Dr Phil Birch

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology

About

Phil is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Institute of Applied Sciences. After completing his PhD in 2014 which developed instruments to measure mental toughness in sport, Phil joined the team at the University of Chichester.

Phil is currently a member of the Research Ethics Committee and the Institute of Applied Sciences CHASER research planning group for the Research Excellence Framework submission in 2029.

Education

PhD Student in Sport and Exercise Psychology, University of Chichester (2010 – 2014)

Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching, University of Chichester (2007 – 2013)

Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Skills, University of Chichester (2007 – 2008)

MSc Psychology of Sport and Exercise (Distinction), University of Chichester (2006 – 2007)

BSc Sport and Exercise Science (First Class), University of Chichester (2003 – 2006)

Membership of Professional Bodies

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Research

Phil’s main area of research interest is performance psychology in traditional sports and esports.

Phil is currently examining stress, self-regulation, and mental health and the use of think aloud protocols in both traditional sports and esports.

Phil is an Associate Editor for International Journal of Sport Psychology and his research activity in the psychology of esports is reflected by his role on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports.

Keynote presentation

Birch, P. D. J. (2023). Performance Psychology in the Arena of Esports. Keynote presentation delivered at British Association of Sport and Exercises Sciences (BASES) Student Conference, April, 2023.

Birch, P. D. J. (2021). Research to practice: Stress, coping and mental ill health in esports. Keynote presentation delivered as part of the keynote panel on Mental Performance in Esport: Considerations for Practitioners for Association for Applied Sport Psychology’s 36th annual (online) conference, October, 2021.

PhD Supervision

Phil is Director of Studies for a fully internally funded PhD student who is examining the psychophysiological demands of esports performance using heart rate variability to capture self-regulation.

Phil is also Director of Studies for a fully externally funded (Economic and Social Research Council, South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership) PhD student who is examining the psychological and psychosocial factors that influence mental health and development of young golfers.

Phil is actively looking for motivated individuals to supervise for PhD programmes on topics related, but not limited to, psychometrics, stress, self-regulation (including heart-rate variability), mental health, and think aloud in both traditional sports and esports. Please review the following link for fees and then contact Phil if interested at p.birch@chi.ac.uk.

Research Output

Articles

Sharpe, B. T., Sharpe, A., Poulus, D., Obine, E., King, R., Birch, P. D. J. and Gladwin, T. E.et al (2025) Enhancing pressurized esports performance: a pilot study on the combined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and arousal reappraisal. Anxiety, stress, and coping. pp. 1-17. ISSN 1477-2205 10.1080/10615806.2025.2502792

Sharpe, B. T., Blacker, S. D., Myers, S. D., Birch, P. D. J., Poulus, D. and Vine, C.et al (2025) Commentary of the transferability of esports to military and emergency responder roles. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports. pp. 1-20. ISSN 2836-3523 (In Press)

Whitehead, A., Jackman, P., Vaughan, S., Swettenham, L., Birch, P. D. J., Tod, D. and McEwan, H.et al (2025) A qualitative exploration of sport and exercise psychology practitioners’ perceptions and experiences of using Think Aloud in applied practice. The Sport Psychologist, 39 (1). pp. 12-20. ISSN 0888-4781 10.1123/tsp.2023-0169

Sharpe, B. T. and Birch, P. D. J. (2025) Psychology of Esports Special Issue: A Catalyst for Change. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 2 (1). pp. 1-8. ISSN 2836-3523 10.1123/jege.2024-0058

Swettenham, L., Leis, O., Birch, P. D. J. and Price, D.et al (2024) Expanding the realms of sport psychology in esports: an epilogue. Case studies in sport and exercise psychology, 8 (S1). S1-48-S1-50. ISSN 2470-4857 10.1123/cssep.2024-0022

Baker-Bates, A. C. B., Birch, P. D. J., Barker, J. and Figgins, S. G.et al (2024) Developing social e-dentity: examination of an online 5R Programme with an esports team. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 2 (1). pp. 1-12. ISSN 2836-3523 10.1123/jege.2023-0029

