Professor David James MEng. PhD.
Director
Summary
Professor David James is the Director of the Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER). David’s current research is focused sports mechanics, injury prevention and the ethical considerations of an increasingly scientific sporting arena. David is a visiting professor at TU Delft, Netherlands, and the Editor-in-chief of the 2017 International Conference on Sports Engineering in Jaipur, India.
In addition to his research, David is the treasurer of the International Sports Engineering Association, grant reviewer for the Royal Academy of Engineering, project advisor to Research Councils UK, the Royal Institution and the Wellcome Trust. David was awarded the very first fellowship in public engagement from the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is a regular voice in broadcast and print media and delivers high profile keynote lectures on the role that technology plays in sport.
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About
Professor David James is the Director of the Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER). His research is primarily focused on sports mechanics and injury; however, his interests also include sports performance analysis and sports ethics. David is a visiting professor at the TU Delft.
David has a mechanical engineering background with a MEng from the University of Sheffield. During his degree, David also studied in Grenoble, France. David continued his studies at the University of Sheffield with a PhD in cricket dynamics sponsored by the ECB.
David joined Sheffield Hallam University in 2006 and shortly after established the world-renowned MSc Sports Engineering programme. More recently, David established the Alliance for Sports Engineering Education to create an educational partnership with TU Delft (Netherlands) and TU Chemnitz (Germany).
David’s current research is focused on sports equipment mechanics and the ethical considerations of an increasingly scientific sporting arena. David supervises numerous PhD students on projects such as skin laceration risk in rugby, the efficacy of snowboard wrist protectors, and the effect of traction on player performance in football.
In addition to his research David is the treasurer of the International Sports Engineering Association, grant reviewer for the Royal Academy of Engineering, project advisor to Research Councils UK, the Royal Institution and the Wellcome Trust. In 2014, David was the Editor-in-Chief of the International Sports Engineering Association Conference hosted in Sheffield.
David is a leading international science communicator and was awarded the very first fellowship in public engagement from the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is a regular voice in broadcast and print media and delivers high profile keynote lectures on the role that technology plays in sport. David has appeared on countless stages including the Cheltenham Science Festival; Manchester Science Festival, the British Science Festival, and the Royal Institution’s Faraday lecture theatre.
Areas of interest:
- Sports engineering
- Sports equipment mechanics
- Sports injury
- Sports performance analysis
- Sports ethics
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Teaching
MSc Sports Engineering:
- Mechanics of Sports Equipment
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Research
Research centre:
Research theme groups:
Current research projects:
- Fundamental studies on the flight of a dart
- Effect of moment of inertia on swing speed
- Understanding stud laceration injuries in rugby and football
- Understanding the efficacy of wrist guards in snowboarding
- The effect of traction on player performance in small sided football
Collaborators and sponsors:
- Labosport Ltd
- FIFA
- Adidas
- World Rugby
- Nova International
- Royal Institution
- Research Councils UK
- Royal Academy of Engineering
- Arts Council England
- Engineering and Physical Science Research Council
- European Social Fund
- British CouncilInstitute of Physic
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Publications
ADAMS, Caroline, JAMES, David, SENIOR, Terry, ALLEN, Tom and HAMILTON, Nick (2018). Effect of surrogate design on the measured stiffness of snowboarding wrist protectors. Sports Engineering, 15, p. 42.
JAMES, David and POTTS, Jonathan (2018). Experimental validation of dynamic stability analysis applied to dart flight. Sports Engineering, 1-12.
OUDSHOORN, Bodil, DRISCOLL, Heather, DUNN, Marcus and JAMES, David (2018). Kinetic and kinematic analysis of stamping impacts during simulated rucking in rugby union. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36 (8), 914-919.
DUNN, Marcus, HART, John and JAMES, David (2018). Wearing electronic performance and tracking system devices in Association Football: Potential injury scenarios and associated impact energies. Proceedings, 2 (6), 232-237.
