Martin Toms

Martin Toms is a senior lecturer in Sports Coaching in the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham.

Martin has been involved in sport coaching and development for over 20 years, and has experience of teaching in schools, as well as coaching (Professionally) prior to undertaking academic posts at a number universities. He has researched, presented and published in the area of the sports experiences of young people, and talent and participant development. Martin is a sports ethnographer, with experience in educational, coaching and club settings - with particular expertise in youth cricket and golf.

As well as working on an European and International scale with sports organisations, Martin has maintained his links with grass roots sports clubs in the UK as well. As well as playing, officiating and coaching, Martin is also a member of the Executive Committee of Herefordshire Sport (www.herefordshiresport.co.uk), and is 'paying forward' for his experiences as an young sportsman. He is involved in youth sport research, and is involved in advising Professional football clubs, County Cricket Clubs and National Governing Bodies on youth sport development, talent and academy systems.

Martin is Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Golf Science and co-editor of the European Journal for Sport & Society. An international speaker with research and publications covering youth sport & talent, he is committed to the development of young people as lifelong sports participants - and to the legacy of grass roots sport.