Dr James Rumbold BSc MSc PhD CPsychol. FHEA
Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Course Leader for MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology (BPS-Accredited)
Summary
I am a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). I am also one of the Postgraduate Research Tutors for Sport and Physical Activity within the Health Research Institute. With approximately 15 years’ experience of teaching in higher education, I teach across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate sport and exercise science modules, with a particular focus in the areas of sport and exercise psychology and research methods. My research focuses on understanding individual differences in how people optimise their stress, coping and well-being in different occupations.
About
I joined the College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences in 2013. Prior to this, I completed a BSc in Psychology with Sport Science at St. Mary's University in Twickenham. Following this, I spent seven years at Loughborough University as both a postgraduate student and a member of staff within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. During this time, I completed an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology, and, a PhD in Sport and Organisational Psychology. In 2015, my PhD thesis entitled 'The Design and Delivery of Stress Management in Professional Sport' was awarded the Doctoral Dissertation Award by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). This award recognises the completion of an outstanding doctoral dissertation.
During my time at Sheffield Hallam, I have been proud to be the recipient of a College Inspirational Teacher of the Year award, and I am passionate in contributing towards the development of the next generation of sport and exercise scientists. In addition, between 2019 and 2022 I served as co-director on our BPS-accredited MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology.
As an applied researcher, I am known for publishing research in the areas of organisational/occupational stress, coping and burnout, and personality. While most of my research has been published in sport and exercise science journals, most of my research is examined through the lens of sport and organizational psychology theories and models. In these topic areas, I am passionate about supervising PhD students who have an interest in making innovative (e.g., methodological and applied) advancements, using a range of longitudinal and mixed method approaches.
Teaching
Academy of Sport and Physical Activity
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
I currently lead and teach on the following undergraduate and postgraduate modules:
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science Level 4 - Foundations of Psychology in Sport and Exercise
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science Level 6 - Research Project in Sport and Exercise
MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology Level 7 - Psychology of Sport and Performance
MSc / PGDip Advanced Sport Coaching Practice - Advanced Psychology of Performance Coaching
In addition to these modules, I contribute to quantitative and qualitative research methods teaching on the following undergraduate and postgraduate programmes:
BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences
MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science
MSc / PGDip - Advanced Sport Coaching Practice
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences Doctoral School
Science Subject Group.
Health Research Institute - Doctoral Provision for Sport, Physical Activity and Health Students
MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology (BPS-Accredited)
BSc Sport and Exercise Science
Sport Psychology: Theory to Practice (MSc)
Research Methods (MSc)
Exercise Psychology (MSc)
Project (MSc)
Placement (BSc level 5)
Psychology of Sport and Exercise (BSc level 5)
Project in Sport (BSc level 6)
Research
Research lead for the Performance Psychology Theme, Sport and Human Performance Research Group, Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre.
Featured Research Projects
Euro 2020: is this ‘the greatest therapy session England ever had’?
Assessing post-game emotions in soccer teams: The role of distinct emotional dynamics
Dr James Rumbold - SPARC Seminar 2020
Has the Djokovic row exposed a COVID vaccine problem in sport?
