Dr Julia West

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science

School of Sport and Exercise Science

Academics

Contact Details

Julia is a senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology and part of a vibrant and forward-thinking team of sport and exercise scientists at the University of Worcester. She is undertaking, and has published, research on football goalkeepers which is a passion of hers.

Julia has recently stepped into the role of academic link tutor for football. This entails overseeing the football performance teams and programmes, alongside developing the University’s links with progressive thinking football clubs in and around our local area.

Julia is a teaching fellow of the Higher Education Academy and was successful in attaining funding to write about perception of research ethics in some UK universities. As a result of this work Julia was invited to write a chapter on research ethics in sport and exercise science for a handbook in research ethics. The handbook was edited by a lead author and Europe wide consultant for research ethics.

Julia played in goal for English universities and at the top flight of domestic women’s football. She is now an enthusiastic and dedicated UEFA B licence coach specialising in goalkeeper coaching. Her current research is on goalkeepers and goalkeeping, identifying key demands for training and monitoring purposes.

Julia coaches for Worcester City Women Football Club and has been coaching on the Future Lionesses Goalkeeper Coaching Programme in her spare time. Here she challenges goalkeepers and other coaches around their perceptions of the game, facilitating skill development, fitness training and leading the sport science team in supporting the club’s performance focus.

Qualifications

PhD from University of Worcester
PGCert for Research Methods from University of Worcester
PGCert for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from Brunel University
MSc Sports Coaching from Brunel University BSc First Class (hons)
Sports Studies and Leisure Management from Brunel University

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests

Julia’s teaching is mainly around sport and exercise psychology with a focus on performance level sport. She also teaches research methods and regularly supervises MSc Performance Analysis dissertations on football and goalkeeping insights.

Research Interests

Julia’s research focus is on the football goalkeeper. Having written one of the first articles about the identification of the key demands for the goalkeeper, Julia is looking at specific aspects of the developing keepers’ performance. She has written articles and short courses on physical training and skill acquisition for the goalkeeper.

Julia has published articles on psychological and interdisciplinary factors affecting performance and is interested in situational motivation, emotional regulation, confidence and resilience in sport.
Julia has investigated and written articles and book chapters around the research ethics process.

Publications

West, J. (under review) Why can’t goalkeepers kick a dead ball? Her Football Hub.

West, J. (2023) Future Lionesses Goalkeeper Coaching programme in safe hands. Her Football Hub. 15^th November 2023: https://herfootballhub.com/future-lionesses-goalkeeper-coaching-programme-in-safe-hands/

West, J. (2023) Strength and conditioning for goalkeepers. Science for sport short course video. https://www.scienceforsport.com/

Otte, F., Dittmer, T. and West, J. (2022) Goalkeeping in modern football: Current positional demands and research insights. International Sport Coaching Journal. 1-9, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0012

West, J. (2022) Women’s football: What has sparked the game’s recent rise in popularity? Her football hub, 4^th August, 2022: https://herfootballhub.com/womens-football-what-has-prompted-the-rise-in-popularity/

West, J. (2022) Neuro-walking football: A conversation with a young female coach. Her football hub, 4^th June, 2022: https://herfootballhub.com/neuro-walking-football-a-conversation-with-a-young-female-coach/

West, J. (2022) Grassroots football: Are the rules really fit for purpose? Her football hub, 25^th January 2022: https://herfootballhub.com/grassroots-football-who-benefits-from-the-grassroots-league-rules/

West, J. (2021) The accidental goalkeeper. Football, she wrote: An anthology of women’s writing on the game. Floodlit Dreams Ltd, Herts, UK. Pp 139-145. ISBN: 9781838030025

Renfree, G. and West, J. (2021) Motivation and commitment of volunteers at parkrun events, Managing Sport and Leisure, DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2021.1986120

West, J. (2021) Covid-19 and the impact it has on grassroots football. Her football hub, 21^st December 2021: https://herfootballhub.com/covid-19-and-the-impact-it-has-on-grassroots-football/

West, J. (2021) Z:RO to hero: Do minimalist goalkeeper gloves really work? Her football hub, 9^th December 2021: https://herfootballhub.com/zro-to-hero-do-minimalist-goalkeeper-gloves-really-work/

West, J. (2021) Why do goalkeepers wear gloves? Her football hub, 2^nd November 2021: https://herfootballhub.com/football-why-do-goalkeepers-wear-gloves/

West, J. (2021) Lessons in learning. Women’s Soccer Coaching 009 August 2021. p15. https://www.womenssoccercoaching.com/coaching-advice/lessons-in-learning

West, J. (2020). Research Ethics in Sport and Exercise Science. In: Iphofen, R. (eds) Handbook of Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16759-2_48

West, J. (2018) A review of the demands for a football goal keeper. International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching. 13 (6), 1215-1222. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954118787493

West, J., Rhoden, C., Robinson, P., Castle, P.C. and St Clair Gibson, A. (2016) How motivated are you? Exploring the differences between motivational profiles and personality traits. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review. 12 (1), 28-42.

