Alejandro Prieto Ayuso

Alejandro Prieto Ayuso is a Lecturer in the Department of Physical Education, Arts Education and Music at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. His academic work focuses on talent identification and development within Physical Education contexts, with particular emphasis on motor competence, social skills in sports, health habits, and the relative age effect (RAE). He is actively involved in research and teaching within the Faculty of Education, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Alejandro completed his PhD in Physical Education, specializing in Sport Talent, at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (2014-2017). Prior to this, he earned additional qualifications in Physical Education from the Autonomous University of Madrid (2013-2014) and completed his undergraduate studies in Physical Education at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (2009-2013).

Prieto Ayuso's research primarily centers on talent identification and development in Physical Education settings. His work explores how schools can effectively identify and nurture athletic talent among students, while also examining the impact of relative age on sports performance and development. He investigates motor competence assessment methods, social skills development through sports participation, and health habit formation in educational contexts. His research bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications for Physical Education teachers, providing evidence-based approaches to talent development that can be implemented in regular classroom settings.

His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on talent identification tools, assessment methodologies, and the application of educational models to sports pedagogy. Recent work shows increasing attention to sustainable development goals within Physical Education, gifted students in physical contexts, and innovative teaching methodologies like flipped classroom approaches. His research spans both theoretical frameworks and practical interventions, with strong emphasis on validation studies and assessment tools that can be directly applied in educational settings.

Alejandro Prieto Ayuso has received recognition for his scholarly contributions:

• Premio al mejor póster en la rama de artes y humanidades (VI Jornadas Doctorales UCLM, 2016)
• Contratos predoctorales para la formación de personal investigador en el marco del Plan Propio de I+D+i cofinanciados por el Fondo Social Europeo (2014)

As a researcher and educator, Prieto Ayuso has secured predoctoral research contracts and actively contributes to academic discourse through his extensive publication record. His work often involves collaborative research with colleagues across various institutions, demonstrating strong networking within the academic community. He has contributed to innovative teaching proposals that integrate technology and new pedagogical approaches into Physical Education curriculum.

Prieto Ayuso is involved in research groups focused on Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy, contributing to projects that develop and validate assessment tools for talent identification and sustainable development in educational contexts. His work with the PEToolFinder project demonstrates his commitment to providing practical resources for Physical Education teachers to enhance their assessment practices.