Sport and Exercise Research Lab

Our work on sport includes coaching and physical education pedagogy, sport sociology and anthropology. Within this area of research Professor Light is a leading international researcher working on athlete-centred and inquiry-based approaches to sport coaching with PhDs and other staff also working in this area. SERL aims to produce relevant, high quality, high impact output that has an influence upon research, thinking and practice in studies on sport and exercise at a national and international level. The lab’s research activity includes cutting edge research conducted on athlete-centred and holistic approaches to sport coaching pedagogy that is used in a research-led approach teaching in the sports coaching program. This work is conducted across a diverse range of sports and levels from children’s sport in schools and clubs to the highest levels of elite level international sport and on physical education teaching. The hub produces high quality articles and books that are used in our research led teaching courses in the sport coaching and physical education programs.

The primary focus of sport and exercise science focus for SERL is on research in the areas of health and sports performance.  It looks at sport, coaching and physical education that promotes improved and sustains health in general and special populations and interventions that support improved sporting performance from junior to Olympic levels across a range of sports including cricket, rugby, judo, croquet and rock climbing. Research in the sport performance arena revolves around the development of valid and reliable sport-specific measures and the development of and/or measurement and evaluation of interventions.  Research in this field includes projects on rock climbing focused on uncovering the role of psycho-physiological differences that enable elite performers to lock-down the anxiety associated with the inherent possibility of falling and the development of sport-specific performance measures.  This work is very closely associated with the International Rock Climbing Research Association, which was established by the University of Canterbury in 2011.  Co-director, Professor Nick Draper is currently Chair of the Association and is leading the international multi-centre trial being undertaken by it between 2014 and 2018. The increasing significance of this research is being reflected in the increasing volume of research and the inclusion of sport climbing in the schedule for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

While many studies are conducted in New Zealand and are focused on issues of importance for New Zealand the lab has a global outlook and profile with a numbers of staff enjoying strong international recognition and experience. It also includes researchers based outside New Zealand who collaborate with campus-based members.