Ian Mitchell is currently the Performance Psychologist for Swansea City AFC and the Wales National Team. As a schoolboy he was linked with Chelsea FC and captained Wales Under 18s before signing professionally for Hereford United in the Football League. After leaving full time football he continued with his education and played semi-professionally during which he captained Wales and Great Britain University teams and represented Great Britain at the World Student Games. His education saw him gain a BA (Hons) in Sport and Human Movement Studies, an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science (Distinction) and a PhD in Sport Psychology for which he received the British Psychological Society Award for an outstanding thesis in stress and social support. He has supervised PhD students in the areas of Sport Psychology and Coaching Science, published and presented at National and International Sport Psychology and Sport and Exercise Science conferences for over a decade and served as an external examiner at Southampton, Hertfordshire and Bath Universities. Ian has reviewed regularly for journals such as, The Sport Psychologist, Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Journal of Sports Sciences, European Journal of Sport Science, and Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, and reviewed grants for the Economic and Social Research Council, The Leverhulme Trust, and the Higher Education Academy. Ian’s applied research has enabled him to lead investigations with FIFA, the FAW, the IRB, the WRU, and The Higher Education Academy.
For the last 12 years, Ian has delivered as a coach educator on both the UEFA Advanced and Professional Licences for the Welsh Football Trust (WFT). Areas of delivery include personal effectiveness, reflective practice, football psychology, mental toughness and resilience, communication, and leadership. He also leads on leadership development and mentoring programmes for the FAW and WFT. He is currently a UEFA qualified coach, formerly coach for the Wales National U16s (Victory Shield) squad and has previously scouted for Manchester United 1st team. His previous academic roles over a 17-year period include Director of Sport & Exercise Science and Senior Lecturer in Sport Psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Ian is now full-time at Swansea City AFC and works with the coaching and technical staff for the Wales National team during the current European qualifying campaign. Ian is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and member of the Health and Care Professions Council.
Twitter: @ianmitch9
Blog: ianmitchell9.com – An Insight into the Psychology of Performance.
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