معرفی
Dr Matthew Fiander is a Senior Lecturer in Sport, Coaching and Physical Education at Oxford Brookes University’s School of Sport, Nutrition and Allied Health Professions. He contributes to BSc and MSc programmes, supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research students, and leads funded projects on coach education and talent identification.
Education & Professional Standing
- PhD – focus on rugby union coaches’ decision-making in team selection
- MSc by Research
- BSc
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Research Interests
Matthew’s research centres on how coaches make decisions—particularly during talent identification and team selection—and how coach education can improve these processes. He employs both qualitative and review methodologies to explore the cues coaches attend to, the language they use, and the systematic biases they may exhibit. Current projects include designing a novel coach-education programme to foster critical thinking and examining communication patterns within professional rugby coaching teams.
Grants & Funding
- £5,000 – Oxford Brookes Teaching Innovation Project (BTIP) grant
Scientific Awards & Recognition
- Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Student Supervision & Collaboration
Matthew supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research students across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. One completed PhD student, Josh Eales, investigated the implementation of ecological dynamics in a Premier League football club. He welcomes new postgraduate enquiries from candidates interested in coaching, coach education, talent identification, and decision-making.
Affiliations & Outreach
Member of the Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity Research Group (SEPARG) at Oxford Brookes. He provides consultancy workshops for national governing bodies, sports clubs, and schools, focusing on decision-making and coach development. He also continues to coach at a community rugby union club, bridging academic insight with practical application.
