I am a Lecturer in Sports Coaching in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport. I teach primarily on the MSc. in Performance Coaching and support the BA in Sports Studies. I am also a member of the General University Ethics Panel, a Chartered Scientist and a BASES Accredited Sport & Exercise Scientist (support & pedagogy).
I bring a wealth of experience to the university. I am currently a high-performance triathlon coach. I have worked as a sport physiologist, a coach developer at British Cycling and support others in developing performance environments. The experiences in these roles is central to my ability to support & guide students in career progression.
My research philosophy is driven by impact and translation of research into practice. Specifically, I am using Implementation and Behavioural Change Science to explore mental health in sport. I 'merge' my practical experience with evidence-based practice with the aim of helping others to develop more effective sporting systems.
My current research interest relates to health and mental well-being in sport . I have previously focused on coach learning and behavioural change in sport and physical activity contexts.
Research in progress includes:
COVID19 social distancing effects on social engagement, loneliness, wellbeing and physical activity in Scottish older adults, and an exploration of potential ameliorating strategies.
PI: Professor Anna Whittaker
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
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Article
An exploration of context and learning in endurance sports coaching
Kirkland A & Cowley J (2023) An exploration of context and learning in endurance sports coaching. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, Art. No.: 1147475. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1147475
Article
Stewart DG, Allen JB & Kirkland A (2023) Relative energy deficiency in sport and the role of ultrarunning coaches according to two female ultrarunners. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231179301
Article
Tomaz SA, Ryde GC, Swales B, Neely KC, Andreis F, Coffee P, Connelly J, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Martin JG, Pina I & Whittaker AC (2022) ". . . Exercise opportunities became very important": Scottish older adults' changes in physical activity during Covid19'. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 19, Art. No.: 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-022-00295-z
Article
Tomaz SA, Coffee P, Ryde GC, Swales B, Neely KC, Connelly J, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Andreis F, Martin JG, Pina I & Whittaker AC (2021) Loneliness, Wellbeing, and Social Activity in Scottish Older Adults Resulting from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (9), Art. No.: 4517. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094517
Article
Mason L, Kirkland A, Steele J & Wright J (2021) The relationship between Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull variables and athletic performance measures: empirical study of English professional soccer players and meta-analysis of extant literature. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 61 (5), pp. 645-655. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11205-2
Article
Sissions A, Grant A, Kirkland A & Currie S (2020) Using the theoretical domains framework to explore primary health care practitioner's perspectives and experiences of preconception physical activity guidance and promotion. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 25 (7), pp. 844-854. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2019.1679846
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Whittaker AC, Tomaz SA, Ryde G, Connelly J, Coffee P, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Andreis F, Swales B, Martin JG, Pina I & Neely KC (2020) Loneliness, social support and wellbeing in Scottish older adults as a result of social distancing during the Covid19 pandemic. American Psychosomatic Society 2020 Virtual Meeting, Online, 03.12.2020-04.12.2020. https://psychosomatic.org/meetings/annual-meeting-2020/
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Impact of Covid19 social distancing on the social and mental health of Scottish older adults
Whittaker AC, Tomaz SA, Coffee P, Ryde G, Connelly J, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Andreis F, Neely KC, Swales B, Martin JG & Pina I (2020) Impact of Covid19 social distancing on the social and mental health of Scottish older adults. Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections 2020 Digital Conference, Online, 11.11.2020-18.11.2020. https://www.sparc.education.ed.ac.uk/conference-2020/
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Tomaz SA, Ryde G, Connelly J, Swales B, Martin JG, Pina I, Neely KC, Coffee P, Kirkland A, Andreis F, McCabe L, Watchman K & Whittaker AC (2020) The impact of Covid19 on Scottish older adults’ physical activity: Changes and associations with wellbeing. Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections 2020 Digital Conference, Online, 11.11.2020-18.11.2020. https://www.sparc.education.ed.ac.uk/conference-2020/
Commentary
Mental health in performance sport: an interdisciplinary approach
McEwan H, Kirkland A & Gorczynski P (2020) Mental health in performance sport: an interdisciplinary approach. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, (65), pp. 11-12.
