Dr. Nicola Clarke

Nicola is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Leeds Beckett University. Her research interests include parenting in youth sport and qualitative research methods. Nicola's PhD research at Loughborough University was funded by the English Football Association, and explored the experiences of parents in elite youth football academies. She has used her findings to create psychology workshops and resources for parents. Nicola's understanding of sports coaching policy and practice is informed by her professional experience working as a sport development officer for the Youth Sport Trust and the English Table Tennis Association. She is also a korfball coach and referee. Her research seeks to provide insight into how children and their families experience youth sport, and what this means for coaches and sport organisations.