Dr Chris Mackintosh
Senior Lecturer
My profile
Biography
External examiner roles
External Examiner - MA Sport Development - Leeds Beckett University 2020 - present
External Examiner BA (Hons) Sport Management - University of Wolverhampton Business School 2011-2016.
External International Partnership Advisor - University of Wolverhampton: Undertaken reviews in Singapore (MBA, MA Sport Management), Malaysia (BA Tourism and Media Management), Greece (BA (Hons) Media and BA (Hons) Journalism portfolio) and UK (various, 2012 - 2016).
External Examiner BA (Hons) Sport Management - Southampton Solent University, 2015 - present.
External Examiner BA (Hons) Sport Development - St Mark and St John University, Plymouth, 2016 - present.
Expert reviewer for external funding bodies
I have acted as a reviewer for journals including Leisure Studies, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Education 3-13, Journal of Tourism, Leisure and Sport Events, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, International Journal of Public Sector Management.
I have also reviewed book proposals for Routledge, Sage and Polity Press.
Consultancy and advisory roles
Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) 2022-23 Equality Diversity and Inclusion Rise Project (mental health, LGBTQ+ and ethnicity/faith)
Street Soccer League (knife crime and youth inclusion rise research Project) 2021
National advisor - England Golf (NGB) 2014 - present
National advisor - Sport and Recreation Alliance (SRA) 2013 - 2019
Table Tennis England - outdoor table tennis and PING! programme evaluator 2010-2014.
Interests and expertise
I am an active researcher, evaluator and sport and physical activity policy analyst. My work is predominantly qualitative in nature focused on the implementation of ‘what works’ in policy and practice. I am specifically interested in the social policy outcomes of sport, physical activity and outdoor recreation.
I was recently appointed as special policy advisor to the House of Lords Inquiry into a National Plan for Sport, Health and Wellbeing 2021 and attended the debate in the House of Lords on 8th Feb 2023. This followed other work invited to talk about physical literacy and sport policy in France with peers from government in Switzerland, Belgium and Scandinavia. In 2022 I undertook a three week sport policy research exchange with the Canadian government meeting their policy team and Minister of Sport.
All this work I feed into my research informed teaching on community health, wellbeing and sport. I also teach qualitative research methods and International Sport-for-Development. I currently have five PhD students and one MRes fully funded scholarship. I am always open to new ideas and approaches for postgraduate study and industry collaboration.
Outside of university I am a Trustee of Active Communities Network charity that works with disadvantaged communities, am involved in men’s mental health advocacy work and enjoy wild swimming, cycling and hill walking.
Impact
Chris works heavily on sport, physical activity and outdoor recreation international policy impact. He has advised Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Sport Scotland, DCMS, Sport England and Sport Wales on national policy alongside undertaking over 120 evaluation projects across over 40 local authorities, multiple Active Partnerships and 20 NGBs.
His work has recently been cited in the House of Lords as underpinning the recent National Plan for Sport, Health and Wellbeing (2021), debated on Feb 8th 2023 as invaluable to the work of the special committee for this inquiry. It build on earlier work undertaken for the Sport and Recreation Alliance representing 320 sport and physical agencies in the UK in 2014-2019 that led to a House of Commons debate on the economic value of outdoor recreation for health and wellbeing. This debate led to outdoor recreation being embedded in the 2015 DCMS New Strategy and it is suggested that as DCMs launches its new strategy in March 2023 ideas, direction and advisory work will continue to shape and influence ongoing UK and international public policy outcomes.
His REF impact case study focus for 2027 will be this domain of policy and its intersections with NGBs, community agencies and delivery of health and social policy outcomes. He is a global authority on design and evaluation of sport and outdoor recreation policy to deliver increased impacts on societal and individual level outcomes. He has a wide media output portfolio disseminating policy research through Radio 4, BBC Sport, Sunday Telegraph, The Observer and Big Issue North.
Projects
To date Chris has worked on over 120 evaluation projects since 1997 across government, consultancy and academia brining in external academic career funding and PhD scholarships worth over £950,000 this includes (selected major projects):
- British Wrestling and Sport England, £100,000, (CI), 2022-2023.
- British Cycling National Research Study of Children and Young People, £42,500, (Ci) 2022-23,.
- Manchester City, City in the Community PhD scholarship (CI - external advisor, PI Dr Ben Ives) MMU match funded £50,000, 2022-2025.
- Sport England rapid funding of National Covid-19 Community sport study £2,999, 2020.
