Course Coordinator for BSc Sport Science and Coaching

After working as a youth worker, particularly in outdoor and adventurous activity I decided to retrain as a PE teacher.

That decision led me on a journey that I hadn’t expected.

I have worked at the University of Bedfordshire since 2006 and am currently a senior lecturer in the faculty of Education and Sport at the University of Bedfordshire with responsibility for coordinating all academic study of coaching and player and match analysis.

Qualifications

• MSc Science of Sport Coaching
• BSc (Hons.) with Q.T.S. Physical Education, Business and Information Technology
• FA Psychology for Football Level 5 award
• UEFA B Licensed football coach

Teaching Expertise

Level 4

• Developing the Coaching Environment and Practice
• Performance Analysis for Coaches

Level 5

• Coaching for Development
• Coaching the Developing Performer
• Performance Analysis (player and Match)

Level 6

• Player Potential and Development
• Performance Analysis for Football
• Coaching in Context
• Work Experience for Sport Science and Coaching
• Advanced Football Coaching
• Performance Coaching

Research Interests

I am interested in research within the context of girls’ and women’s football, particularly the Lioness Talent Pathway.

Research Profiles

• Twitter: @UoBAnalysis
• Twitter: @UoBCoach
• Twitter: @football_uob

Research Supervision

Masters by Research Students

• James Hall (Submitted, awaiting viva) “Game Sense, a Theoretical Model for a Practical Reality, a Discussion with Elite and Amateur Rugby Union Coaches”.

Funded Projects

Consultancy for Team Beds and Luton - Using video to aid reflection in sports coaching.

Internal Roles

• Faculty of Education and Sport - Teaching and Learning Group
• School of Sport Science and Physical Activity – Health and Safety Committee
• Course Coordinator for BSc Sport Science and Coaching

External Roles

• External Examiner - Bishop Grosseteste University
• External Examiner - Glasgow University/UWS
• External Examiner -  Anglia Ruskin University
• External Validation Panel Member - The Open University
• External Assessor - The Open University
• External Validation Panel Member - University of the West of Scotland
• External Examiner - University of Hertfordshire
• External Validation Panel Member - Newman University/ Bourneville College
• External Examiner - Leeds Metropolitan University/ Chesterfield College

Membership of Professional Bodies

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Conference Presentations

• Pears, D.C. (2020). Developing Players in the Psychological Corner. The Inaugural Bedfordshire Football Coaches’ Conference. Bedfordshire FA/ University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, UK.
• Pears, D.C., Hill, J., and Harvey, S. (2019). An Exploration of the In-Match Decision Making of Coaches of Junior Elite Female Football Players. Cluster for Research into Coaching (CRiC). International Coaching Conference, Worcester., UK.
• Pears, D.C., O’Donovan, T., Hill, J., and Mitchell, A.C.S. (2017). ‘An Exploration of the Action Decision Making of Coaches Working in a Football Association Girls’ Centre of Excellence.’ 13th International Conference on Naturalistic Decision Making, Bath, UK
• Pears, D.C., Cope, E., and Harvey, S. (2013). Field Hockey Coaches’ Half Time Team Talks During a Sub Elite Tournament: A Case Study. XIV International Council for Coaching Excellence Conference, Durban, South Africa.
• Pears, D.C., Kirk, D., and Harvey, S. (2012). How do coaches' prior experiences and beliefs about coaching influence the way they learned to coach and currently coach? British Educational Research Association Conference, Manchester, UK.
• Sucha, M.S., Bauer, S., and Pears, D.C. (2012). A time motion analysis of three matches from the qualification round in the women’s 2010 European Handball Championship. World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport IX, Worcester, UK.
• Sucha, M.S. and Pears, D.C. (2012). Notational analysis of three matches from the ‘Women’s Team Handball European 2010 Qualification Round’. World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport IX, Worcester, UK.
• Pears, D.C. (2010). Reflection by a novice performance analyst in Soccer. 16th International Reflective Practice Conference, Bedford, UK.
• Pears, D.C. (2009). Mid-season reflection of a novice performance analyst in Soccer. 3rd International Conference for Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, London, UK.
• Pain, Y., Sheard, P.W., and Pears, D.C. (2008) Does enhanced feedback using video technology improve sprint start time? BASES Conference, London, UK.
• Pears, D.C. (2007). Anxiety in semi-professional soccer: A case study. VI World Congress on Science and Football, Antalya, Turkey.
• Pears, D.C. and Karageorghis, C.K. (2004) Predictive efficacy of self-determination theory versus goal orientation theory with reference to the determinants of sport commitment. BASES Conference, Liverpool, UK.

Publications

• Hodgson, C., Gray, P., and Pears, D.C. (2015) ‘Tactics: The missing link in performance.’ In M. Berry, J. Lomax and C. Hodgson (Eds.), Adventure Sports Coaching. London: Routledge, pp.168-188.
• Horner, R. and Pears, D.C. (2007) ‘Talent identification and development in sport’ In J. Stafford-Brown and S. Rae (Eds.), BTEC National Sport: Development, Coaching and Fitness. London: Hodder and Stoughton, pp. 401-430.
• Horner, R. and Pears, D.C. (2007) ‘Talent identification and development in sport’ In J. Stafford-Brown and S. Rae (Eds.), BTEC National Sport: Performance and Excellence. London: Hodder and Stoughton, pp. 421-450.

Contact Details

T: +44 (0)1234 400400 (ext. 4357)
E: david.pears@beds.ac.uk

School of Sport Science and Physical Activity
University of Bedfordshire
Polhill Avenue
Bedford
MK419EA