From stress to sporting success
Research Collaborators
Professor John Sandars - Edge Hill University, UK
Professor Rock Braithwaite - Humboldt State University, USA
Dr Faye Didymus - Leeds Beckett University, UK
Dr Daniel Rhind - Loughborough University, UK
Dr David Fletcher - Loughborough University, UK
Professor John Dunn - University of Alberta, Canada
Professor Kevin Daniels - University of East Anglia
Professor Richard Thelwell - University of Portsmouth, UK
David Price - University of Portsmouth, UK
Dr Ray Randall - University of Sheffield, UK
Professor Andrew Hill - York St John University, UK
Dr Daniel Madigan - York St John University, UK
Publications
Journal articles
Newman, J., Mahmood, S., & Rumbold, J. (2023). The blurred line in elite sport: Exploring UK media reporting of bullying and banter. Sport, Education and Society. http://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2023.2283786
Higham, A., Newman, J., Rumbold, J., & Stone, J. (2023). You wouldn’t let your phone run out of battery: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of male professional football coaches’ well-being. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. http://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2023.2260377
Rumbold, J., Madigan, D.J., & Didymus, F.F. (2023). A Daily Diary Study of Primary Appraisals, Emotional Exhaustion, and Turnover Intentions in Sport Coaches. Journal of Sports Sciences. http://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2023.2259202
Rumbold, J., Newman, J., & Carr, S. (2023). Coaches' Experiences of Job Crafting Through Organizational Change in High-Performance Sport. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. http://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000328
Higham, A., Rumbold, J., Newman, J., & Stone, J. (2023). Using video docuseries to explore male professional football head coaches’ well-being experiences throughout a season. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 69. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102488
O'Sullivan, M., Vaughan, J., Rumbold, J., & Davids, K. (2023). Utilising the learning in development research framework in a professional youth football club. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5. http://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1169531
Rhind, D.J.A., Hodson, E., Newman, J., & Rumbold, J. (2022). Transformational leadership: a qualitative analysis of effective leadership in women's soccer in England. Unisia: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 40 (2), 257-276. http://doi.org/10.20885/unisia.vol40.iss2.art1
Rumbold, J., Dunn, J.G.H., & Olusoga, P. (2022). Examining the Predictive Validity of the Grit Scale-Short (Grit-S) Using Domain-General and Domain-Specific Approaches With Student-Athletes. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.837321
Dunn, J.G.H., Cormier, D.L., Kono, S., Causgrove Dunn, J., & Rumbold, J. (2021). Perfectionism and Grit in Competitive Sport. Journal of Sport Behavior, 44 (2). https://journalofsportbehavior.org/index.php/JSB/article/view/67
Higham, A., Newman, J., Stone, J., & Rumbold, J. (2021). Coaches’ Experiences of Morality in English Professional Football Environments: Recommendations for Creating a Moral Atmosphere. International Sport Coaching Journal. http://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2021-0026
Newman, J., Eccles, S., Rumbold, J., & Rhind, D. (2021). When it is no longer a bit of banter: Coaches’ perspectives of bullying in professional soccer. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. http://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1987966
Sandars, J., Jenkins, L., Church, H., Patel, R., Rumbold, J., Maden, M., ... Brown, J. (2021). Applying Sport Psychology in Health Professions Education: A Systematic Review of Performance Mental Skills Training. Medical Teacher. http://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2021.1966403
O' Sullivan, M., Vaughan, J., Rumbold, J., & Davids, K. (2021). The Learning in Development Research Framework for Sports Organizations. Sport, Education and Society. http://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2021.1966618
Rumbold, J., Newman, J., Foster, D., Rhind, D.J.A., Phoenix, J., & Hickey, L. (2021). Assessing Post-Game Emotions in Soccer Teams: The Role of Distinct Emotional Dynamics. European Journal of Sport Science. http://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1916079
Rumbold, J., Madigan, D.J., Murtagh-Cox, A., & Jones, L. (2021). Examining Profiles of the Big Five and Sensation Seeking among Competitive Climbers. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101951
Madigan, D.J., Rumbold, J., Gerber, M., & Nicholls, A.R. (2020). Coping tendencies and changes in athlete burnout over time. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 48, 101666. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101666
Rumbold, J., Fletcher, D., & Daniels, K. (2020). An experience sampling study of organizational stress processes and future playing time in professional sport. Journal of Sports Sciences, 1-9. http://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1717302
Hattersley, C., Hembrough, D., Khan, K., Picken, A., Rumbold, J., & Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2019). Managing the transition into retirement for elite athletes. Professional strength & conditioning, (53), 11-16. https://www.uksca.org.uk/uksca-iq/article/journal-back-issues/1886/professional-strength-conditioning-issue-53-june-2019
Rothwell, M., Rumbold, J., & Stone, J. (2018). Exploring British adolescent rugby league players' experiences of professional academies and dropout. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. http://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2018.1549579
Rumbold, J., Fletcher, D., & Daniels, K. (2017). Using a mixed method audit to inform organizational stress management interventions in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 35, 27-38. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.10.010
Barnes, A., Rumbold, J., & Olusoga, P. (2017). Attitudes towards protective headgear in UK rugby union players. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 3 (1), e000255. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000255
Church, H., Rumbold, J., & Sandars, J. (2017). Applying sport psychology to improve clinical performance. Medical Teacher, 39 (12), 1205-1213. http://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2017.1359523
Rumbold, J., Fletcher, D., & Daniels, K. (2012). A systematic review of stress management interventions with sport performers. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 1 (3), 173-193. http://doi.org/10.1037/a0026628
Fletcher, D., Rumbold, J., Tester, R., & Coombes, M. (2011). Sport psychologists’ experiences of organizational stressors. The Sport Psychologist, 25 (3), 363-381.
