Dr Vicky Gottwald

• Postgraduate Diploma in Elite Coaching Practice
  University of Central Lancashire, 2019
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
  Higher Education Academy, 2016
• PhD Skill Acquisition
  Bangor University, 2011
• M-Level Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Secondary Physical Education)
  University of Southampton, 2007
• BSc Sports Science
  University of Wales, Bangor, 2006

Vicky Gottwald BSc. PGCE. PGDip. PhD. SFHEA is a skill acquisition researcher and member of the Institute of Psychology for Elite Performance (IPEP) at Bangor University. Her research interests are well aligned with her passion for sports coaching, and she is particularly interested in coaching instruction. More specifically, the way in which verbal instruction can direct an athlete's attention and consequently, either enhance or impede motor learning and performance. Similarly, Vicky has an interest in talent identification and development; specifically, with regards to enhancing the practice environment for optimal performance.

Vicky is the Talent Identification and Transfer lead for the Welsh Institute for Performance Science (WIPS: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/sports-science/astem/wips/); a three-way partnership between Sport Wales, Wales’ leading academic sport scientists and relevant industry partners to support multi-disciplinary, world-leading, applied performance science projects that enhance the performance of Welsh athletes and businesses.

As a UKCC Level 4 basketball coach, Vicky has extensive experience applying skill acquisition related theoretical concepts in practice and has coached across various stages of the Basketball Wales National Team Programmes. 

I currently teach on the following modules:

• Level 2 Skill Acquisition
• Level 2 Sports Psychology Theory and Practice
• Level 3 Planning your Coaching System

I am willing to supervise PhD candidates on projects within areas of expertise e.g. coaching instruction (attentional focus), practice structure and talent identification and development.

Self-funded (inc.agency-funded) projects: I welcome informal enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in projects related to the above topic areas. Please submit a draft research proposal to v.m.gottwald@bangor.ac.uk. 

Funded projects: Studentship opportunities within the School can be found at: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentfinance/postgraduate/funding#psychology

2023

• PublishedEvery story has two sides: evaluating information processing and ecological dynamics perspectives of focus of attention in skill acquisition.
  Gottwald, V., Davies, M. & Owen, R., 24 May 2023, In: Frontiers. 5, 13 p., 1176635.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
• PublishedTesting anxiety's effect on movement planning and correction: Online upper-limb corrections are not completely automatic
  Lawrence, G., Owen, R., Gottwald, V. & Khan, M., Feb 2023, In: Human Movement Science. 87, 1, 24 p., 103022.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2022

• PublishedA Retrospective Enquiry into the Holistic Development of Elite British Olympic Weightlifters
  Anderson, D., Lawrence, G. & Gottwald, V., Dec 2022, In: Journal of Expertise. 5, 4, p. 147-168 22 p., 4.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedCapturing the holistic profile of high performance Olympic weightlifting development
  Anderson, D., Gottwald, V. & Lawrence, G., 30 Sept 2022, In: Frontiers. 4, 17 p., 986134.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedPredicting undergraduate students’ learning from a lecture: The role of self-control, motivation, and mental effort.
  Owen, R., Blanchfield, A. & Gottwald, V., 31 May 2022, In: Cylchgrawn Addysg Cymru/The Welsh Journal of Education. 24, 1, p. 1-17 17 p., 24.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedTalent development in sport. How do you make it to the top?
  Knight, C. & Gottwald, V., 27 May 2022, In: Frontiers for Young Minds. 10, 684710.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2021

• PublishedEarly promise versus late bloomers: a longitudinal and multidisciplinary analysis of relative age effects throughout an elite weightlifting pathway.
  Gottwald, V., Anderson, D. & Lawrence, G., 25 Dec 2021, In: Journal of Expertise. 4, 4, p. 335-364 30 p., 4.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedRelative age effect? No “flipping” way! Nuanced evidence of an apparatus dependent inverse relative age effect, in elite women’s artistic gymnastics
  Langham-Walsh, E., Gottwald, V. & Hardy, J., 28 Jun 2021, In: PLoS ONE. 16, 6, e0253656.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2020

• PublishedAn internal focus of attention is optimal when congruent with afferent proprioceptive task information
  Gottwald, V., Owen, R., Lawrence, G. & McNevin, N., Mar 2020, In: Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 47, 101634.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedLets go Surfing now, everybody's learning how; attentional strategies on expert and novice surfing performance under both practice and competition conditions
  Lawrence, G. P., Virian, J., Oliver, S. J. & Gottwald, V. M., 2020, In: European Journal of Sport Science. 20, 2, p. 229-239 11 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2019