Leis, O., Trotter, M. G., Birch, P. D. J., Bubna, K. and Poulus, D. R.et al (2024) Stressors and coping strategies in amateur esports players: an interview study. International Journal of Sport Psychology. pp. 1-34. ISSN 0047-0767 10.1080/1750984X.2024.2386528

Bonilla, I., Chamarro, A., Birch, P. D. J., Sharpe, B. T., Martín-Castellanos, A., Muriarte, D. and Ventura, C.et al (2024) Conceptualization and validation of the TILT questionnaire: Relationship with IGD and Life Satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. pp. 1-30. ISSN 1664-1078 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1409368

Birch, P. D. J., Smith, M. J., Arumuham, A., Ortiz de Gortari, A. and Sharpe, B. T.et al (2024) The prevalence of mental ill health in elite Counter-Strike athletes. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 2 (1). pp. 1-23. ISSN 2836-3523 10.1123/jege.2024-0006

Sharpe, B. T., Obine, E., Birch, P. D. J., Pocock, C. and Moore, L.et al (2023) Performance breakdown under pressure among esports competitors. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. pp. 1-22. ISSN 2157-3905 10.1037/spy0000337

Runswick, O. R., Rawlinson, A., Allen, P. M., Sharpe, B. T., Pocock, C., Datson, N., Birch, P. D. J., Bruce, R. and Mann, D. L.et al (2023) The effects of simulated vision impairment on performance in football. Journal of Sports Sciences, 41 (14). pp. 1410-1422. ISSN 0264-0414 10.1080/02640414.2023.2273093

Monteiro Pereira, A., Bolling, C., Birch, P. D. J., Figueiredo, P., Verhagen, E. and Brito, J.et al (2023) Perspectives of efootball players and staff members regarding the effects of esports on health – a qualitative study. Sports Medicine - Open, 9 (62). pp. 1-17. ISSN 2198-9761 10.1186/s40798-023-00617-0

Welsh, M. R., Mosley, E., Laborde, S., Day, M. C., Sharpe, B. T., Burkill, R. A. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2023) The use of heart rate variability in esports: a systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 69. pp. 1-38. ISSN 1469-0292 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102495

Birch, P. D. J., Greenlees, L. and Sharpe, B. T. (2023) An Exploratory Investigation of Personality in Counter-Strike:Global Offensive. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 1 (1). pp. 1-9. ISSN 2836-3523 10.1123/jege.2022-0027

Sharpe, B. T., Besombes, N., Welsh, M. R. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2023) Indexing Esport Performance. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports. pp. 1-13. ISSN 2836-3523 10.1123/jege.2022-0017

Abbott, C., Watson, M. and Birch, P. D. J. (2023) Perceptions of Effective Training Practices in League of Legends: A Qualitative Exploration. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 1 (1). pp. 1-11. ISSN 2836-3523 10.1123/jege.2022-0011

Birch, P. D. J., Yeoman, B. and Whitehead, A. (2022) 'Think Aloud’ as a facilitator of self-regulation in golfers. The Sport Psychologist, 36 (4). pp. 274-283. ISSN 0888-4781 10.1123/tsp.2022-0017

Smith, M. J., Runswick, O. R., Jewiss, M. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2022) Examining the theory of challenge and threat states in athletes: do predictions extend to academic performance? Educational Psychology. pp. 1-18. ISSN 1469-5820 10.1080/01443410.2022.2069229

Smith, M. J., Sharpe, B. T., Arumuham, A. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2022) Examining the Predictors of Mental Ill Health in Esport Competitors. Healthcare, 10 (4). ISSN 2227-9032 10.3390/healthcare10040626

Leis, O., Franziska, L., Birch, P. D. J. and Elbe, A.-M.et al (2022) Stressors, perceived stress responses, and coping strategies in professional esports players: A qualitative study. International Journal of eSports, 1 (1). pp. 1-22. ISSN 2634-1069

Shaw, M., Runswick, O. R. and Birch, P. D. J. (2021) An in-situ examination of cognitive processes in professional and amateur golfers during green reading. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 10 (2). pp. 273-289. ISSN 2157-3905 10.1037/spy0000261