OUDSHOORN, Bodil, DRISCOLL, Heather, DUNN, Marcus, SENIOR, Terry and JAMES, David (2017). Development of a test method for assessing laceration injury risk of individual cleats during game-relevant loading conditions. Footwear Science, 10 (1), 1-10.
OUDSHOORM, Bodil Y., DRISCOLL, Heather F., DUNN, Marcus and JAMES, David (2017). Identifying representative test parameters to assess skin laceration injury risk for individual studs. Footwear Science, 9 (sup1), S29-S31.
OUDSHOORN, Bodil, DRISCOLL, Heather, KILNER, Karen, DUNN, Marcus and JAMES, David (2017). Prevalence of laceration injuries in professional and amateur rugby union: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 3 (1), e000239.
OUDSHOORN, Bodil, DRISCOLL, Heather F, DUNN, Marcus and JAMES, David (2016). Causation events of stud laceration injuries in rugby union. Procedia Engineering, 147, 496-500.
ADAMS, Caroline, JAMES, David, SENIOR, Terry, ALLEN, Tom and HAMILTON, Nick (2016). Development of a method for measuring quasi-static stiffness of snowboard wrist protectors. Procedia Engineering, 147, 378-383.
OUDSHOORN, Bodil, DRISCOLL, Heather F, DUNN, Marcus and JAMES, David (2016). Pressure sensor calibration for measuring stud-player impacts. Procedia Engineering, 147, 688-693.
EMERY, Jim, DRISCOLL, Heather F, BARNES, Andrew and JAMES, David (2016). Third generation artificial pitch quality in commercial football centers. Procedia Engineering, 147, 860-865.
EMERY, Jim, DRISCOLL, Heather F, BARNES, Andrew and JAMES, David M. (2016). A method for characterizing high acceleration movements in small-sided football. Procedia Engineering, 147, 718-723.
SCHORAH, David, CHOPPIN, Simon and JAMES, David (2015). Effects of moment of inertia on restricted motion swing speed. Sports Biomechanics, 14 (2), 157-167.
HAAKE, Steve, JAMES, David and FOSTER, Leon (2015). An improvement index to quantify the evolution of performance in field events. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33 (3), 255-267.
HAAKE, Steve, FOSTER, Leon and JAMES, David (2014). An improvement index to quantify the evolution of performance in running. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32 (7), 610-622.
SCHORAH, Dave, CHOPPIN, Simon and JAMES, David (2014). Effect of moment of inertia and physical profile on restricted motion swing speed. Procedia Engineering, 72, 593-598.
ALLEN, Tom, FAUTEUX-BRAULT, Olivier, JAMES, David and CURTIS, David (2014). Finite element model of a cricket ball impacting a bat. Procedia Engineering, 72, 521-526.
FOSTER, Leon I, HAAKE, Steve, JAMES, Dave M and NEVILL, Alan M (2014). Modelling effects of drug testing procedures on performance trends in the shot put. Journal of Sports Medicine & Doping Studies, 4 (5).
ALLEN, Tom, GOUGH, Jim, KONCAN, David, JAMES, David, MORALES, Eric and WOOD, Paul (2014). Modelling the acoustics of a golf ball impacting a titanium plate. Procedia Engineering, 72, 587-592.
KELLEY, John (2014). A camera calibration method for a hammer throw analysis tool. In: JAMES, David, CHOPPIN, Simon, ALLEN, Tom and FLEMMING, Paul, (eds.) The Engineering of Sport 10. Procedia Engineering, 10 (72). Elsevier, 74-79.
POPE, Jeremy, JAMES, David, WOOD, Paul and HENRIKSON, Erik (2014). The effect of skid distance on distance control in golf putting. Procedia Engineering, 72, 642-647.
DÉ, Robindronath and JAMES, David (2014). The effect of stud shape on penetration characteristics through synthesized natural turf in football. Procedia Engineering, 72, 648-653.
HENDERSON, A, LAI, D and ALLEN, T (2014). A modern approach to determine the offside law in international football. In: JAMES, David, CHOPPIN, Simon, ALLEN, Tom, WHEAT, Jonathan and FLEMING, Paul, (eds.) The engineering of sport. Procedia engineering, 10 (72). Elsevier, 138-143.
