Irish researchers partner with the Premier League to advance research in coach development

The Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics and Dublin City University (DCU) School of Health and Human Performance have announced a new partnership with the Premier League, offering to advance its research into academy coach development.

This is the first research project of its kind, designed to contribute to the Premier League’s coach development across academies using "embedded research that will help to further develop coaching practices at the highest level".

"The Premier League is partnering with Irish researchers for this project because we have a novel, consumable approach to elite sport research,’ said Dr Áine MacNamara, chair of the Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance at DCU.

"We provide a unique and sustained engagement with a philosophy of conducting research for - rather than about - sport. It’s an exciting collaboration."

The Insight SFI Research Centre and the DCU School of Health and Human Performance are currently applying this model in projects with the GAA in Ireland and Premiership Rugby in the UK.

Dr Jamie Taylor of the School of Health and Human Performance in DCU explained how the research works.

"Our embedded researcher will work in Premier League academies in an effort to advance coach development and make recommendations for future practice in Premier League coach development programmes.

"In turn we will analyse data and research findings to develop an evidence base for informed practice in sports coaching. As well as impacting directly on coaching quality within the Premier League, the project will deliver research findings to key football stakeholders and disseminate knowledge through academic publications and conferences."

Dr Stephen Behan of the Insight SFI Research Centre