- Sport England and Sport Scotland - Partnership with Sport and Recreation Alliance - Review of the UK Coaching Certificate, £110,000 (due for completion April 2018)
- Tokyo 2020 Olympics Research seminar series 2016-2018 - 23,000 Euros (CI) with Prof Hiroko Kudo (PI)
- England Golf study of volunteering and club membership retention - £15,000.
- British Orienteering - £12,000.
- Sport England Women get Active - Project, £96,000 (Co-CI) (completed), 2013-14
- Equality and Human Rights Commission Inclusive sport project, £75,000 (Co-PI) (completed) 2014-2016.
More recently he has also developed two funded PhD scholarships since commencing at MMU,
- £60,000 external England Golf funding in partnership with MMU - a study of volunteering in community golf clubs (2018-2021) (CI)
- £78,000 as part of wider £340,000 funding application to Sport England with Greater Sport (Greater Manchester Active Partnership) - a study of military veteran’s use of sport to address unemployment, mental health and alcohol and drug misuse (2019-2022).
Teaching
Outdoor recreation, sport and physical activity is one of the most dynamic and expanding subjects and professional spheres there is. It also can have significant impacts on local and national communities as well as the lives of those individuals it impacts upon. Sport is also a political animal and is inherently fascinating to see how different governments use it, adapt where it is used in in what ways. People taking part in sport, volunteers and policy makers invest meanings in very different ways.
Communities also don’t agree on the best way to manage, organise and deliver sport policy and management. Studying this subject since first working in it in 1997 has given me opportunities to write, teach and research my passion. It also gives me a critical ‘lens’ on sport and allows me to consider new and innovative ways that sport can be seen to work globally. Students increasingly need to explore sport as a global phenomenon and consider themselves in the global professional marketplace.
Postgraduate teaching
PhD supervision, MRes and MSc supervision
Subject areas
Qualitative research methodologies, community sport, outdoor recreation, sociology and public policy
Supervision
External PhD supervision (completed)
Dr Rebecca O’Hanlon (completed 2021) “You can leave the Military, but the military never leaves you”. An ethnographic study examining the influence of a sport and physical activity-based support programme on veterans undertaking the military to civilian transition. DoS with Prof Hannah Holmes and Prof Rosie Meek.
Adam Dwight (completed 2022) ‘A Case Study review of The Equality Standard for Sport’, University of Wolverhampton, third supervisor with Dr Paul Campbell (2nd supervisor, UoW) and Dr Kay Biscomb (DoS, UoW).
Chris Mills, MMU (completed 2021) An ethnographic study of volunteering in golf in England with PI with CI Prof Cathy Urquhart and Leah Gillooly.
Kate Mori (completed 2018) ‘An examination of community sport development workers in Southern England: Positioning the community in community sport development’, University of Gloucester, second supervisor with Prof Andrew Parker (DoS, UoG)
Current on-going PhD supervisions
Laura Egan, MMU (due to be completed 2025), An ethnographic policy study of community sport governance in England, DoS with Prof Mark James.
Craig Hobbs, MMU (due to be completed 2026) A study of higher education sport policy In England; From town to gown. DoS with Dr Ben Ives and Dr Laura Gale.
Moses Gomes-Santos (due to be completed 2028) Black British men and journeys of progression in leadership academia, senior manager and leadership roles in sport, DoS with Dr Sam Oldfield.
PhD Examinations
Dr Jamie Crowther, Kicking Crime Into Touch: An ethnographic exploration of rugby union as a vehicle for supporting Positive Youth Development in the youth justice system, Manchester Metrpolitan University (2023).
Rebecca Clarke, A study of Outdoor Recreational Walking in England with Stroke Survivors (due October, 2023).
External Examiner, A study of LGBTQ+ volunteer experiences in communtiy Sport, Northumbria University (due December, 2023).
MRes examinations
Adriana Orbea, Sport-for-Development and Peace and Ukrainian Refugees, Brighton University, International Sport-for-Development MRes viva. (2022).
Max Granville Smith Collaborative Teaching and Learning of Primary School Physical Education in
England: A Critical Examination of the Role and Impact of External Providers, University of Bedford (2020).
Jade Hills, A Research Project to aid Volleyball England meet their funding requirement, University of Bedford (2018).
Research outputs
Chris has the following key areas of research expertise and interest:
- international sport policy analysis
- community sport organisations, agencies and communities
- public sector community sport policy
- qualitative research methodologies
- Interpretive public policy theoretical frameworks
He is interested in receiving PhD and research proposal enquiries in any of these or related areas. He currently supervises three PhDs in the inter-related fields of National Governing Body (NGB) of sport organisation and management, community sport development policy in England and a study of family access to Art through the use of ethnography.
