football Development & Talent Development

Ford, P. R., Ward, P., Hodges, N. J., & Williams, A. M. (2011). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance in sport. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(1), 65–78.

Roca, A., Williams, A. M., & Ford, P. R. (2012). Developmental activities and the acquisition of superior anticipation and decision making in soccer players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(15), 1643–1652.

Williams, A. M., & Reilly, T. (2000). Talent identification and development in soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 18(9), 657–667.

Coach Behaviour & Practice Analysis

Partington, M., & Cushion, C. (2013). An investigation of the practice activities and coaching behaviours of professional top-level youth soccer coaches. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 23(3), 374–382.

Smith, M., Cushion, C. J., & Williams, A. M. (2014). A survey of the behaviours of youth soccer coaches. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(14), 1362–1370.

Research Methods in Sport & Coaching

O’Donoghue, P. (2010). Research methods for sports performance analysis. Routledge.

Sparkes, A. C., & Smith, B. (2014). Qualitative research methods in sport, exercise and health. Routledge.

Reflective Practice & Practitioner Learning

Gilbert, W. D., & Trudel, P. (2001). Learning to coach through experience. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 21(1), 16–34.

Knowles, Z., Gilbourne, D., Borrie, A., & Nevill, A. (2001). Developing the reflective sports coach. Sport Psychologist, 15(2), 185–202.

Policy, Governance & Coach Development Systems

Muir, B. (2014). Developing effective coaching practice: A learner-centred approach. Routledge.

Muir, B., & Lyle, J. (2024). Sport Coach Learning and Professional Development: Supporting Coaches in Performance Sport (1st ed.). Routledge.

Muir, B., Morgan, G., Abraham, A., & Morley, D. (2011). Development of coaching expertise: The role of formal coach education. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 6(3), 451–463.

North, J. (2010). Using ‘systems thinking’ to understand the complexity of coaching pathways. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 5(3), 411–425.

North, J. (2013). A critical realist approach to theorising coaching practice. International Sport Coaching Journal, 1(1), 34–46.

Fulham Football Club Literature

McCarthy, L. (Ed.). (2024). Sport Coach Education, Development, and Assessment: International Perspectives (1st ed.). Routledge. (CHAPTER 17, Hounsell & Jones, Making Judgements That Help Coaches Learn).

Ben Bartlett Constraining Football & Connected Coaching: https://elitesoccercoaching.net/book/elite-player-coach-development

Contact us

For further information please contact Dr Liam McCarthy

Dr Liam McCarthy

Reader / Carnegie School of Sport

Dr Liam McCarthy is a Reader in Sport Coaching at the Carnegie School of Sport. Collaborating with national and international sport organisations, Liam's work is primarily concerned with promoting quality coaching and coach support, in order to enhance athlete experiences and outcomes.