About

As Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer for the BSc Performance Analysis and Coaching Science programme, I teach across a broad range of modules, with specialist expertise in perceptual–cognitive skill development, visual attention, technique analysis, and coaching pedagogy. My teaching is informed by both research and applied practice, with a strong emphasis on helping students bridge the gap between theory and real-world performance environments.

Over the past decade, I have worked closely with several national governing bodies, conducting applied research primarily focused on observational analysis within coaching practice. This work has involved collaborating with a diverse range of international-level coaches to better understand how coaching expertise is developed, refined, and sustained across different sporting contexts.

It has been a distinct privilege to see many of our graduates progress into successful careers as performance analysts, coaches, and sport scientists across elite sport, professional academies, and applied performance settings. I am deeply committed to creating a supportive, research-informed learning environment that challenges students intellectually while equipping them with the practical skills, critical thinking, and professional behaviours required to thrive in the sport and exercise industry.

Teaching responsibilities

James has module leadership responsibility for Introduction to Performance Analysis, Applied Performance Analysis Workflows, Introduction to Scouting and Talent Identification, and Coaching and Skill Acquisition modules. He further contributes to Applied Movement Analysis, Research Methods for Sport and Exercise and The Outdoor Classroom modules.

Research interests

My research interest is currently focused on utilising eye-tracking technology to better understand coaching expertise. I am currently working with top-level climbing coaches from five different national climbing teams to better understand expertise in the use of observational analysis. I am using a similar methodology to explore expertise in a wide variety of other sports to investigate the visual practices of athletes, coaches, coaches, and officials.

Qualifications

Undergraduate qualifications

• BA (Hons) Outdoor Education, University of Wales Trinity Saint David's
• Mountaineering Instructor Award (MIA), Mountain Training England

Postgraduate qualifications

• MA Outdoor Education, University of Wales Trinity Saint David's
• PGCE, Cardiff University

Additional interests and activities

Outside of his professional involvement with a wide range of sports, James has been a passionate climber/mountaineer for the past 25 years, climbing all over the world. More recently, he has focused his attention to ultra running and mountain marathons.

Recent publications

• Mitchell J, Maratos FA, Giles D, Taylor N, Butterworth A and Sheffield D (2020) The Visual Search Strategies Underpinning Effective Observational Analysis in the Coaching of Climbing Movement. Front. Psychol. 11:1025. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01025
• Taylor, N., Giles, D., Panácková, M., Panácková, P., Mitchell, J., Chidley, J., et al. (2020). A novel tool for the assessment of sport climber’s movement performance. Intern. J. Sports Physiol. Perform. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2019-0311
• Giles, D., Barnes, K., Taylor, N., Chidley, C., Chidley, J., Mitchell, J., Torr, O., Gibson-Smith, E., and España-Romero, V. (2021) Anthropometry and performance characteristics of recreational advanced to elite female rock climbers, Journal of Sports Sciences, 39:1, 48-56, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1804784
• Giles, D. et al. (2014) ‘Current understanding in climbing psychophysiology research’, Sports Technology, 7(3–4), pp. 108–119. doi: 10.1080/19346182.2014.968166

Courses

• Performance Analysis and Coaching Science BSc (Hons)
• Sport Coaching and Coach Development BA (Hons)