Murphy, C. P., Wakefield, A., Birch, P. D. J. and North, J. S.et al (2020) Esport expertise benefits perceptual-cognitive skill in (traditional) sport. Journal of Expertise, 3 (4). pp. 227-237. ISSN 2573-2773

McGreary, M., Birch, P. D. J., Eubank, M. and Whitehead, A.et al (2020) Thinking Aloud. A qualitative analysis of stressors and coping responses in cricket bowlers during a competitive match. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. pp. 1-18. ISSN 2159-6778 10.1080/2159676x.2020.1829013

Birch, P. D. J. and Whitehead, A. (2020) Investigating the Comparative Suitability of Traditional and Task-specific Think Aloud Training. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 127 (1). pp. 202-224. ISSN 0031-5125 10.1177/0031512519882274

Yeoman, B., Birch, P. D. J. and Runswick, O. R. (2019) The effects of smart phone video analysis on focus of attention and performance in practice and competition. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 47. ISSN 1469-0292 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101644

Smith, M. J., Birch, P. D. J. and Bright, D. (2019) Identifying stressors and coping strategies of elite esports competitors. International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations, 11 (2). pp. 22-39. ISSN 1942-3888 10.4018/IJGCMS.2019040102

Batten, J., Jessop, T. and Birch, P. D. J. (2018) Doing what it says on the tin? A psychometric evaluation of the Assessment Experience Questionnaire. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 44 (2). pp. 309-320. ISSN 0260-2938 10.1080/02602938.2018.1499867

Birch, P. D. J., Crampton, S., Greenlees, I. A., Lowry, R. G. and Coffee, P.et al (2017) The Mental Toughness Questionniare-48: A Re-examination of Factorial Validity. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 48 (3). pp. 331-355. ISSN 0047-0767 10.7352/IJSP.2017.48.331

Birch, P. D. J., Batten, J. and Batey, J. (2016) The influence of student gender on the assessment of undergraduate student work. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 41 (7). pp. 1065-1080. ISSN 0260-2938 10.1080/02602938.2015.1064857

Batten, J., Birch, P. D. J., Wright, J., Manley, A. J. and Smith, M. J.et al (2014) An exploratory investigation examining male and female students' initial impressions and expectancies of lecturers. Teaching in Higher Education, 19 (2). pp. 113-125. ISSN 1356-2517 10.1080/13562517.2013.827645

Manley, A. J., Greenlees, I. A., Smith, M. J., Batten, J. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2013) The influence of coach reputation on the behavioral responses of male soccer players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188 10.1111/sms.12108

Birch, P. D. J., Batten, J., Manley, A. J. and Smith, M. J.et al (2013) An exploratory investigation examining the cues that students use to form initial impressions and expectancies of lecturers. Teaching in Higher Education, 17 (6). pp. 660-672. ISSN 1356-2517 10.1080/13562517.2012.658561

Batten, J., Batey, J., Shafe, L., Gubby, L. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2013) The influence of reputation information on the assessment of undergraduate student work. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 38 (4). pp. 417-435. ISSN 0260-2938 10.1080/02602938.2011.640928

Book Sections

Smith, M. J., Birch, P. D. J. and Bright, D. (2020) Identifying Stressors and Coping Strategies of Elite Esports Competitors. In: Research Anthology on Business Strategies, Health Factors, and Ethical Implications in Sports and eSports. IGI Global, Hershey, PA, pp. 895-914. ISBN 9781799877073 10.4018/978-1-7998-7707-3.ch048

Smith, M. J., Birch, P. D. J. and Bright, D. (2020) Identifying Stressors and Coping Strategies of Elite Esports Competitors. In: Research Anthology on Business Strategies, Health Factors, and Ethical Implications in Sports and eSports. IGI Global, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, pp. 895-914. ISBN 9781799877073 10.4018/978-1-7998-7707-3.ch048

Conference or Workshop Items

Welsh, M. R., Mosley, E., Laborde, S., Day, M. C., Sharpe, B. T. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2024) Investigating the effect of pressure on heart rate variability in (HRV) esports. In: 17th European Congress of Sport Psychology, 15 - 19 July 2024, Innsbruck, Austria.

