Dr Andrew Kirkland

Lecturer

Sport University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Andrew Kirkland

Contact details

About me

I am a Lecturer in Sports Coaching in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport. I primarily teach on the MSc. in Sport Performance Coaching. 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 a multi-disciplinary practitioner, using expertise from behaviour change, coaching and the sport and exercise sciences sciences to guide me. I am a 'pracademic' drawing on my experiences as a high-performance triathlon coach. an applied sport scientist and coach developer. I have worked at British Cycling and the Sportscotland Institute of Sport in supporting the development of others in and through sport.

My research philosophy is driven by impact and the translation of research into practice. Specifically, I am using Implementation and Behavioural Change Science to explore 'Developing Healthy Performance Environments 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:

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

Research projects (1)

Outputs (31)

Book Chapter

SALUTOGENESIS: The Foundation for Supporting the Young Athlete

Kirkland A (2025) SALUTOGENESIS: The Foundation for Supporting the Young Athlete. In: Borrie A & Ryall E (eds.) SALUTOGENESIS The Foundation for Supporting the Young Athlete. Oxford: UK: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Reimagining-Talent-Development-in-Sport-Seeing-a-Different-World/Borrie-Ryall/p/book/9781032573946

Conference Paper (published)

The Ethical Collection of Athlete Data in Sport: A Realist Process

Kirkland A & Neupert E (2024) The Ethical Collection of Athlete Data in Sport: A Realist Process. In: 6th International Coaching Conference, University of Northumbria, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 14.06.2024-16.06.2024. Cluster in Coaching Research. https://cricsportcoaching.com/product/6th-international-coaching-conference-2024-registration-late/#program

Article

". . . Exercise opportunities became very important": Scottish older adults' changes in physical activity during Covid19'

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

Loneliness, Wellbeing, and Social Activity in Scottish Older Adults Resulting from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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

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

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

Using the theoretical domains framework to explore primary health care practitioner's perspectives and experiences of preconception physical activity guidance and promotion

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)

Loneliness, social support and wellbeing in Scottish older adults as a result of social distancing during the Covid19 pandemic

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)

The impact of Covid19 on Scottish older adults’ physical activity: Changes and associations with wellbeing

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

Comments on CrossTalk 43: Exercise training intensity is/is not more important than volume to promote increases in human skeletal muscle mitochondrial content

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

Presentation / Talk

The map of performance excellence

Kirkland A (2015) The map of performance excellence. 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

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

A Coaching Philosophy

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/

Conference 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

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.

Research programmes

Research centres/groups