Meeting Abstract
Coach learning and practice in endurance sport: Why context matters to sports scientists
Kirkland A (2019) Coach learning and practice in endurance sport: Why context matters to sports scientists. British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Annual Conference 2019, Leicester. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37 (Supplement 1), pp. 43-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2019.1671688
Meeting Abstract
Health and mental wellbeing in performance sport: an interdisciplinary approach
Kirkland A, Mcewan H & Gorcynski P (2019) Health and mental wellbeing in performance sport: an interdisciplinary approach. British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Annual Conference 2019, Leicester. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37 (Supplement 1), p. i24. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2019.1671688
Commentary
Kirkland A & Gearity BT (2019) Comments on CrossTalk 43: Exercise training intensity is/is not more important than volume to promote increases in human skeletal muscle mitochondrial content. Commentary on: MacInnis, M.J., Skelly, L.E. and Gibala, M.J. (2019), CrossTalk proposal: Exercise training intensity is more important than volume to promote increases in human skeletal muscle mitochondrial content. J Physiol, 597: 4111-4113. doi:10.1113/JP277633; MacInnis, M. J., Skelly, L. E. and Gibala, M. J. (2019), Rebuttal from Martin MacInnis, Lauren Skelly and Martin Gibala. J Physiol, 597: 4119-4120. doi:10.1113/JP278328; Bishop, D. J., Botella, J. and Granata, C. (2019), Rebuttal from David J. Bishop, Javier Botella and Cesare Granata. J Physiol, 597: 4121-4122. doi:10.1113/JP278329; Bishop, D. J., Botella, J. and Granata, C. (2019), CrossTalk opposing view: Exercise training volume is more important than training intensity to promote increases in mitochondrial content. J Physiol, 597: 4115-4118. doi:10.1113/JP277634. Journal of Physiology, 597 (16) p. 4113. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP278329
Article
Where science meets practice: Olympic coaches’ crafting of the tapering process
Ritchie D, Allen JB & Kirkland A (2018) Where science meets practice: Olympic coaches’ crafting of the tapering process. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36 (10), pp. 1145-1154. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1362717
Letter
There Is No Such Thing as an International Elite Under-9 Soccer Player
Kirkland A & O'Sullivan M (2018) There Is No Such Thing as an International Elite Under-9 Soccer Player. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 17 (4), pp. 680-685. https://www.jssm.org/hf.php?id=jssm-17-686.xml
Newspaper Article
How to restore glory days of Scottish football? Learn from Iceland
Kirkland A (2017) How to restore glory days of Scottish football? Learn from Iceland. The Conversation. 24.03.2017. https://theconversation.com/how-to-restore-glory-days-of-scottish-football-learn-from-iceland-75111
Other
British Cycling Handbook material for UKCC Level 1-3 coaching qualifications and other courses
Kirkland A (2015) British Cycling Handbook material for UKCC Level 1-3 coaching qualifications and other courses. Manchester: British Cycling. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/coaching
Other
A coaching perspective of the sport and exercise sciences
Kirkland A & Webb V (2015) A coaching perspective of the sport and exercise sciences. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, (45), pp. 28-29. https://kirklandcoaching.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/tses_autumn_2015_issue.pdf
Lecture
The map of performance excellence
Kirkland A (2015) The map of performance excellence (Presentation) 8th Oxford Colloquium on Medical Education, Pembroke College, Oxford, 30.09.2015-01.10.2015. http://www.oumef.org/media/ocme-2015-programme.pdf
Conference Paper (unpublished)
The dichotomy between applied sport science and coaching practice
Webb V & Kirkland A (2014) The dichotomy between applied sport science and coaching practice. 2nd World Congress of Cycling Science 2014, Leeds, 02.07.2014-03.07.2014. https://www.kent.ac.uk/wcss2014/symposium/Delegate%20booklet.pdf
Letter
The need for an awareness of psychosocial factors in addition to physical development
Kirkland A (2014) The need for an awareness of psychosocial factors in addition to physical development. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, (42), p. 4. https://kirklandcoaching.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/tses_issue_42_winter_2104.pdf
Article
Learning from the success of British Cycling
Kirkland A, Hopker J & Jobson S (2013) Learning from the success of British Cycling. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, (35). http://www.bases.org.uk/the-sport-and-exercise-scientist
Book Chapter
Kirkland A (2012) A Coaching Philosophy. In: Hopker J & Jobson S (eds.) Performance Cycling: The Science of Success. London: Bloomsbury Sport, p. 255. http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/performance-cycling-9781408146514/
Meeting Abstract
Physiological responses during cycle time trials: Variable versus constant power output
Kirkland A & Coleman D (2009) Physiological responses during cycle time trials: Variable versus constant power output. Annual Conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences 2008, Brunel University, 02/09/2008 - 04/09/2008. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26 (S2), p. S130. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640410802306202
Article
Validity and reliability of the Ergomo(R)pro powermeter
Kirkland A, Coleman D, Wiles JD & Hopker J (2008) Validity and reliability of the Ergomo(R)pro powermeter. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 29 (11), pp. 913-916. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1038621
Conference Proceeding
Kirkland A & Coleman D (2007) Reliability of 'Time to Exhaustion' trials and physiological responses at Critical Power in cycling exercise. In: Proceedings of the 2006 BASES Annual Conference, Wolverhampton. BASES Annual Conference 2007, Wolverhampton. London: British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Lecture
Reliability of time to exhaustion at Critical Power
Kirkland A & Coleman D (2006) Reliability of time to exhaustion at Critical Power (Presentation) BASES Student Conference, 2006, Heriot Watt University, 31.12.2006-31.12.2006.
I primarily teach on the MSc. in Performance Coaching. Modules include:
SPSP057: Understanding Performance SPSP062: Performance Analysis & Planning.
My teaching practice uses Hattie & Donaghue's Model of Learning as a framework, in which student skill, will and thrill of learning is fundamental to everything I do.
