Ashley Gill

Course Director

School of Health, Science and Wellbeing

I’m a senior member of the Sport and Exercise department, with a background as an educator and sports coach. I have taught on sports coaching related courses for almost 20 years, utilising a multi-disciplinary approach to sports education. Whilst I have a multi-sport approach to coach education, my primary sport of interest is basketball, which I have coached at varying levels for almost 25 years.

In my role here at Staffordshire University, I oversee all aspects of postgraduate provision within the department, ensuring that Sport and Exercise students have a quality experience on their respective programmes. Alongside this, I contribute to the lecturing and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the subject area of sports coaching; aiming to provide engaging and innovative lectures, practical's and seminars that stimulate interest and enable students to develop both personally and professionally.

I am an avid researcher, published author, and PhD candidate at Staffordshire University, currently undertaking a PhD by Published Work. My main research interests surround the transition of students as they progress through Higher Education, exploring the different journeys of student groups through key educational landmarks.

Professional memberships and activities

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Teaching Excellence Fellow at Staffordshire University
  • Member of the Academy of Teaching Fellows at Staffordshire University
  • QTLS
  • Basketball England – Player’s Licence + Coach’s Licence

Academic qualifications

  • PhD by Publication – 2019-Present – Staffordshire University
  • Post Graduate Certificate of Education – 2010 – Sheffield Hallam University
  • MSc Sport & Exercise Science – 2007 – Leeds Beckett’s University
  • BSc (Hons.) Sport & Exercise Science – 2003 – Nottingham Trent University

Expertise

My discipline expertise lies in the field of sports coaching, within both participation and performance contexts; often from multidisciplinary perspectives to further enhance understanding of performance.

Research interests

I am a current PhD candidate (2019-2024), within the Sport and Exercise department. My main research interests revolve around the transition of Sport & Exercise students to Higher Education, exploring the different journeys of student groups through key educational landmarks.

 

My sports coaching related research revolves around key pedagogical approaches to coaching, the development of coach education and evaluation of behaviour/systems/processes within coaching and professional organisations.

 

I work closely with the following organisations as part of my role at Staffordshire University: Stoke City F.C., Stoke City F.C. Women’s team, Port Vale F.C., Port Vale Foundation Trust, Stoke RTC of the JPL and Stoke City F.C. RTC (Girls). I also have close associations with staff at governing organisations, such as UK Coaching and CIMSPA.

 

Please get in touch with me by email (see contact details above) should you wish to discuss a research project and we can arrange a time to meet.

Enterprise and commercial interests

I work closely with local, regional and national organisations as part of my role at Staffordshire University. To enhance the ‘Football Coaching’ course at the University I have developed working relationships with Stoke City F.C., Stoke City F.C. Women’s team, Port Vale F.C., Port Vale Foundation Trust, Stoke RTC (Boys) of the JPL and Stoke City F.C. RTC (Girls). I also have close associations with staff at governing organisations, such as UK Coaching and CIMSPA.
Furthermore, I am currently developing and writing a textbook for Routledge based around the ‘Foundations of Sports Coaching’. This is a significant project that is currently ongoing.

Teaching

Undergraduate

Foundations of Sports Coaching

Professional Practice and CPD in Sport

Reflections on Learning and Practice (in Sport)

Independent Project (in Sport and Exercise)

 

Postgraduate

Masters Research Project

Effective Coaching

Publications

Book:

Gill, A.J.G., 2021. Foundations of Sports Coaching: Applying theory to Practice [3rd ed]. Routledge, Abingdon, U.K.

Research:

Gill, A.J.G., 2021. Difficulties and support in the transition to higher education for non-traditional students. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 26(4), pp.410-441.

Gill, A.J.G., 2020. The thoughts, feelings and perceptions of sport and exercise students progressing from vocational education and training to academic education. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 44(6), pp.795-808.

Gill, A.J.G., 2019. Student Transition into Higher Education: Exploring BTEC Sport and Exercise Students Forthcoming Transition to Higher Education Taught within a Further Education Setting. Innovative Practice in Higher Education. 3(3), pp.90-112.

Gill, A.J.G., 2017. The Transitional Experiences of Sport and Exercise Students from Further Education to Higher Education, Innovative Practice in Higher Education, 3(1), pp. 22-47.

Gill, A. J. G. (2016, July 20). Performance vs. Participation in Youth Sports. The Sentinel. Retrieved from http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/

Research Gate Profile:  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ashley-Gill-2 

Presentations:

Gill, A. J. G., 2020 (February 26th). Factors Affecting University Sports Students Participation in NGB Coach Education Courses. UK Coaching, Applied Research Conference, Pride Park, Derby.

Newlands, K. and Gill, A. J. G., 2020 (February 26th). Players Perceptions of Experiencing the Constraints Led Approach to Coaching. UK Coaching, Applied Research Conference, Pride Park, Derby.

Crump, M. and Gill, A. J. G., 2020 (February 26th). ‘Straight off the training ground’: Using the Constraints Led Approach for Pre-planned Strategies in Rugby Union. UK Coaching, Applied Research Conference, Pride Park, Derby.

UK University

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

for Job Prospects

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

for Student Satisfaction

Complete University Guide 2022

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

for Course Content

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021