• PublishedInitial steps in the validation of the athlete development formulation survey
  Langham-Walsh, E., Anderson, D., Dunn, E., Gottwald, V., Hardy, J., Hardy, L., Lawrence, G., Lowery, M., Oliver, S., Roberts, R. & Woodman, T., 2019, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport (SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository). p. 115
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
• PublishedPreliminary Validation of the Athlete Development Formulation Survey (ADFS)
  Dunn, E., Anderson, D., Langham-Walsh, E., Lowery, M., Hardy, L., Lawrence, G., Woodman, T., Gottwald, V., Hardy, J., Roberts, R. & Oliver, S., 18 Oct 2019.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review
• PublishedRelative Age Effect? No "Flipping" Way! Exploring the Relative Age Effect in Women's Artistic Gymnastics.
  Langham-Walsh, E., Gottwald, V. & Hardy, J., 18 Oct 2019, p. 204.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review
• PublishedRelative age effect? No" flipping" way: Exploring the relative age effect in elite, female gymnastics
  Langham-Walsh, E., Gottwald, V. & Hardy, J., 2019, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport (SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository). p. 116
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
• PublishedRepresentational Momentum in the Expertise Context: Support for the Theory of Event Coding as an Explanation for Action Anticipation
  Anderson, D. N., Gottwald, V. M. & Lawrence, G. P., 14 Aug 2019, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 10, 1838.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

• UnpublishedA Prospective Study of The Developmental Biographies of Great British Pathway Athletes: Pathway to Podium
  Dunn, E., Langham-Walsh, E., Lowery, M., Hardy, L., Lawrence, G., Gottwald, V., Hardy, J., Oliver, S. & Roberts, R., 8 Jun 2018, (Unpublished).
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
• PublishedGoing against the grain: Performance when relevant proprioceptive afferent information is congruent with focus of attention
  Gottwald, V., Lawrence, G. & Owen, R., 21 Oct 2018, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport: SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository. s1 ed. Vol. 50. p. 27
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
• PublishedIdentifying talent holistically: Using machine learning to capture the dynamic development of expertise in Olympic weightlifting. a preliminary analysis
  Anderson, D., Gottwald, V. & Lawrence, G., 21 Oct 2018, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport : SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository. 1 ed. Vol. 50. p. 4
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
• PublishedPressure enhances online control when 'I' don't know I need to correct, but reduces it when 'I' do: Motor control strategies and state anxiety
  Owen, R., Gottwald, V. & Lawrence, G., 21 Oct 2018, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport: SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository. 1 ed. Vol. 50. p. 54
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

2015

• PublishedRepresentational Momentum reveals visual anticipation differences in the upper and lower visual fields.
  Gottwald, V. M., Lawrence, G. P., Hayes, A. E. & Khan, M. A., 1 May 2015, In: Experimental Brain Research.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSystematically increasing contextual interference is beneficial for learning, but how long for?
  Mandzuk, A. A., Mandzuk, A., Lawrence, G. P. & Gottwald, V. M., 29 Apr 2015.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

2013

• PublishedBreaking down the One Target Advantage: The role of pressure
  Lawrence, G. P., Khan, M. A., Mottram, T. M. & Gottwald, V. M., 17 Oct 2013.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• PublishedInternal and External Focus of Attention in a Novice Form Sport
  Lawrence, G. P., Gottwald, V. M., Hardy, J. & Khan, M. A., Jan 2013, In: Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 82, 3, p. 431-441
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedPractice with anxiety improves performance, but only when anxious: evidence for the specificity of practice hypothesis
  Lawrence, G. P., Cassell, V. E., Beattie, S. J., Woodman, T., Khan, M. A., Hardy, L. J. & Gottwald, V. M., 27 Oct 2013, In: Psychological Research. 78, 5
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSkill acquisition for coaches.
  Lawrence, G. P., Kingston, K., Gottwald, V. M. & Jones, R. L. (ed.), 4 Mar 2013, An Introduction to Sports Coaching: Connecting Theory to Practice: 2nd edition. Routledge, p. 31-48
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2012

