Gavin Thomas

Gavin Thomas in sport attire stood in front of a tree

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science

School of Sport and Exercise Science

Academics

Contact Details

email: g.thomas@worc.ac.uk

Gavin Thomas has been a member of the School of Sport and Exercise Science team since 2010. Gavin is an accredited sport and exercise scientist with the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Gavin has provided physiological support and strength and conditioning to a variety of sports. Providing support to two local sportsmen who successfully broke the Guinness World Record for the longest game of competitive squash (achieving an incredible 38 hours and 27 seconds!) has been one of his applied sports science highlights to date.

Qualifications:

Academic

  • MSc Sports Coaching Science, University of Worcester
  • PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Worcester
  • BSc Sport and Exercise Science, University of Worcester
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Industry

  • Level 1 Functional Movement Systems (FMS)
  • Level 1 Anthropometrist (ISAK)
  • Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instruction
  • Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training and Sports Massage Therapy
  • Level 3 Certificate in Exercise Referral for Clients with specific controlled conditions
  • Level 4 Certificate in Exercise and Nutritional Interventions for Obesity and Diabetes
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS)

Awards

  • University of Worcester Teaching Award (2020)
  • University of Worcester Team Teaching Award (2018)

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests:

Gavin teaches across both the Sports Coaching and PE Foundation Degree as well as the Sport and Exercise Science undergraduate degree.

Research Interests:

Gavin's research primarily focuses on sport science, although he has recently started to investigate the experiences and perceptions of women working as strength and conditioning coaches. His published papers can be viewed at: https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/view/author/Thomas=3AGavin=3A=3A.html

Professional Bodies

  • Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist - British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

Publications

Journal Publications:

Thomas, G., Devine, K. and Molnár, G. (2022) Experiences and Perceptions of Women Strength and Conditioning Coaches: A Scoping Review. International Sport Coaching Journal. pp. 1-13. ISSN Print 2328-918X Online 2328-9198.

Navickaite, A. and Thomas, G. (2022) Strength and Conditioning Considerations for Kyokushin Karate Athletes. Strength and Conditioning Journal. ISSN 1524-1602 Online ISSN: 1533-4295.

Thomas, G., Guinan, J. and Molnár, G. (2021) ‘It’s not particularly P.C., you know…’ Women coaches’ performing gender in strength and conditioning. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 29 (2). pp. 106-116. ISSN 1063-6161 (print) 1938-1581 (eISSN).

Thomas, G., Songsorn, P., Gorman, A., Brackenridge, B., Cullen, T., Fitzpatrick, B.L., Metcalfe, R. and Vollaard, N. (2020) Reducing training frequency from 3 or 4 sessions/week to 2 sessions/week does not attenuate improvements in maximal aerobic capacity with reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT). Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 45 (6). pp. 683-685. ISSN 1715-5312 Online: 1715-5320.

Cullen, T., Thomas, G. and Wadley, A. (2020) Sleep Deprivation: Cytokine and Neuroendocrine Effects on Perception of Effort. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 52 (4). pp. 909-918. ISSN Print: 0195-9131 Online: 1530-0315.

Cullen, T., Thomas, G., Wadley, A. and Myers, T. (2019) The Effects of a Single Night of Complete and Partial Sleep Deprivation on Physical and Cognitive Performance: A Bayesian Analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37 (23). pp. 2726-2734. ISSN 1466-447X.

Thomas, G., Cullen, T., Davies, M., Hetherton, C., Duncan, B and Gerrett, N. (2019) Independent or Simultaneous Lowering of Core and Skin Temperature Has no Impact on Self‑paced Intermittent Running Performance in Hot Conditions. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 119 (8). pp. 1841-1853. ISSN Print: 1439-6319 Online: 1439-6327.

Vaquera, A., Suárez-Iglesias, D., Guiu, X., Barroso, R., Thomas, G. and Renfree, A. (2018) Physiological Responses to, and Athlete and Coach Perceptions of Exertion During Small-sided Basketball Games. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32 (10), 2949-2953.