Conference papers
White, N., Rumbold, J., & Garner, I. (2022). A study into the perceptions of pre-registration nurses’ use of mental simulation for learning cardiac arrest skills [Abstract only]. International Journal of Healthcare Simulation, 2 (S1), A24-A25. http://doi.org/10.54531/DVYN3727
White, N., Garner, I., & Rumbold, J. (2022). Design of a functionally equivalent mental simulation protocol for learning cardiac arrest skills [Abstract only]. International Journal of Healthcare Simulation, 2 (S1), A28-A29. http://doi.org/10.54531/JODG4926
Farrokh, D., Rumbold, J., Stone, J., & Davids, K. (2022). An Ecological Dynamics Perspective on Flow in Sport. In 16th European Congress of Sport & Exercise Psychology.
Jones, G., Stone, J., Rothwell, M., Rumbold, J., Davids, K., & Otte, F. (2021). Providing augmented information for learning transitions in football: The transitional learning model for coaches [abstract only]. In Sport Sciences Congress 2021, University of Lisbon, 13 July 2023 - 21 July 2023 (pp. 80). Sports Sciences Congress: https://ssc2021.net/book-of-abstracts/
Book chapters
Rumbold, J., & Didymus, F.F. (2021). Organizational stress in competitive sport. In Zenko, Z., & Jones, L. (Eds.) Essentials of exercise and sport psychology: An open access textbook. (pp. 710-733). Society for the Transparency, Openness, and Replication in Kinesiology: http://doi.org/10.51224/B1000
Didymus, F., Rumbold, J., & Staff, H. (2018). Promoting and protecting coach psychological well-being and performance. In Thelwell, R., & Dicks, M. (Eds.) Professional Advances in Sports Coaching Research and Practice. Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/Professional-Advances-in-Sports-Coaching-Research-and-Practice/Thelwell-Dicks/p/book/9780815381228
Reports
Newman, J., & Rumbold, J. (2023). FIFA research scholarship final report: The co-design of an adult safeguarding education programme in football.
Hattersley, C., Hembrough, D., Khan, K., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Rumbold, J. (2020). Managing the transition into retirement for elite athletes. UKSCA Professional Journal.
Media
Rumbold, J. (2023). Euro 2020: Is this ‘the greatest therapy session England ever had’? James Rumbold article written for the Conversation. [The conversation]. The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/euro-2020-is-this-the-greatest-therapy-session-england-ever-had-163840
Rumbold, J. (2023). Feature Interview with James Rumbold for BBC Radio Sheffield's Paulette Edwards show, to provide a commentary on what it is like to be a fan. [Radio]. BBC Radio Sheffield
Rumbold, J. (2023). Feature Interview with James Rumbold for BBC Radio Sheffield's Paulette Edwards show, to provide a commentary on what it is like to be a fan. [Radio]. BBC Radio Sheffield
Newman, J., & Rumbold, J. (2022). James Newman and James Rumbold's article for the Conversation “Is Gareth Southgate a successful manager? Two sports psychologists weigh in.”. The Conversation
Joyce, A., Gillott, R., & Apparicio, S. (2022). Feature Interview with James Rumbold, for Sky News' Daily Podcast, to provide a commentary on the psychological reasons for why some athletes have decided not to get vaccinated. [Podcast (Sky News Daily Podcast)].
