Dr Samantha J. Bracey
Associate Professor of Sports Management
Contact:
Email: [email protected]
About
Dr Samantha Bracey is an experienced academic, researcher, and educator. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham, where her research focused on the conceptualisation and assessment of child and adolescent well- and ill-being. Her doctoral work was part of the FP7 European Commission-funded PAPA project, collaborating with partners across five nations.
Research Interests
Samantha’s current research interests explore the cultural phenomena surrounding women’s sports, particularly women fans of women’s football, through a feminist lens. A passionate advocate, Samantha is a lifelong Manchester United fan and holds a season ticket for their women’s team. She was involved with the EU funded PAPA project focusing on the motivational climate in grassroots youth football in five countries, which founded Empowering Coaching™ a transformative approach to coaching. Samantha’s work champions inclusivity and empowerment in the world of sports. Dr Bracey’s research explores the role of sport, particularly football, in promoting positive social change. Her work addresses gender-based discrimination, youth welfare in sport, and the motivational processes influencing well- and ill-being in children and adolescents. She is Co-Chair of the Richmond Gender in Sport Research Centre, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to advance gender equality in sport and society.
Teaching
Dr Bracey leads modules including:
- Talent Identification and Development in Sport
- Psychology of Happiness and Well-being
- Team and Leadership Dynamics in Sport
- Sports Events Planning and Promotion
- Introduction to Sport Psychology
She also has extensive experience supervising final-year research projects and has contributed to curriculum development across multiple programs.
Publications and Conference
- Dr Bracey has several projects currently focusing on football fandom, subjective vitality, and youth well-being. She has presented her research at national and international conferences, including The Football Collective and the European College of Sports Science.
- Bracey S.J. (2024, June). Women’s sport since the Lionesses won the Euros: Stakeholder perspectives on growing and sustaining women’s sport. Paper presented at Breaking Barriers EDI in Sport conference 12th June 2024, Leeds, UK.
- Bracey S.J. & Morawska, L.M. (2023, November). Women Fans of Women’s Football Then and Now: Shaping History, Challenging Gender Norms, and Re-Defining Football Fandom. Paper presented at The Football Collective conference 26th-27th November 2023, Leeds, UK.
- Bracey, S.J., Quested, E. Duda, J.L. (2013, December). The conceptualization and assessment of children’s well- and ill-being. Paper presented at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology biannual conference 16th – 17th December 2013, Manchester, UK.
- Wold, B., Duda, J.L., Balaguer, I., Smith, R., Ommundsen, Y., Hall, H.K., Samdal, O., Heuzé, J-P., Haug, E., Bracey, S.J., Castillo, I., Ramis, Y., Quested, E., Krommidas (2013). Comparing self-reported leisure-time physical activity, subjective health and life satisfaction among youth football (soccer) players and adolescents in a reference sample. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.
- Bracey, S.J., Quested, E., & Duda, J.L. (2011, July). Development and initial validation of a psychometric measure of children’s well- and ill-being. Paper presented at 16th Annual Congress of the ECSS 6th – 9th July 2011, Liverpool, UK.
- Bracey, S.J., Quested, E., & Duda, J.L. (2011). Children’s conceptualisations of well- and ill-being: Summary of a qualitative inquiry and initial development of a multi-dimensional measure of children’s well- and ill-being. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review.
- Bracey, S.J., Quested, E., & Duda, J.L. (2010, December). Children’s conceptualisations of well- and ill-being. Poster session presented at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology biannual conference 8th – 9th December 2010, London, UK.
- Samantha was the recipient of the student poster presentation award at the biennial DSEP BPS conference.
- Bracey, S.J. (2010, April). Creating healthier sporting experiences for healthier kids. Invited speaker Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln, UK.