Gerrett, N., Jackson, S., Yates, J. and Thomas, G. (2017) Ice Slurry Ingestion Does Not Enhance Self-paced Intermittent Exercise in the Heat. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 27 (11), 1202-1212.

Vaquera, A., Villa, J. G., Morante, J. C., Thomas, G., Renfree, A. and Peters, D. M. (2016)  Validity and Test–retest Reliability of the TIVRE-Basket® Test for the Determination of Aerobic Power in Elite Male Basketball Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 30 (2), 584-587.

Vaquera, A., Renfree, A., Thomas, G., St Clair Gibson, A. and Calleja-Gonzalez, J. (2014) Heart Rate Responses of Referees During the 2011 Eurobasket Championship. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 9 (1), 43-48.

Thomas, G. and Renfree, A. (2010)  The Effect of Secret Clock Manipulation on 10 km Cycle Time Trial Performance. International Journal of Arts and Sciences, 3 (9), 193-202.

Conference Proceedings:

Guinan, J., Thomas, G. and Molnar, G. (2019) Women’s barriers to becoming and being a strength and conditioning (S&C) coach. In: Women in Sport and Exercise 2019 Conference: Pushing the Boundaries, 11th - 12th June 2019, St Mary's University, Twickenham.

Price, M. and Thomas, G. (2019)  The effect of recovery interval duration on maximal aerobic capacity following 6 weeks of sprint interval training (SIT) in a group of inactive individuals. In: British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Student Conference 2019, 17th - 18th April 2019, University of Dundee and Abertay University, Dundee

Guinan, J., Thomas, G. and Molnar, G. (2018) Women’s barriers to becoming and being a strength and conditioning (S&C) coach. In: Eighth Biennial Appearance Matters Conference, the Assembly Rooms, Bath, UK.

Gravestock, H., Griffiths, L., Corbett, M., Thomas, G., Mizen, R. and Eastough, D. (2014) Musculoskeletal and spatio-temporal gait changes in walking after an eight weeks minimalist footwear intervention. The BASES Biomechanics Interest Group, Manchester, UK.

Gravestock, H., Corbett, M., Griffiths, L.A., Mizen, R. Thomas, G. and Eastough, D. (2014) The spatio-temporal differences between gait parameters from 8 weeks minimalist footwear habituation: a comparison of three footwear conditions. 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science Book of Abstracts. Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Griffiths, L.A., Eastough, D., Gravestock, H., Thomas, G., Mizen, R., and Horne, S. (2014) The effect of habitual walking in minimalist shoes on dynamic balance and lower limb strength. 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science Book of Abstracts, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Professional Magazines:

Tagliarini, M. and Thomas, G. (2022) Case study findings of parents' perceived behaviour from a category 5 male youth football academy. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 72. pp. 12-32. ISSN 1754-3444.

Navickaite, A. and Thomas, G. (2022) Application of Sport Science in Kyokushin Karate. The Sport and Exercise Scientist (71). pp. 28-29. ISSN 1754-3444.

Thomas, G.Cook, M., Duncan, B., Bevins, J., Corbett, M. and Warren, M. (2020) Land's End to John o' Groats Cycle Challenge: An overview of the support provided and a qualitative appraisal of its impact. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 63, 20-21. ISSN 1754-3444.

Thomas, G. and Shaw, M. (2019) Power of Podcasts (Editorial). The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 59, 10.  ISSN 1754-3444.

Thomas, G. and Cook, M. (2018) Walking to Climbing: Supporting a National Three Peaks challenge. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 58, 26-27.  ISSN 1754-3444.

Gerrett, N., Thomas, G., Lambeth-Mansell, A. and Rhoden, C. (2015) Interdisciplinary Team Supporting Squash Players to Break the Guinness World Record. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 46, 10-11.  ISSN 1754-3444.

External Responsibilities

The Sport and Exercise Scientist Editorial Advisory Board for book, app and podcast reviews.