Dr Andrew Kirkland

Lecturer

Sport University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Andrew Kirkland

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About me

About me

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.

Research (1)

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:

  • Health & mental well being in sport: a Salutogenic perspective
  • Endurance coach learning

Outputs (27)

Outputs

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)

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

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

Lecture

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)

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

Article

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

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

Teaching

Teaching

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.