Hartpury University’s Sports Coaching Centre continues to strengthen its position as a leader in coach development, with staff shaping coaching practice across the UK while creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage directly with applied research, industry partners, and professional environments.
Recent activity reflects the Centre’s commitment to integrating teaching, research, and knowledge exchange, ensuring that students learn from academics who are actively influencing contemporary coaching practice.
On 20 May, the Centre delivered the final FA Accredited Coach Development Workshop of the academic year. Led by Will Pattison and Dr Luciana De Martin Silva, the session brought coaches together to explore constraints-based approaches through both theory and application, challenging current practice and supporting coaches to implement new ideas in their own environments.
The workshops also underpin an ongoing collaborative research project, “Using a Coach Development Portfolio to Bridge the Gap in Grassroots Coach Development through Think-Aloud methodology”, with findings intended for submission to a peer‑reviewed journal. This work exemplifies how research conducted at Hartpury is directly informed by, and feeds back into, coach development practice.
The Centre’s influence was further demonstrated through its partnership with Wiltshire FA. On 1 June, Dr Martin Longworth and Beth Smith delivered the third iteration of a Coach Behaviour Workshop that has now been embedded within the county FA’s grassroots coaching policy. This reflects the extent to which Hartpury’s expertise is informing coach education structures and shaping coaching culture beyond the University.
Impact extended beyond football on 31 May, when Dr Martin Longworth and Dr Shannah Anico delivered a keynote at the Gloucester Rugby High Performance Conference at Kingsholm Stadium. Their presentation, Coaching Toolbox: Care in High Performance Coaching, offered a critical exploration of care within elite environments, supported by reflective activities designed to challenge prevailing assumptions and support more effective practice.
The conference also provided a platform for Hartpury students to present their research to an audience of coaches, practitioners, and industry professionals. Undergraduate and postgraduate students showcased applied projects alongside established experts, demonstrating the quality and relevance of research emerging from the University.
Dr Martin Longworth, Lead Convenor of the Hartpury Sports Coaching Centre, said: “Engagements such as the Gloucester Rugby High-Performance Conference enable us to share our expertise while creating opportunities for our students to contribute to, and learn within, professional environments. Presenting to external audiences supports their development as reflective and confident practitioners, preparing them for careers in the sector.”
“I’m particularly proud of how the Sports Coaching Centre continues to grow both internally and externally, integrating partnerships, applied research, and professional development across our work. This ensures that the knowledge we generate is not only academically robust, but also directly informs our teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.”
The Kingsholm conference brought together coaches, teachers, academics, and practitioners from across the sector. Alongside contributions from Hartpury staff and students, delegates heard from Rhys Pritchard (University of Worcester), Tiana Gordon (Peak Team Performance), and Kieran Haynes (Prevent Biometrics). Hartpury students presented alongside these professionals, reinforcing the strength of the University’s applied, practice-focused approach.
Through sustained collaboration with governing bodies, professional clubs, and industry partners, Hartpury ensures its teaching is informed by current challenges and developments within coaching. These connections enable students to build networks, gain authentic experience, and develop the skills required to succeed in an increasingly complex and competitive sector.
As the Sports Coaching Centre continues to grow, its focus remains clear: to develop better coaches, grow industry partnerships, contribute to the advancement of the coaching profession, and create impactful learning opportunities for Hartpury students.
Contact - SportsCoachingCentre@Hartpury.ac.uk
Hartpury was named Specialist University of the Year 2026 by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Photo: Liam Moore, MRes student (Sport & Exercise Science)
