About

Before taking the role as Lecturer in Psychology at UDOL, I worked as an Associate Lecturer for 4 years at the main University of Derby campus for the Sport and Exercise Science team. I taught on the Academic and Research skills modules, alongside all the Sport and Exercise Psychology Modules whilst completing my PhD.  My area of expertise is in performance under pressure, the psychological predictors and mechanism’s associated, specifically for 'choking' and 'the yips' within sport.

Teaching responsibilities

I currently am an associate lecturer for a number of modules including:

• Academic and Applied Skills for Sport and Exercise (4SO011),
• Principles of Sport and Exercise Psychology (4SO007),
• Research Methods for Sport and Exercise (5SO012),
• Sport and Exercise Psychology (5SO019),
• Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology (6SO012),
• Scientific Support (6BY034).

I am also providing supervision for a few third year dissertations on the Independent Studies for Sport and Exercise module (6SO999).

Professional interests

I graduated from the University of Wales Aberystwyth in 2010 with a BSc (First Class Honours) degree in Sport and Exercise Science. I have completed an MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology from Bangor University in north Wales in September 2011 and am currently awaiting my final result with the prospect of graduating in the summer of 2012. I am starting my PhD in Sport Psychology within the Department from January 2012 onwards. I have provided psychological support for athletes in sports such as ultra-marathon running, Gaelic football, soccer and golf. I was appointed as an Associate Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology in October 2011.

Research interests

My research interests focus on a range of factors associated with performance psychology. My interests predominately lie in performance under pressure and investigating the choking and the yips in sport, which is also the focus of my PhD. I also have an interest in the use of different mental skills for elite performance and skill acquisition, for example self-talk and imagery.

Membership of professional bodies

• British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES)

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, The University of Wales, Aberystwyth

• Master of Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology (MSc), Bangor University

Recent conferences

• Clarke, P., Akehurst, A., & Sheffield, D. (2015). Personality Antecedents of the Yips. Presented at The British Psychological Society Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Annual Conference in Leeds UK on the 15th of December.

• Clarke, P., Akehurst, A., & Sheffield, D. (2015). “From World Class to unable to shoot in three arrows”- An Understanding of the personal experience of “Target Panic” in elite archers. Presented as The European College of Sport Science Annual Conference in Malmo Sweden on the 26^th of June. 

Additional interests and activities

I have received much success playing Gaelic football to date, including being part of the British University Division 2 winning team in 2011 during my time at Bangor University. As well as winning medals playing for both my club and county in Ireland at underage level.

My biggest sporting achievement to date was being part of the "Run for Cancer" team which entailed running the length of Ireland (417 miles) in 13 days. The team was comprised of my good friend Michael O'Reilly and me, with the goal to raise funds for two local cancer support centres. The task meant we ran on average 33 miles a day. This worked out at nearly 16 marathons in 13 days, which we completed with no previous marathon or running experience before the training started 5 months prior. We raised €64,313.00 in total for the charities.

I am currently planning my next ultra-endurance event!

In the media

During my run for cancer in Ireland I was on numerous local radio stations and featured in local and national newspapers prior to and during the event.

Recent publications

Clarke, P., Sheffield, D., & Akehurst, A. (2015). The yips in sport: A systematic review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 8 (1), 156-184.

Courses

• Psychology BSc (Hons) (online)
• Psychology University Certificate (online)
• Exercise Psychology Certificate of Credit (online)
• Sports Psychology Certificate of Credit (online)
• Doctorate in Professional Practice (Sport and Exercise) (online)