Dr Adam Nichol

Adam joined the Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria University in January 2023 after having previously worked at Durham University and Manchester Metropolitan University where he was Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development programme. His research focuses on the critical (sociological) study of influence in sport and sporting organisations. Throughout his PhD, Adam conducted an ethnography to examine the means through which key organisational actors (e.g., coaches and athletes) influenced (or not) one another. This work, underpinned by social and organisational theory, has been used to develop bespoke CPD training and development opportunities for a range of professional and recreational sporting organisations. More recently, Adam has embarked on a collaborative project with Manchester City FC – City in the Community to critically investigate and support the practice of community sport coaches in implementing key policy objectives (e.g., transforming lives and communities).

Adam’s research has also examined key systemic international issues (e.g., match official dropout) in the domain of sport. Here, his work in collaboration with The FA and funded by UEFA has been presented internationally to 55 member football associations and has influenced national sporting policy regarding the recruitment, training, development, and retention of match officials. This ongoing line of inquiry also explores the lived experiences of and strategies used by match officials to manage relations, emotions and conflict with key stakeholders in the game and how this is related to wellbeing. In this area, Adam is currently working with the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), New Zealand Football and Football Victoria (Australia).

An advocate for the power of sport, his work has involved campaigns to prevent the closure of local leisure facilities, resulting in the build of a new £20M sport centre, and pitches to the Children’s Minister for Education surrounding PE and Sport Premium funding. Adam is also an active National League football match official, cricket coach, coach educator and referee tutor. Alongside research, these experiences inform Adam’s teaching on a variety of modules.