Having obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Birmingham, James went to North America to see how they did sports psychology. He completed his postgraduate training (both MA and PhD) at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, under the supervision of Prof. Craig Hall. He is a regular presenter at international conferences and has published numerous research articles focusing on mental skills (specifically, self-talk and imagery) and group dynamics (e.g., team cohesion and leadership) in both the sport and exercise domains.

James recently guested edited a special edition of The Sport Psychology devoted to Self-talk in Sport and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology as well as an Editorial Board member for the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. His research has been funded by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), UK Sport, ESRC, and Global City Football Services (aka Manchester City FC).

Qualifications:

BSc (Hons) First Class - The University of Birmingham MA - The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada PhD - The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

Bangor University Teaching Fellowship July 2012.

Position: Senior Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Deputy Head of School, Research

Email: j.t.hardy@bangor.ac.uk

Phone: (01248) 38 3493

Location: George Building, Normal Site

Video profile:  Click here to view James' video profile

Web: Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance

Psychology of Sports Performance (Year 2), Research in Psychological Skills (Year 3), Performance Psychology (M-level)

PhD Supervision:

I am willing to supervise enthusiastic individuals in the following areas: team effectivenes and group dynamics (e.g., conflict), personality and teams, and self-talk.

External Examining:

  • BSc and FDSc Moderator for Grwp Llandrillo’s sports programmes
  • MRes programme External Examiner for Newman University
  • BSc and MSci in Sport and Exercise Sciences for the University of Bath 
  • PhD External Examiner for the University of Birmingham 

Two distinct research programmes are currently being pursued. The first programme addresses the use of self-talk and imagery mental skills by athletes in both practice and competition settings. The second research programme focuses on group dynamics issues, specifically cohesion and leadership, in the sport and to a lesser extent exercise domains.

Editorships and Editorial Board Membership:

  • 2014 – present. Editorial Board member of the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology.
  • 2013 – present. Associate editor for the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.
  • 2010 – 2013. Editorial Board member of the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.
  • 2005 – present. Editorial Board member of Athletic Insight.

External Funding:

  • Callow & Hardy. City Football Services: Post-doc funding – value £40,000 Date: October 2016.

  • Callow & Hardy. City Football Services: PhD studentship on “Talent development within elite football academies” – value £56,000. Date: March 2016

  • Callow, Hardy, & Hardy. City Football Services: Post-doc funding – value £40,000 Date: October 2015.

  • Hardy & Hardy. Effects of psychological stress on group processes. England and Wales Cricket Board £80k. 2012.
  • Hardy & Lawrence. Psychological skill acquisition strategies for individuals with Down Syndrome. Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (ATM) ~£34k. Date: July 2012
  • Callow, Hardy & Arthur. The effect of transformational supervision on student engagement, retention and success. Higher Education Academy £54,500. Date: May 2012
  • Hardy & Arthur. The impact of a football-based educational programme on young adults not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS Mini) ~£34k. Date: May 2012
  • The Higher Education Academy; “Development and assessment of a transformational leadership questionnaire in higher education”—value £3,000. Date: April 2010.
  • Drapers' Company and Thomas Howell's Education Fund; “Transformational leadership and student learning experiences”—value £27,000 for a half funded PhD student. Date: May 2009.
  • Association for Applied Sport Psychology; “Effects of self-talk on intrinsic motivation”—value £1,000. Date: June 2009.
  • North Wales Health Care Trust; “Investigating factors that differentiate initiators versus non-initiators of Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation”—value £3,000. Date: July 2009.

Keynote and Invited Presentations:

  • Hardy, J., Webster, L., & Hardy L. (Sept. 2016). Team profiling: Is your team better than the sum of its parts? England and Wales Cricket Board Science and Medicine Conference; Reading, England.
  • Hardy, J. (Nov. 2016). Self-talk in sport: Potential, problems and pitfalls. 14th International Sports Science Congress; Antalya, Turkey.

