Toby Nichols

My research interests focus on the development of professional practice in Sport Coaching.  Specifically looking at the non-linear nature of learning, coach education and coach development.

Professional Doctorate. Thesis Title: Enhancing the education and ongoing development of golf coaches. Registered at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Refereed Academic Journal Articles:

Cropley, B., Neil, R., & Nichols, T., & Picknell, G. (in preparation). Stress, appraisal, and coping: A qualitative examination of elite and non-elite sports coaches experiences.

Mickleborough, T. D., Nichols, T., Lindley, M. R., Chatham, K. & Ionescu, A. A.
(2010). Inspiratory flow resistive loading improves respiratory muscle function and endurance capacity in recreational runners. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 20, 458-468.

Book Chapters:
Miles, A., Cropley, B., & Nichols, N. (in press, 2015). Learning to learn: The coach as a reflective practitioner. In J. Wallace & J. Lambert (Eds.), Becoming a sports coach. London: Routledge.

Conference Presentations:
Cropley, B., Neil, R., Nichols, T., & Picknell, G. (2012). Stress, appraisal, and coping: A qualitative examination of elite and non-elite sports coaches experiences. Research presented at Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Annual Conference, Atlanta, USA, 2012.

Neil, R., Faull, A., Wilson, K.,  Nichols, T., Edwards, C., Cullinane, A., Bowles, H. R. C., & Holmes, L. (2011, Sept). The provision of sport psychology support within a United Kingdom University: Insights into working with a Soccer, Field Hockey, and Cricket team. Presented at the Annual Conference of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, Honolulu, USA
Nichols, T., Faull, A., Neil, R., Cullinane, A., & Holmes, L. (2011, Sept). Guiding within performance visual assisted coach feedback in Hockey. Presented at the Annual Conference of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, Honolulu, USA.

I currently deliver on modules within the Sport coaching Programme sport at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. I have previously fulfilled the roles of both Programme Director (Sport Coaching) and Discipline Director (Performance) at Cardiff Metropolitan University.  I have been part of a team that has rewritten the coaching programme and modules to represent the current conceptualisations of sport coaching informed by current research.

B.Sc. Sport &Exercise Science, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
M.Sc. Sport & Exercise Science, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Professional Doctorate (Sport D). Thesis Title: Enhancing the education and ongoing development of golf coaches. Registered at Cardiff Metropolitan University
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Fellow of the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences
UKCC Level 3 Hockey Coach
1st 4 Sport IAPS

External panellist undergraduate degree validation board at the University Winchester (2014) Revalidation of : BA (Hons) Sports Studies, Validation of: BSc (Hons) / MSci (Hons) Applied Sport and Exercise Science and validation of BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching.
External panellist undergraduate degree validation board at the University of Gloucestershire (2014) Undergraduate fast track SGS BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching.
External Examiner FdSc/BSc TOURNAMENT GOLF (DUCHY COLLEGE) University of Plymouth
Hockey Wales – Coach Education
Golf Union of Wales ​ - Coach Education and Development

Strategic Director of Hockey Cardiff Metropolitan University.  Within this role I have been responsible for the strategic direction of Hockey operations and performance, this lead to the merger of Cardiff Athletic HC and Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff and Met HC playing in England (EHL West).  Currently I lead Swansea City H.C in the EHL West in a partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University. Both clubs are the performance clubs, competing in European Competition for Wales.