• PublishedDifferent Cues of Personality and Health from the Face and Gait of Women
  Kramer, R. S. S., Gottwald, V. M., Dixon, T. A. M. & Ward, R., 1 Apr 2012, In: Evolutionary Psychology. 10, 2, p. 271-295
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedPractice with anxiety improves performance, but only when anxious: Evidence for the specificity of practice hypothesis
  Hardy, L. J., Lawrence, G. P., Beattie, S., Woodman, T., Gottwald, V. M., Khan, M. A., Hardy, L. & Cassell, V., 7 Jun 2012.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• PublishedPractice with anxiety improves performance, but only when anxious: Evidence for the specificity of practice hypothesis
  Lawrence, G., Beattie, S., Woodman, T., Khan, M. A., Hardy, L., Gottwald, V. M. & Cassell, V. E., 20 Jun 2012, Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. s1 ed. Vol. 34. p. S101
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
• PublishedThe movement kinematics and learning strategies associated with adopting different foci of attention during both acquisition and anxious performance
  Lawrence, G. P., Gottwald, V., Khan, M. A. & Kramer, R., 2 Nov 2012, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 3, 468
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2010

• PublishedCan learning under an external focus of attention counteract the negative effects of choking under pressure?
  Gottwald, V. M., Lawrence, G. P. & Khan, M. A., Jun 2010, p. S82-S82.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review

2021

• Early Promise Versus Late Bloomers: A Longitudinal and Multidisciplinary Analysis of Relative Age Effects in an Elite Weightlifting Pathway

  ESAN Conference Presentation

  12 May 2021

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2020

• Canoe Slalom Pathway to Podium End of Year 1 Feedback Session

  Presenting preliminary findings from the pattern recognition analysis.

  26 Feb 2020

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• EDP GB Hockey feedback session 1

  Pathway2Podium Feedback session 1. Present: Head of Talent, Head EDP Coaches, Head of GB Support, EDP S&C coach, EIS Pathways Senior Scientist and SSHES Senior Lecturer (GL).

  27 Jan 2020

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2019

• Canoe Slalom Pathway to Podium Project Quarter 2 Feedback

  Presentation of findings from the second quarter of the Pathway to Podium project.

  29 Jul 2019

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Examining the Relative Age Effect in Elite, Female Gymnastics

  13 May 2019

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Canoe Sprint Pathway to Podium Project Quarter 1 Feedback

  Presentation of findings from first quarter of the Pathway to Podium project.

  10 May 2019

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Examining the Relative Age Effect in Elite, Female Gymnastics

  May 2019

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Canoe Slalom Pathway to Podium Project Quarter 1 Feedback Session

  Presentation of findings from first quarter of the Pathway to Podium project.

  10 Apr 2019

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2017

• British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Sport Advisory Group

  Sport Advisory Group Basketball

  Sep 2017 – Jul 2018

  Activity: Consultancy (Consultant)
• The dynamic and multifaceted development of expertise: Expertise development in practice

  Expertise devlopment in practice

  25 May 2017

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)
• Nancy McNevin

  Research collaboration underlying mechanisms of human movement

  20 Apr 2017 – 29 Apr 2017

  Activity: Hosting an academic visitor (Host)
• Physical Literacy Programme for Schools National Action Research Group

  Investigating teachers’ and teaching assistants’ responses to CPD in Health, Well-being and Physical Literacy

  27 Feb 2017

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

2016

• Symposium Presentation. Sports policy in Wales - priorities for funding, facilities and improving participation

  The impact of the Physical Literacy Framework so far and opportunities to expand physical education in the new National Curriculum

  17 Nov 2016

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)
• Sport Wales (External organisation)

  National Action Research Group Physical Literacy for Schools

  1 Apr 2016 – 31 Mar 2017

  Activity: Membership of committee (Chair)

2015

• Conference Presentation. Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology

  When vision is impaired, what should athletes focus on?

  14 Oct 2015

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• 6th Annual Meeting of Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network (ESAN) in association with BASES

  Invited Discussant. Instruction and Feedback: Does yours help or hinder?

  30 Apr 2015

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2014

• Psychology of Sports Coaching Conference

  Systematically increasing contextual interference is beneficial for learning, but how long for?

  23 Oct 2014

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2011

• Expertise Skill Acquisition Network (ESAN) (External organisation)

  Expertise Skill Acquisition Network

  15 Sep 2011

  Activity: Membership of network (Chair)

2010

• NASPSPA (North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity) Conference

  Can learning under an external focus of attention counteract negative effects of choking under pressure?

  10 Jun 2010 – 12 Jun 2010

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2009

• 12th World Congress of Sport Psychology Conference

  Examining an internal and external focus of attention in a novice form sport

  Jun 2009

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2008

• Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology

  The Use of the Specificity of Learning Principle to Reduce Choking Under Pressure

  Nov 2008

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

• Talent Development of High-Performance Beach Rowers

  01/04/2021 – 30/04/2024 (Active)

• Physical Literacy Programme for Schools

  01/04/2016 – 30/04/2017 (Finished)

Basketball, Coaching, Sea Swimming, Meditation