James has successfully supervised PhD students to completion in a breadth of topics and is particularly keen to hear from enthusiastic potential PhD students interested in his main research areas; team effectivenes and group dynamics (e.g., team resilience, conflict), personality and teams, and self-talk.

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2011

  • PublishedEffects of self-talk: A systematic review
    Hardy, J. T., Tod, D., Hardy, J. & Oliver, E. J., 1 Oct 2011, In: Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 33, 5, p. 666-687
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

  • PublishedA cohesion review.
    Hardy, J. T., Loughead, T. M., Hardy, J., Hanton, S. (Editor) & Mellalieu, S. D. (Editor), 1 Jan 2006, Literature Reviews in Sport Psychology. 2006 ed. Nova Biomedical
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedExploring coaches’ promotion of athlete self-talk.
    Hardy, J. T., Hardy, J. & Hall, C. R., 1 Jan 2006, In: Hellenic Journal of Psychology. 3, p. 150-163
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedGroup norms and their relationship to cohesion in an exercise environment.
    Hardy, J. T., Eys, M. A., Hardy, J. & Patterson, M. M., 1 Jan 2006, In: International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 4, 1, p. 43-56
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedSpeaking clearly: A critical review of the self-talk literature.
    Hardy, J. T. & Hardy, J., 1 Jan 2006, In: Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 7, 1, p. 81-97
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedThe nature of athlete leadership.
    Hardy, J. T., Loughead, T. M., Hardy, J. & Eys, M. A., 1 Jan 2006, In: Journal of Sport Behavior. 29, p. 142-158
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2005

2004

  • PublishedA note on athletes’ use self-talk.
    Hardy, J. T., Hardy, J., Hall, C. R. & Hardy, L., 1 Sept 2004, In: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. 16, 3, p. 251-257
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedThe relationship between commitment and exercise behavior.
    Hardy, J. T., Wilson, P. M., Rodgers, W. M., Carpenter, P. J., Hall, C., Hardy, J. & Fraser, S. N., 1 Oct 2004, In: Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 5, 4, p. 405-421
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedUsing Consensus as a Criterion for Groupness: Implications for the Cohesion-Group Success Relationship.
    Hardy, J. T., Carron, A. V., Brawley, L. R., Bray, S. R., Eys, M. A., Dorsch, K. D., Estabrooks, P. A., Hall, C. R., Hardy, J., Hausenblas, H., Madison, R., Paskevich, D. M., Patterson, M. M., Prapavessis, H., Spink, K. S. & Terry, P. C., 1 Aug 2004, In: Small Group Research. 35, 4, p. 466-491
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2003

2001

  • PublishedA description of self-talk in exercise.
    Hardy, J. T., Gammage, K. L., Hardy, J. & Hall, C. R., 1 Oct 2001, In: Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2, 4, p. 233-247
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedA descriptive study of athlete self-talk.
    Hardy, J. T., Hardy, J., Gammage, K. L. & Hall, C., 1 Sept 2001, In: Sport Psychologist. 15, 3, p. 306-318
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedExploring self-talk and affective states in sport.
    Hardy, J. T., Hardy, J., Hall, C. R. & Alexander, M. R., 1 Jul 2001, In: Journal of Sports Sciences. 19, 7, p. 469-475
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2024

  • Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (Journal)

    Associate Editor (for flagship journal of the discipline)

    1 Aug 2024

    Activity: Editorial activity (Editor)
  • Alex Benson

    Dr Alex Benson from Western University (Dept of Psychology), Canada for research visit and delivery of a PGR and staff statistics session

    1 Jul 2024 – 14 Jul 2024

    Activity: Hosting an academic visitor (Host)

2022

  • BU-IIA Funded Project: Life’s a beach: Anthropometric and psychological profiles of the World’s best Beach Sprint Rowers to determine future talent identification and selection protocols

    Anthropometric and psychological profiles of the World’s best Beach Sprint Rowers to determine future talent identification and selection protocols - research carried out by BU at 2022 World Coastal Rowing Championships.

