Dr Ian Stonebridge

Senior Lecturer

Department of Sport

01752 636700 Ext:3158

istonebridge@marjon.ac.uk

Role Summary

Dr Ian Stonebridge is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching and Physical Education in the Department of Sport. His teaching and research focus on sport coaching pedagogy, coach learning, coach identity, coach behaviour and the analysis of coaching practice. Ian is particularly interested in how coaches learn, how coaching identities are shaped within professional and educational contexts, and how systematic observation can be used as a tool for reflection, coach development and evidence-informed practice.

Ian completed his PhD, Who is a coach? Understanding coach subjectivities in professional youth football, at Loughborough University under the supervision of Professor Christopher Cushion. His research draws on sociological and poststructural theory to examine coaching practice, identity, power and subjectivity in professional football environments.

Alongside his academic work, Ian brings extensive professional experience from football. He has worked as an Academy coach, holds UEFA B Licence and FA Youth Award qualifications, and previously played professional football, making over 250 first-team appearances and representing England at Under-18 level.

Qualifications

PhD, Loughborough University
MSc Sport Coaching, Loughborough University
Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development (Learning & Teaching in HE), Plymouth Marjon University
BSc Hons (1st Class) Applied Sport Science and Coaching, Plymouth Marjon University

Teaching

Ian teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate sport coaching, physical education and research methods provision. His teaching focuses on the coaching process, coaching behaviours, coaching philosophy, practice design, coach learning and research methods.

He has a particular interest in helping students connect theory, evidence and professional practice. This includes supporting students to analyse coaching behaviour, design and evaluate coaching practice, use systematic observation methods, and develop critically reflective approaches to their own coaching or teaching.

Ian also contributes to curriculum and assessment design, with a focus on coherent learning experiences, accessible research methods teaching, digital learning resources and the effective use of technology and AI in higher education.

Research

Ian’s research examines coach learning, coach identity and coaching practice, with a particular focus on professional football and coach development. His doctoral research explored how academy coaches’ identities are shaped through the everyday practices, discourses and expectations of professional youth football.

His recent work theorises coach identity as something produced across multiple sites of coaching practice, including training sessions, meetings, coach development activities and informal interactions. Ian is also interested in systematic observation and coach behaviour analysis, particularly how these methods can be repositioned from tools for measuring coaches to tools that support reflection, learning and professional development.

Publications

Journal articles:

Stonebridge, I., & Cushion, C. (2025). “Drive these boys…make sure that’s ingrained in our blood”: Theorising coach identity as subjectivities across the coaching ‘archipelago’. Sports Coaching Review, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2025.2514904

Stonebridge, I., & Cushion, C. (2018). An exploration of the relationship between educational background and the coaching behaviours and practice activities of professional youth soccer coaches. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 23(6), 636-656. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2018.1485143

Conference presentations:

Stonebridge I. & Cushion, C. (2026). Compliance, rupture and re-storying: A longitudinal view of coaching identity. Oral presentation delivered at: 8th International Cluster for Research into Coaching (CRiC) Conference, June 2026. University of Stirling, UK.

Stonebridge I. & Cushion, C. (2024). Technologies of the (coaching) self: intelligibility and resistance in elite youth football. Oral presentation delivered at: 6th International Cluster for Research into Coaching (CRiC) Conference, June 2024. Northumbria University, UK.

Stonebridge I. & Cushion, C. (2023). Theorising coach subjectivities across the coaching archipelago. Oral presentation delivered at: The Cluster for Research into Coaching (CRiC) Symposium, June 2023. Liverpool John Moores University, UK.

Stonebridge I. & Cushion, C. (2019). ‘This is going to be us’: In-club CPD and Academy Coaches’ Identities. Oral presentation delivered at: 5^th International Cluster for Research into Coaching (CRiC) Conference, Worcester.

Stonebridge, I. and Cushion, C. (2017). Coaching behaviours and role perceptions of head and assistant youth academy football coaches. Poster presented at the 11th ICCE Global Coach Conference, Liverpool, UK.

Stonebridge, I. and Cushion, C. (2015). An investigation into the effect of academic background on the coaching behaviours and practice activities of sub-elite youth soccer coaches. Poster presented at the 10th ICCE Global Coach Conference, Vierumaki, Finland.

Expert Membership of professional bodies

Roles on external bodies

Other Interests

Outside of work, Ian’s life still tends to revolve around sport, learning and being outdoors. Football has been a major part of his life as a player, coach and researcher, and he continues to enjoy coaching and watching the game. He is also a keen runner and enjoys endurance challenges, particularly those that involve trails, hills and lots of snacks.