Birch, P. D. J., Sharpe, B. T., Obine, E., Pocock, C. and Moore, L.et al (2024) Pressure impacts esports performance. In: 17th European Congress of Sport Psychology, 15 - 19 July 2024, Innsbruck, Austria. (Unpublished)

Bonilla, I., Birch, P. D. J., Sharpe, B. T., Martín-Castellanos, A., Muriarte, D. and Ventura, C.et al (2024) Tilt on esports: conceptualization and measurement. In: 17th European Congress of Sport Psychology, 15 - 19 July 2024, Innsbruck, Austria.

Welsh, M. R., Mosley, E., Laborde, S., Day, M. C., Sharpe, B. T., Burkill, R. A. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2024) The use of heart rate variability in esports: a systematic review. In: 17th European Congress of Sport Psychology, 15 - 19 July 2024, Innsbruck, Austria. (Unpublished)

Birch, P. D. J. and Sharpe, B. T. (2023) Mental (ill) health and performance. In: International Federation of Esports Coaches Summit, 6 - 7 September 2023, University of Northampton (online).

Birch, P. D. J., Sharpe, B. T., Ortiz de Gortari, A., Arumuham, A. and Smith, M. J.et al (2023) Mental ill health in professional esports athletes: prevalence and relationships. In: Annual Research Conference 2023, University of Chichester, 5 - 6 July 2023, Bognor Regis, England.

Welsh, M. R., Mosley, E., Laborde, S., Day, M. C., Sharpe, B. T., Burkill, R. A. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2023) The use of heart rate variability in esports: a systematic review. In: Annual Research Conference 2023, University of Chichester, 5 - 6 July 2023, Bognor Regis, England.

Sharpe, B. T., Obine, E., Birch, P. D. J., Pocock, C. and Moore, L.et al (2023) Stress influences gaze behaviour, quiet eye durations, and esport action performance. In: Annual Research Conference 2023, University of Chichester, 5 - 6 July 2023, Bognor Regis, England.

Whitehead, A., McEwan, H., Vaughan, S., Swettenham, L., Birch, P. D. J. and Jackman, P.et al (2023) Applying Think Aloud to applied sport psychology practice. In: European College of Sport Science, 4 - 7 July 2023, Paris, France.

Birch, P. D. J. (2023) Performance psychology in the arena of esports. In: British Association of Sport and Exercises Sciences (BASES) Student Conference, 24 - 25 April 2023, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, England.

Whitehead, A., McEwan, H., Vaughan, S., Swettenham, L., Jackman, P., Tod, D. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2022) ‘If only I could know what they are thinking?’ Applying Think Aloud to applied sport psychology practice. In: British Psychological Society Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference, 29 - 30 November 2022, Swansea, Wales.

Birch, P. D. J., Sharpe, B. T., Ortiz de Gortari, A., Arumuham, A. and Smith, M. J.et al (2022) Mental ill health in professional esports athletes: Prevalence and relationships. In: ERNC 22: Esports Research Network Conference, 21 - 23 November 2022, Jönköping,Sweden.

Birch, P. D. J., Sharpe, B. T., Ortiz de Gortari, A., Arumuham, A. and Smith, M. J.et al (2022) Mental ill health in professional esports athletes: Prevalence and relationships. In: FEPSAC 2022, Padova: 16th European Congress of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 11 - 16 July 2022, Padova, Italy.

Sharpe, B. T., Besombes, N., Welsh, M. R. and Birch, P. D. J.et al (2022) Psychological index of individualised esports performance. In: FEPSAC 2022, Padova: 16th European Congress of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 11 - 16 July 2022, Padova, Italy.

McEwan, H., Whitehead, A., Tod, D., Jackman, P., Birch, P. D. J., Vaughan, S. and Swettenham, L.et al (2022) Storied practice: Narratives on think aloud. In: International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise Durham, England., 26 - 28 July 2022, University of Durham.

Birch, P. D. J., Whitehead, A. and Dowrick, C. (2016) “Think Aloud” – Examining the suitability of traditional and task specific training for Think Aloud protocol. In: British Psychological Society, The Division of Sport & Exercise Psychology Conference, December 12-13, 2016, Cardiff.