Adam Kelly

Adam Kelly serves as Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise and Course Leader for the Professional Doctorate in Sport (DSport) at Birmingham City University's Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences. He directs the BCU Research for Athlete and Youth Sport Development (RAYSD) Lab and holds accreditations as Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), BASES CSci, and FA UEFA A Licenced Coach.

His educational foundation includes a PhD from the University of Exeter, built upon seven years as Head of Academy Sport Science at Exeter City Football Club following his non-league playing career.

Professor Kelly's research critically examines organizational structures in youth sport to optimize athlete development pathways and foster inclusive environments. His work spans cricket, rugby, soccer, squash, and swimming, with emphasis on talent identification systems, relative age effects, and equity in sport. International collaborations with partners like Queen's University (Canada) and global sports organizations drive practical applications for evidence-based policies.

Analysis of his 100+ publications reveals sustained focus on relative age effects across sports (2022-2025), evolving toward actionable interventions like birthday-banding and flexible chronological approaches. Recent work increasingly addresses inclusivity for underrepresented groups in cricket/soccer and post-pandemic adaptation strategies.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Professor Kelly mentors four embedded PhD students (Shanmugaratnam, Lux, Shafi, Green) within FIFA/ECB/KNVB projects while having graduated five PhDs now in prominent roles. His £1m+ research funding supports industry-academia partnerships that transform talent development practices globally.

The RAYSD Lab under his leadership facilitates transnational knowledge exchange through initiatives like the HELS Go Abroad Scheme, connecting UK students with Canadian researchers while driving real-world impact through projects like the BESTA Cricket Partnership and KNVB Relative Age Solutions.