ALLEN, Tom, BOWLEY, Adam, WOOD, Paul, HENRIKSON, Erik, MORALES, Eric and JAMES, David (2012). Effect of temperature on golf ball dynamics. Procedia engineering, 34, 634-639.
FOSTER, Leon, JAMES, David and HAAKE, Steve (2012). Influence of full body swimsuits on competitive performance. Procedia engineering, 34, 712-717.
SCHORAH, D, CHOPPIN, S and JAMES, D (2012). Investigating the relationship between swing weight and swing speed across different sports using historical data. Procedia engineering, 34, 766-771.
JAMES, David, MACDONALD, Danielle C and HART, John (2012). The effect of atmospheric conditions on the swing of a cricket ball. Procedia engineering, 34, 188-193.
JAMES, David, CURTIS, David, ALLEN, Tom and RIPPIN, Tom (2012). The validity of a rigid body model of a cricket ball-bat impact. Procedia engineering, 34, 682-687.
JAMES, David (2012). Development of equipment for use in sport. School Science Review, 93 (345), 77-84.
JAMES, David (2012). Engineering a sporting chance? Institute of Engineering and Technology, 6, p. 7.
JAMES, David (2012). Extraordinary moves: the art of science in the cultural Olympiad. Moving Worlds, 12 (1), 136-147.
FOSTER, Leon, JAMES, David and HAAKE, Steve (2011). The influence of the Olympic Games on athletic performance. In: 3rd International Conference on Mathematics in Sport, Salford, Manchester, 22-24 June. (Unpublished)
JAMES, David (2011). Fair Game? Ingenia, 47, 15-21.
WIART, N., KELLEY, John, JAMES, David and ALLEN, Tom (2011). Effect of temperature on the dynamic properties of soccer balls. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 225 (4), 189-198.
WIART, N., KELLEY, John, JAMES, David and ALLEN, Tom (2011). Effect of temperature on the dynamic properties of soccer balls. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 225 (4), 189-198.
HAAKE, Steve, JAMES, D and FOSTER, L (2010). The effect of technological interventions: do they work? In: Japan's Symposium on Sports and Human Dynamics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, November 2010. 479-484.
JAMES, D. (2010). The ethics of using engineering to enhance athletic performance. Procedia engineering, 2 (2), 3405-3410.
FOSTER, L., JAMES, D. and HAAKE, Steve (2010). Understanding the influence of population size on athletic performance. Procedia engineering, 2 (2), 3183-3189.
JAMES, D. (2008). The physics of winning - engineering the world of sport. Physics education, 43 (5), 500-505.
JAMES, D. M. and HAAKE, Steve (2008). The spin decay of sports balls in flight. In: ESTIVALET, M. and BRISSON, P., (eds.) The engineering of sport 7. Paris, Springer, 165-170.
CARRE, M. J., JAMES, D. M. and HAAKE, Steve (2006). Hybrid method for assessing the performance of sports surfaces during ball impacts. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part L: Journal of materials: design and application, 220 (1), 31-39.
JAMES, D., CARRE, M. J. and HAAKE, Steve (2006). Studies on the oblique impact of a cricket ball on a cricket pitch. In: MORITZ, E. F. and HAAKE, S. J., (eds.) The engineering of sport 6. Springer, 235-240.
JAMES, D. M. and HAAKE, Steve (2006). Using sport to educate and enthuse young people about engineering the physical sciences. In: MORITZ, E. F. and HAAKE, S., (eds.) The engineering of sport 6. Springer, 273-278.
JAMES, D. M., CARRE, M. J. and HAAKE, Steve (2005). Predicting the playing character of cricket pitches. Sports engineering, 8 (4), 193-207.
ADAMS, W. A., BAKER, S. W., JAMES, D. M. and YOUNG, R. J. (2005). Measuring and modelling the bounce and pace of county championship cricket pitches. International turfgrass society journal, 10, 1021-1026.
