Ian Maynard

Professor Ian Maynard, Ph.D., C.Psychol., F.BASES., F.AASP., F.BPsS.

I taught Physical Education for seven years before completing a Masters Degree in Sport Psychology at the University of Victoria (B.C., Canada). I completed my doctorate with the Psychology Department of the University of Southampton. I lectured in Sport Psychology and Physical Education at the University of Chichester from 1987 to 1999 and took up the position of ‘Professor of Sport Psychology’ at Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Science in April 1999 and took over as the Director of the Research Centre in 2004. I was appointed the ‘Founding Professor of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science’ at the University of Essex in August 2017.

I became an accredited Sports Psychologist in 1988 with the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES). I attended the Barcelona (Sailing) and Athens Olympics (Sailing, Boxing & Diving), the Victoria (Cycling) (1994) and Manchester (Bowls & Diving) (2002) Commonwealth Games and have been a consultant at World Championships in eight different sports. I was the Director of the RYA (Sailing) World Class Performance Sport Science Support Programme and have acted as consultant to the All England Women's Lacrosse Association, the England Bowls Team (Commonwealth Games 2002 & 2006), the Great Britain Diving Squad, British Swimming, Richmond Rugby Football Club, Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (English Elite Soccer Referees), the English Golf Union and the Amateur Boxing Association of England and many international performers in a variety of other sports.

I served for four years as the Executive Secretary of BASES until September 2001 and chaired the BASES Sport Science Special Committee from January 1996 until September 2000. I was chair of the Psychology Section within BASES from September 2002 until September 2004 and sat on the Accreditation and Fellowship committee as the Psychology Section representative from 2004 to 2007. I was elected a Fellow of BASES in 2004 and was given the BASES 'Applied Practitioner of the Year' award in 2005. I have chartered status with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and have served as the Chair of the Board of Assessors within the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) from 2007 to 2010. I became Chair of DSEP from June 2010 until May 2013 and also currently sit on both the division's Executive and Training Committees. I was also made a Fellow of the BPS in 2015. I am also a British Olympic Association registered Sport Psychologist. I have served on the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Performance Enhancement/Intervention Committee since 2002, was Director of Studies to Dr. Owen Thomas winner of the AASP PhD Dissertation of the year award 2004, Dr. Peter Olusoga winner in 2012 and Dr. Liam Slack winner in 2014. I was elected a Fellow of AASP in 2007 and given the 'Distinguished Professional Practice Award' in 2015. I was the Editor of The Sport Psychologist from 2005 until 2012 and completed five years (2001-2006) as the Associate Editor (Performance Enhancement) for the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.

I am also the current Editor of Journal of Sport Psychology in Action. I also sit on the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the English Institute of Sport (EIS). The TAG is responsible for the strategic direction and also monitors the operational management of the EIS. I am interested in most aspects of applied Sport and Exercise Psychology and this is where my current research aspirations can be found (I have over 130 peer-reviewed publications). I have played Rugby Union, Soccer and Cricket to county level, played first class Rugby Union for Saracens RFC and from 1995 to 1999 coached the Sussex County Senior Rugby Union team. I am married to Rachel and have two children, Chloe and Jack.

Ian's research focuses on applied sport psychology, including anxiety and stress management, mental toughness and confidence building. He has worked with the Royal Yachting Association, British Swimming, the English Golf Union and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

Expertise:

Sport psychology
Mental toughness
Stress management