    Rees et al.’s (2017) review of current knowledge on the development of the World’s best sporting talent, recommends practitioners adopt anthropometric profiling for talent selection protocols and psychological profiling for talent development purposes. Of note, Hardy et al. (2017) state anthropometric and psychological profiles are almost certainly sport specific. This also builds on Gottwald et al. 2022 work with Weightlifting Wales (KESS II funded).

    Project outcomes will be fourfold: (1) inform the development of talent selection and development protocols within British Rowing and globally; (2) contribute to research excellence via two high calibre REF returnable manuscripts and contribution to an impact case study (REF 2028); (3) strengthen industry partnerships via fostering relationships with Welsh, British, and World Rowing; and (4) enhance the student experience by providing skill development and employability opportunities for BU students. (1)Aligned with BU’s economic, social and civic impact, data will be used to inform talent identification, selection, and development protocols. Beach sprint rowing remains in its infancy and researchers and practitioners are yet to determine the optimal anthropometric and psychological profile for successful performance at the highest level of this sport. Having this unique data set will allow us to have genuine impact and raise the profile of the sport by enhancing the calibre of athletes competing within it. Similarly, data will contribute to enhanced inclusivity in rowing. Where traditionally, rowing has relied upon selection protocols biased towards ‘tall and talented’, the different physical demands of beach sprints will likely suit a smaller stature retaining a broader range of athletes within the sport. However, this shift is unlikely to happen without the proposed data to support it. (2)Aligned with research excellence, this work will contribute to a likely 4* rated REF impact case study (ICS) surrounding talent identification and development, continuing the School’s successful track record of this type of activity (1 x 3.5* and 1 x 4* REF 2020 ICS). It is well aligned with other talent related projects culminating within the current REF 2028 period, so would contribute to create some critical mass in this area (e.g., work with Weightlifting Wales / UK Sport Pathway to Podium / ECB). As testament to the potential calibre of this applied project, it has been supported in principle by the Welsh Institute of Performance Sciences; a three-way partnership between Sport Wales, Wales’ leading academic sport scientists, and relevant industry partners to support multi-disciplinary, world-leading, applied science projects that enhance the performance of Welsh athletes and businesses. The project will aim to culminate in one strong REF returnable output investigating the anthropometric and psychological determinants of expertise in beach sprinting; based largely on this being the first dataset of its kind and the unique nature of the elite sample. Data will also contribute to a second talent transfer oriented dataset (funded by Welsh Rowing) investigating differences in anthropometric and psychological profiles of beach sprinters transferring from traditional flat-water backgrounds to coastal rowing (the most common pathway rowers currently progress to elite levels within the sport). This will likely be another strong output due to talent transfer being a relatively novel aspect of the talent literature and the cutting-edge analytic techniques (i.e., pattern recognition analysis) we will utilise. Outputs produced by all the authors were entered in REF 2021 and were of at least 3* quality. (3)Our involvement in this event will support the primary research team to strengthen existing research collaborations with Welsh Rowing whilst developing new collaborations with British Rowing and the World federation, increasing the scale and scope of our research partnerships. This is consistent with the BU research strategy to increase visibility and impact of its world-leading research by fostering relationships with industry partners. We anticipate that this will help set the scene for future impact related work; one initiative World Rowing have already shown a keen interest in is the development of a new contemporary GPS-based timing system for the sport, which would have global impact and potential enterprise opportunities.

    Funding awarded through the Bangor University Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £8,783

    4 May 2022 – 30 Apr 2023

    Activity: Other (Contributor)

2020

2019

Hobbies and Interests:

James returned to his native North Wales in 2004 to accept a lecturing position within the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, between 2008-2013 he was Deputy Head of School – Teaching and Learning.  In his spare time he enjoys playing with his young family, trying to catch up on sleep (and failing!), coaching men's gymnastics (MAG), as well as discovering that North Wales is anything but flat while on his road bike.