Ed Christian
Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Sports Coaching
About
Ed is a Senior Lecturer who teaches on both Physical and Adventure Education programmes in the Institute of Sport. He joined the University of Chichester in 2006 following several years working in Outdoor Education Centres and FE Colleges. Ed holds a first class undergraduate degree in Outdoor Education and a Master’s degree in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise. His research interests are in the psychology of skill acquisition and coach education.
Ed is a British Canoeing Level 4 Coach and Coach Educator/ Assessor. He is at his happiest in, or around water supporting learners and coaches develop their skills.
As the admissions tutor for PE programmes Ed has a passion for recruiting, selecting and teaching the next generation of inspirational teachers and coaches.
Professional
- Ongoing, PhD (by publication) The development of epistemological beliefs in adventure sports coaches University of Chichester;
- 2013, PG Cert Learning and Teaching (FHEA), University of Chichester;
- 2009, MSc. Sport and Exercise Psychology (Distinction), University of Chichester;
Key Publications
- Christian, E., Kelly, J., Hoare, J. & Piggot, L. (2020). A demographic analysis of UK Adventure Sports Coaches. Manuscript in preparation.
- Christian, E., Hodgson, C. I., Berry, M., & Kearney, P. (2019). It’s not what, but where: how the accentuated features of the adventure sports coaching environment promote the development of sophisticated epistemic beliefs. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 1-13.
- Christian, E. and Berry, M. (2018). The identity, epistemology and developmental experiences of high-level adventure sports coaches. Conference presentation delivered to the Plas-Y-Brenin Adventure Sports Coaching Conference. January, 2018.
- Christian, E., Berry, M., & Kearney, P. (2017). The identity, epistemology and developmental experiences of high-level adventure sports coaches. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 17(4), 353-366.
- Christian, E. and Berry, M. (2016). ‘Crafting knowledge’ – The learning journey of the coach. Conference presentation delivered to the British Canoeing Coaching Conference. November, 2016.
- Christian, E. & Kearney, P. (2015). Theoretical underpinnings and their implications for the adventure sports coach. In M. Berry, J. Lomax & C. Hodgson (Eds.) Adventure Sports Coaching. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
- Kearney, P. & Christian, E. (2015). Setting the scene: A framework for coaching practice in adventure sports. In M. Berry, J. Lomax & C. Hodgson (Eds.) Adventure Sports Coaching. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
- Christian, E. & Kearney, P. (2015) Coaching tools for adventure sports. In M. Berry, J. Lomax & C. Hodgson (Eds.) Adventure Sports Coaching. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
- Kearney, P. & Christian, E. (2015). Coaching the advanced performer. In M. Berry, J. Lomax & C. Hodgson (Eds.) Adventure Sports Coaching. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
- Christian, E. (2011). Adventure Education and Disaffected Youth. In Berry. M & Hodgson, C (Eds.) Adventure Education: An Introduction. Routledge; London.
- Hodgson, C.I., Christian, E. & McMorris T. (2010). Performance on the portable rod and frame test predicts variation in learning the kayak roll. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 110,2 pp. 479-487.
Research
All of my research interests relate to the acquisition and development of skill in sport; I am specifically interested in the practical application of theory and research to the benefit teachers and coaches. With a background in outdoor education and adventure sports, I have a particular interest in coaching in highly dynamic and psychologically demanding environments. I am currently involved in a series of work, which incorporates a PhD., about the nature and role of the adventure sports coach (ASC). Research suggests that ASCs hold beliefs about coaching and display coaching behaviours that are markedly different to coaches of more traditional sports. My current research concerns how these beliefs develop over time into a philosophy, and how this ultimately influences coaching behaviours and practices.
Research Output
Articles
Christian, E., Greenlees, I. A. and Kearney, P. E. (2023) Flowing with the TIDE: A case study of the nature and development of epistemic beliefs of a high-level adventure sports coach. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 18 (5). pp. 1430-1441. ISSN 1747-9541 10.1177/17479541231170853
Christian, E., Kelly, J. S., Piggott, L. V. and Hoare, J. (2020) A demographic analysis of UK adventure sports coaches. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 22 (1). pp. 24-37. ISSN 1754-0402 10.1080/14729679.2020.1854099
Christian, E., Hodgson, C. I., Berry, M. and Kearney, P. E. (2019) It’s not what, but where: how the accentuated features of the adventure sports coaching environment promote the development of sophisticated epistemic beliefs. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 20 (1). pp. 68-80. ISSN 1472-9679 10.1080/14729679.2019.1598879
Christian, E., Berry, M. and Kearney, P. E. (2017) The identity, epistemology and developmental experiences of high-level adventure sports coaches. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 17 (4). pp. 353-366. ISSN 1472-9679 10.1080/14729679.2017.1341326
Hodgson, C. I., McMorris, T. and Christian, E. (2010) Performance on the portable rod and frame test predicts variation in learning the kayak roll. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 110 (2). pp. 479-487. ISSN 0031-5125 10.2466/pms.110.2.479-487
Book Sections
Christian, E. (2011) Adventure Education and Disaffected Youth. In: Adventure Education: An Introduction. Routledge, London, pp. 166-186. ISBN 9780415571838
Kearney, P. E. and Christian, E. Coaching the advanced performer. In: Adventure Sports Coaching. Routledge.
Christian, E. and Kearney, P. E. Coaching tools for adventure sports. In: Adventure Sports Coaching. Routledge.
Kearney, P. E. and Christian, E. Setting the scene: A framework for coaching practice in adventure sports. In: Adventure Sports Coaching. Routledge.
Christian, E. and Kearney, P. E. Theories of motor learning and their implications for the adventure sports coach. In: Adventure Sports Coaching. Routledge, pp. 61-79. ISBN 978-0-415-74600-7
Conference or Workshop Items
Christian, E. and Berry, M. (2016) ‘Crafting knowledge’ – The learning journey of the coach. In: Coaching Chaos - making sense of the Coach's Learning Journey: British Canoeing Coaching Conference, 20 November 2016, Eastwood Hall, Nottinghamshire.
