About
Vicky Gottwald is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Sciences (Skill Acquisition) at Bangor University’s School of Psychology and Sport Science. She serves as Talent Identification and Transfer Lead for the Welsh Institute for Performance Science (WIPS) and is a UKCC Level 4 basketball coach with extensive experience in high-performance sports organizations like UK Sport and Weightlifting Wales.
- Education:
- BSc in Sports Science (Bangor University, 2006)
- PGCE in Secondary Physical Education (University of Southampton, 2007)
- PhD in Skill Acquisition (Bangor University, 2011)
- PGDip in Elite Coaching Practice (University of Central Lancashire, 2019)
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2016)
Her research focuses on skill acquisition, attentional focus in coaching, and talent development environments. Key themes include external/internal focus of attention, motor learning optimization, and talent identification protocols. Recent work explores rugby injury prevention, beach rowing talent profiles, and coaching instruction impacts.
Article trends highlight applications of ecological dynamics, OPTIMAL theory, and longitudinal talent studies across rugby, weightlifting, and gymnastics. Collaborations span UK Sport, Welsh Rugby Union, and British Rowing, emphasizing multidisciplinary applied science and practice environment innovation.
She teaches Skill Acquisition and Sport Psychology modules, supervises PhD projects, and leads initiatives like the Bangor Rugby Assessment Tool and Welsh Injury Surveillance in Girls Youth Rugby (WISGYR) projects.
Active Projects:
- Actif North Wales - Stronger Together Programme (2025-2026)