Rumbold, J. (2021). Feature Television Interview with James Rumbold, with ITV Calendar (South and North) to provide a commentary on England Men's football team preparation for the Euro 2020 final. [Television (ITV)]. ITV Calendar
Rumbold, J. (2021). Feature Television Interview with James Rumbold, with ITV Calendar (South and North) to provide a commentary on England Men's football team preparation for the Euro 2020 final. [Television (ITV)]. ITV Calendar
Rumbold, J. (2021). Feature Radio Interview with James Rumbold, with BBC Radio Sheffield, to provide a commentary on England Men's football team preparation for the Euro 2020 final. [Radio]. BBC Radio Sheffield
Rumbold, J. (2021). Feature Radio Interview with James Rumbold, with BBC Radio Sheffield, to provide a commentary on England Men's football team preparation for the Euro 2020 final. [Radio]. BBC Radio Sheffield
Greene, M. (2020). From stress to sporting success - a Q & A with Dr James Rumbold. [Sheffield Hallam Internal Communications]. Sheffield Hallam University: https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/hwbstaffnews/2020/03/06/from-stress-to-sporting-success-a-qa-with-dr-james-rumbold/?doing_wp_cron=1583496554.3356790542602539062500
Presentations
Stone, J., Rumbold, J., & Rothwell, M. (2017). Top gun to rugby league drop-out. Presented at: Sport and Medicine conference
Other activities
External Examinership
I am currently serving as an External Examiner for the following postgraduate and undergraduate courses at York St. John University (until September 2021): MSc Sport and Exercise Science, BSc Sport and Exercise Science BSc Sport Science and Injury Rehabilitation BSc Strength Conditioning.
Editorial Board Member
I currently serve as an Editorial Board member for the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology (since October 2017).
Journal Reviewer
I have served as a Journal Reviewer for a wide range of psychology journals, most recently the following: European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Anxiety, Stress & Coping, International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Journal of Sports Sciences, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, European Journal of Sport Science, Frontiers in Psychology, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
Postgraduate supervision
Doctoral Supervisions
- Nick White, part-time Ed.D. (Director of Studies; October 2016 to present) - A study into the experiences of pre-registration nurses’ use of mental simulation. Co-supervised by Professor Iain Garner (Department of Education, Childhood and Inclusion, Sheffield Hallam University).
- Mark O' Sullivan, part-time Ph.D. (Director of Studies; October 2017 to present) - Designing learning environments in contemporary youth football development programmes. Co-supervised by Professor Keith Davids (Sport and Human Performance Research Group, SPARC, Sheffield Hallam University).
- Tim Robinson, part-time Ph.D. (October 2018 to present) - The impact of different pedagogical approaches in age grade rugby union. Co-supervised by Professor Keith Davids and Dr Joe Stone (Sport and Human Performance Research Group, SPARC, Sheffield Hallam University).
- Andrew Higham, full-time Ph.D. (February 2021 to present) - English football talent development environments: An exploration of key stakeholders’ welfare. Co-supervised by Dr Joe Stone and Dr James Newman (Sport and Human Performance Research Group, SPARC, Sheffield Hallam University).
- Gérard Jones, part-time Ph.D. (April 2021 start) - Investigating how augmented feedback can be used to guide attentional search in football. Co-supervised by Professor Keith Davids and Dr Joe Stone (Sport and Human Performance Research Group, SPARC, Sheffield Hallam University).
- David Farrokh, full-time Ph.D. (October 2021 start) - An ecological dynamics perspective on flow in youth football. Co-supervised by Professor Keith Davids (Sport and Human Performance Research Group, SPARC, Sheffield Hallam University).