Blog post: Julia West 02 Dec 2015 Coaches dilemma – one of them. Female coaching network.

Blog post: Julia West - 24 Nov, 2015 The Difference between coaching boys and girls … female coaching network. http://femalecoachingnetwork.com/the-difference-between-coaching-boys-and-girls/

Rhoden, C.L., West, J., Renfree, A., Corbett, M. and St Clair Gibson, A. (2015) Adaptive self-regulation in cycle time trials: Goal pursuit, goal disengagement and the affective experience. Journal of Science and Cycling. 4 (2), 49-57.

Rhoden, C.L., West, J., Renfree, A., Corbett, M. and St Clair Gibson (2014) Micro-oscillations in positive and negative affect during competitive laboratory cycle time trials – a preliminary study. South African Journal of Sports Medicine. 26 (6), 20-25. DOI:10.7196/SAJSM.496.

Rhoden, C, West, J. and Peters, D.M. (2013) Male positive affect elucidates mixed-doubles badminton tournament rank. In: Peters, D.M. and O’Donoghue, P. (eds) Performance Analysis of Sport IX. Abingdon, Routledge, pp. 162-167.

Renfree, A., West, J., Corbett, M., Rhoden, C. and St Clair Gibson, A. (2012) Complex interplay between determinants of pacing and performance during 20-km cycle time trials. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 7(2), 121-129. ISSN 1555-0265 (rated 3*) https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/7/2/article-p121.xml

Rhoden, C. and West, J. (2010) Affect in sporting activities: A preliminary validation of the Worcester Affect Scale. Sport Science Review. 19 (5-6), 71-91. (Rated 1*)

West, J., Bill, K. and Martin, L. (2010) What constitutes research ethics in sport and exercise science? Research Ethics Review. 6 (4), 147-153. (rated 1*)

West, J., Rhoden, C., Corbett, M. and Renfree, A. (2010) Where’s my head at? Motivational differences in cycle time trial performance. Poster presentation. Bad Hofgastein, Austria. Journal of Arts and Science conference.

Renfree, A., West, J., Corbett, M. and Rhoden, C. (2009) Individualised RPE responses during a self-paced cycle time trial, Sports Science Review. 1(1), 7-26. (Rated 1*- unpublished rating)

West, J., Rhoden, C. and Castle, P. (2009) Are you in the mood for motivation? Poster Presentation. Oslo, Norway. ECSS conference.

Castle, P.C., West, J., Faull, A. and Mycock, D. (Editors) (2009) Psychological Foundations of Sport and Exercise (3^rd Edition). London: McGraw Hill.

Castle, P.C. and West, J. (Editors) (2008) Psychological Foundations of Sport and Exercise (2^nd Edition). London: McGraw Hill

Martin, L., West, J. and Bill, K. (2008) Incorporating Problem-Based Learning Strategies to Develop Learner Autonomy and Employability Skills in Sports Science Undergraduates. JoHLSTE. 7 (1), 18-30. (Rated 1*- unpublished rating)

Castle, P.C, Rhoden, C., West, J., Incledon, V. and Mycock, D. (Editors) (2007) Foundations of Sport (Psycho-Social). London: McGraw-Hill.

West, J. and Castle, P.C. (2007) ‘How do you do it?’ Investigating the Sports Motivation Personality Type. Poster Presentation. Jyvaskyla, Finland: ECSS conference.

West, J., Castle, P.C., Rhoden, C., Boot-Handford, N. and Cooprider, J. (2007) ‘Conquering the Charity Stripe’: Integrating technological advances and imagery with the Basketball free throw. Poster Presentation. Jyvaskyla, Finland: ECSS conference.

West, J., and Bill, K. (2005) Careers Strategy for Sports and Exercise Undergraduate Students. Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Network. Case 102.

Professional Bodies & External Responsibilities

Professional Bodies

Teaching Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
The Football Association – UEFA B Licence Coach and FA Level 2 Goalkeeping Coach

External Responsibilities

Goalkeeper coach for the Future Lionesses Goalkeeper Programme
Goalkeeper coach for Worcester City Women FC
Founder and head coach for the Worcester Goalkeeping Academy (founded 2003)