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Mackintosh, C. Foundations of Sport Development. Routledge: London.
Dowling, M., Harris, S., Mackintosh, C. Sport Policy Across the United Kingdom: A Comparative Analysis.
Dowling, M., Harris, S., Mackintosh, C. Sport Policy in the United Kingdom. Routledge.
Medcalf, R., Mackintosh, C. Researching Difference in Sport and Physical Activity. Routledge.
Mackintosh, C. Sport for Sport: Practical and Theoretical insights into sports development.
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Chapters in books
Hughes, A., Mackintosh, C., Daniels, J. 'Coaching through an interpretivist lens: from community participation to modernisation and business practices.' Coaching in the Community.
Dowling, M., Harris, S., Mackintosh, C. 'Introduction.' Sport Policy Across the United Kingdom: A Comparative Analysis. pp. 1-19.
Dowling, M., Harris, S., Mackintosh, C. 'Conclusion.' Sport Policy Across the United Kingdom: A Comparative Analysis. pp. 108-128.
Mackintosh, C., Lench, A., Rushby, L. 'The growing significance and challenges of sport volunteering: the case of golf in England.' In Ziakas, V. (ed.) Trends and Advances in Sport and Leisure Management: expanding the frontiers. Cambridge Scholars, pp. 54-76.
Stebbings, G., Mackintosh, C., Burden, A., Sims, D. 'Improving Student Progression in Distance Learning Using Synchronous Webinars.' pp. 315-323.
O'Hanlon, R., Mackintosh, C. 'Visual Methods.' In Mackintosh, C., Sims, D. (ed.) Qualitative Research Methods. Manchester Metropolitan University., pp. 1-9.
Mackintosh, C. 'Introduction to qualitative research methodologies.' In Mackintosh, C., Sims, D. (ed.) Qualitative Research Methods. Manchester Metropolitan University, pp. 1-9.
medcalf, R., Mackintosh, C. 'introduction.' Researching Difference in Sport and Physical Activity.
Mackintosh, C., Medcalf, R. 'Researching diference and otherness.' Researching difference in sport and physical activity.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'The Charismatic Leadership of Michael Gove?: A Case Study of Change in the School Sport and Physical Education Sector in England?.' In Zehndorfer, E. (ed.) European Leadership in Crisis: Critical Leadership Series. Emerald,
Zehndorfer, E., Mackintosh, C.I. 'Michael Gove, charismatic leadership and the radical reorganisation of English school sport..' In Liddle, J., Diamond, J. (ed.) Critical Perspectives in International Public Sector Management.. Emerald Group Publishing,
Harris, S., Bell, B., Adams, A., Mackintosh, C.I. 'Introduction.' Sport for Sport? Practical and Theoretical Insights Into Sports Development. Leisure Studies Association, Brighton, UK,
Mackintosh, C.I. 'The shifting dynamics of local government sports development officer practice in England: New identities and hazy professional boundaries.' In Harris, S., Bell, B., Adams, A., Mackintosh, C.I. (ed.) Sport for sport: Practical and theoretical insights into sports development. Brighton: Leisure Studies Association, pp. 113-130.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'A Study of Changing Sports Development Officer Professional Practice in England.' Sport for Sport? Practical and Theoretical Insights Into Sports Development. Leisure Studies Association, Brighton, UK,
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Media
Mackintosh, C. Value Your Customers.
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Reports
Mackintosh, C.I. UKCC Review (International/Global Policy Change and Influence). Elsevier.
Allen, J., Posstlethwaite, V., Whigham, S., Overton, T., Mackintosh, C. Equality and Sport Research 2020: Technical Report for Sport Scotland. Sport Scotland/Counsel Ltd.
Mackintosh, C., Ives, B., Stanniford, L., Gale, L., Thompson, A., Sims, D., Daniels, J., Oldfield, S., Kolic, P. COVID-19 RESEARCH REPORT: The impact of the Pandemic on Community Sport provision and participation. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Mackintosh, C.I. Volunteers in Golf: Training and Education Research Project.
Mackintosh, C.I. MMU Recommendations. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Mackintosh, C. England golf literature review: Understanding the key components of retaining golf club members. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Mackintosh, C.I., Zehndorfer, E., Darko, N. Outdoor Recreation as a Potential Lever for Health Improvement: A Review of the Health Benefits, Barriers and Opportunities for the Sector. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Mackintosh, C.I. A Review of England Golf's Get Into Golf Programme.
Mackintosh, C.I. A Literature Review of Barriers in Special Educational Needs Provision Sport Participation for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Mackintosh, C.I. The Value of the Outdoor Economy, London, Sport and Recreation Alliance.
