BSc, PhD

Profile

Matt has been working at the University since 2001 and in the School of Education since 2003. He lectures in kinesiology and research methods on the School’s BA Applied Golf Management Studies and BA Sport, Physical Education and Community Studies undergraduate degrees. He also teaches on and co-manages the School’s popular MPhil (B) in Sports Coaching designed for active coaches, enabling them to combine their coaching practice with postgraduate research focused study.  Matt is currently Director of the School’s Undergraduate Board of Studies with overall responsibility for the School’s undergraduate provision.  Alongside his academic work Matt is a consultant to the British Olympic Association and for individuals and teams in a variety of sports including golf, cycling and triathlon.

Research and Projects Interests

An Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham, Matt is supervising PhD students in the Schools of Education and Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Golf

Interest lies in gaining a greater understanding of what leads to maximal golf performance.  Areas of study include using high speed 3D motion analysis to analyse the kinematics and kinetics of the golf swing and their effects on ball flight. Further interests are in developing better performance analysis methods for golf and the optimisation of physical preparation for golf. Future work is planned to look at the application of skill learning theories to develop better golf tuition resulting in increased skill retention and transfer.

Current projects include:

• Full body kinematics and kinetics of the golf swing from Tour Professional to novice
• The effects of conventional strength training on golf kinematics

Talent development and Identification

As sport becomes increasingly professionalised and money is allocated to high performance programmes there is the need to develop a greater understanding of what ‘talent’ or ‘giftedness’ is.  Subsequent to this is how we should nurture and develop this talent to develop world class performance.  Allowing all individuals the chance to be as good as they can be is central to this and bases itself in the promotion of active youngsters engaged in varied core movement activities. Future long-term studies following individual children’s sporting development are planned.

Current projects include:

• Nationwide analysis of sportspersons playing, practice and participation histories.

Learning in Higher Education

Employers are looking for graduates that show independence and the ability to solve problems. In order to develop these skills higher education institutions must ensure that their teaching is orientated towards developing independent enquiry.  An underlying issue here is how to move away from traditional lecture based approaches to blends of online delivery, facilitated workshops, traditional lectures and independent learning.  This not only requires a change in the delivery of higher education tutors but also in how we assess students taught through different teaching strategies.

Current projects include:

• Using blended online enquiry based learning to developing learner impendence and academic skills in first year undergraduates.

Teaching Interests

Lecturer on MPhil (B) Sports Coaching, BA Applied Golf Management Studies and BA Sport, Physical Education and Community Studies degree and supervisor of PhD students.

Publications (selection)

M.W.Bridge, M. Perry and F-X Li (2008) The warm-up behaviours of elite female golfers. In D. Crews & R. Lutz (eds.) Science and Golf V. Mesa, Az: Energy in Motion. pp.120-127, ISBN 978-0978873417

L. Ansley, G. Marvin, A. Sharma, M.J. Kendall, D.A. Jones and M.W. Bridge. (2008) The effects of head cooling on endurance and neuroendocrine responses to exercise in warm conditions. Physiological Research 57 (in press) ISSN 1802-9973

E.S. Chambers, M.W. Bridge and D.A. Jones (2007) Reliability of 1-h Cycle Time Trial Performance in a Hyperthermic Environment. Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, 39 (5): 449, ISSN 0195-9131

L.M. Romer, M.W. Bridge, A.K. McConnell, D.A. Jones (2004) Influence of exercise hyperthermia on inspiratory muscle fatigue. European Journal of Applied Physiology 91, pp.656-663. ISSN 1439-6319

M.W. Bridge, A.S. Weller, M. Rayson and D.A. Jones (2003) Responses to exercise in the heat related to measures of hypothalamic serotonergic and dopaminergic function. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 89 (5): pp.451-459 ISSN 1439-6319

S.L. Halson, M.W. Bridge, R. Meussen, B. Busschaert, M. Gleeson, D.A. Jones and A.E. Jeukendrup. (2002) Time course of performance changes and fatigue markers during intensified training in trained cyclists. Journal of Applied Physiology, 93. pp.947-956 ISSN 8750-7587

Publications 2001 - 2008 [complete, pdf]