A University of Chichester academic received a top award in the USA last week for his work with Premiership Rugby Union players.
The research explored a new approach to working with elite athletes, using multiple methods of sport psychology.
Dr Graham McKenzie, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, received the 2026 Case Studies in Sport and Performance Psychology Paper of the Year Award from the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
The award was presented at the AASP’s annual conference in Minneapolis, USA, and recognises the impact of his paper, One Size Does Not Fit All: Pluralistic Practice for Long-Term Work With a Premiership Rugby Player, which was published in 2025.
The study documented two and a half years of work with a 26-year-old male Premiership Rugby Union player and advocated for a pluralistic approach to sport psychology practice, where practitioners draw on different methods and perspectives depending on the needs of the client and the context.
Graham said: “Winning this award came as a huge surprise, and it’s an amazing feeling to have my work recognised by an editorial board for whom I have such enormous respect. It’s particularly meaningful because I believe this has the potential to make a significant impact across both applied practice and research in sport psychology.
“Pluralism reflects what many practitioners and trainees already believe and value, but I hope this recognition will help bring greater attention to it as both a philosophy and an approach to practice.
“Winning this award is the highlight of my research career to date. It’s boosted my confidence, both in my own work and in the importance of pluralism within applied practice, knowing that my peers in the field share this belief.”