ADAMS, W. A., BAKER, S. W., CARRE, M. J., YOUNG, R. J. and JAMES, D. M. (2004). Pitch properties and performance. Project Report. England and Wales Cricket Board.
CARRE, M. J., JAMES, D. M. and HAAKE, Steve (2004). Impact of a non-homogeneous sphere on a rigid surface. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part C: Journal of mechanical engineering science, 218 (3), 273-281.
JAMES, D. M., CARRE, M. J. and HAAKE, Steve (2004). The playing performance of county cricket pitches. Sports engineering, 7 (1), 1-14.
JAMES, D., CARRE, M. J. and HAAKE, Steve (2004). The normal impact of a cricket ball on a cricket pitch. In: HUBBARD, M., MEHTA, R. D. and PALLIS, J. M., (eds.) The engineering of sport 5. International sport engineering association, 66-72.
JAMES, D. M., CARRE, M. J. and HAAKE, Steve (2002). The dynamic behaviour of a cricket ball impact and the effects of pitch construction. In: UJIHASHI, S. and HAAKE, S. J., (eds.) The engineering of sport 4. Blackwell, 494-500.
Other activities
- Visiting professor at TU Delft, Netherlands
- Editor-in-chief of the 2017 International Conference on Sports Engineering, Jaipur, India.
- Treasurer of the International Sports Engineering Association.Grant and project reviewer for several UK funding bodies.
- Editor-in-chief of the 2014 International Sports Engineering Association conference.
- Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Ambassador.
- Contributed to House of Lords report on sports science (2012).
- Member of joint Royal Academies select committee on human enhancement (2010).
Post graduate supervision
Current supervised PhD students:
- Oudshoorn, B. Understanding stud laceration injuries in rugby and football
- Adams, C. Understanding the efficacy of wrist guards in snowboarding
- The effect of traction on player performance in small sided football
Completed supervised PhD students:
- Schorah, D. The effect of moment of inertia on the speed of a swung implement, July 2015.
- Foster, L. Modelling the effect of technology on elite sport, September 2012
Completed postgraduate examinations:
- MPhil Internal: 1
- MPhil External: 0
- PhD Internal: 3
- PhD External: 2
Media
Professor David James is the Director of the Centre for Sports Engineering Research at Sheffield Hallam University. David is a leading science communicator specialising in sports equipment mechanics. David’s current research is focused on sports equipment mechanics and the ethical considerations of an increasingly scientific sporting arena. David is a visiting professor at TU Delft, Netherlands.
In addition to his research David is the treasurer of the International Sports Engineering Association, grant reviewer for the Royal Academy of Engineering, project advisor to Research Councils UK, the Royal Institution and the Wellcome Trust. The Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER) is led by Dr David James. It is the world's largest academic group in sports engineering and an internationally renowned centre of excellence for research and knowledge transfer.
The centre's work is based on four research disciplines; applied computing, biomechanics, design engineering, and skill acquisition. In each area, researchers develop fundamental knowledge and deliver applied solutions to enhance athletic performance, reduce injury and promote physical activity.
CSER works in partnership with many sport, health and commercial organisations. We are immensely proud of our work with Team GB Olympic, and Paralympic athletes, and we enjoy research partnerships with global organisations such as the International Tennis Federation, FIFA, and Adidas.
Areas of expertise:
- Sports engineering
- Sports equipment mechanics
- Sports injury
- Sports performance analysis
- Sports ethics
Notable media coverage:
- Sheffield Hallam University Seminar - What makes a World Champion? July 2017
- BBC 5 Live - Russian doping scandal 2015
- BBC 1 Look North - Announcement of £14 million for the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre 2015
- The Sheffield Telegraph - Tour de France legend visits Sheffield July 2014
- The Hindu - Sporting Glory March 2013
- E&T - Sports engineer working with Team GB Olympic athletes June 2012
- bbc.co.uk - Swing bowling not due to humidity, research suggests May 2012
- Fox News - Manmade vs. natural: Oscar Pistorius stokes debate July 2012
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