Comley, V., Mackintosh, C.I. The Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation in the UK: The Evidence. London: LJMU/SRA.
Mackintosh, C.I. A National Evaluation of PING! Programme in England.
Mackintosh, C.I. An external evaluation of a London based outdoor table tennis pilot scheme run by the English Table Tennis Association. Nottingham Trent University.
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Journal articles
Mills, C., Urquhart, C., Mackintosh, C., Gillooly, L. 'Modelling the organisational socialisation of volunteers in English associational golf clubs.' European Sport Management Quarterly,
Grice, B., Mackintosh, C., Oldfield, S., Durden-Myers, E. 'From performing gender to symbolic violence in English women’s football: “Women are not supposed to be viewed in this way”.' Managing Sport and Leisure,
O’Hanlon, R., Mackintosh, C., Holmes, H., Meek, R. 'Conducting ethnographic research in male dominated environments: reflections of a(n) (emotional) female researcher.' Qualitative Research,
Hadwin, K.J., Wood, G., Payne, S., Mackintosh, C., Parr, J.V.V. 'Strengths and weaknesses of the MABC-2 as a diagnostic tool for developmental coordination disorder: an online survey of occupational therapists and physiotherapists.' PLoS One, 18(6) pp. e0286751-e0286751.
Mills, C., Mackintosh, C., Bloor, M. 'From the boardroom to tee: understanding golf club volunteers during an era of change.' Sport in Society, 25(11) pp. 2213-2233.
Durden-Myers, E.J., Mackintosh, C. 'The structural and micropolitical realities of physical literacy professional development in the United Kingdom: navigating professional vulnerability.' Sport, Education and Society,
Ives, B., Clayton, B., Brittain, I., Mackintosh, C. '‘I’ll always find a perfectly justified reason for not doing it’: challenges for disability sport and physical activity in the United Kingdom.' Sport in Society, 24(4) pp. 588-606.
Mori, K., Morgan, H., Parker, A., Mackintosh, C. 'Examining the impact of austerity on community sport development workers and their professional environment.' Journal of Global Sport Management,
Dowling, M., Mackintosh, C., Lee, S., Allen, J. 'Community sport development: managing change and measuring impact.' Managing Sport and Leisure, 26(1-2) pp. 1-6.
Thompson, A., bloyce, D., Mackintosh, C. '‘It is always going to change’ – examining the experiences of managing top-down changes by sport development officers working in national governing bodies of sport in England.' Managing Sport and Leisure,
Mackintosh, C., Mills, C. 'Golf: girls who golf.' Sport Management, 2019(1)
Mackintosh, C., Griggs, G., Tate, R. 'Understanding the growth in outdoor recreation participation: an opportunity for sport development in the United Kingdom.' Managing Sport and Leisure, 23(4-6) pp. 315-335.
Brunton, J., Mackintosh, C. 'University sport and public policy: implications for future research.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 9(3) pp. 373-376.
Zehndorfer, E., Mackintosh, C.I. 'The Olympic Bid Cycle as a form of irrational investing: an application of Minskyian theory.' Cogent Social Sciences: Sport, Leisure & Tourism, 3(1) pp. 1281466-1281466.
Mackintosh, C.I., Dempsey, C. 'The British Asian Muslim Male Sport Participation Puzzle: An Exploration of Implications for Sport Development Policy and Practice.' Journal of Youth Studies, 20(8) pp. 974-996.
Brunton, J.A., Mackintosh, C.I. 'Interpreting university sport policy in England: seeking a purpose in turbulent times?.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 9(3) pp. 377-395.
Darko, N., Mackintosh, C. '‘Don’t you feel bad watching the Olympics, watching us?’ A qualitative analysis of London 2012 Olympics influence on family sports participation and physical activity.' Qualitiative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 8(1) pp. 45-60.
Mackintosh, C., Darko, N., May-Wilkins, H. 'Unintended outcomes of the London 2012 Olympic Games: local voices of resistance and the challenge for sport participation leverage in England.' Leisure Studies,
Darko, N., Mackintosh, C.I. 'An Analysis of Antiguan Sports Policy Development.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, pp. 1-28.
Darko, N., Mackintosh, C. 'Challenges and constraints in developing and implementing sports policy and provision in Antigua and Barbuda: which way now for a small island state?.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 7(3) pp. 365-390.
Mackintosh, C.I., Liddle, J. 'PE and School Sports Development Governance in England: Big Society, Autonomy and Decentralisation in New Network Relationships.' Education, 3-13pp. 1-17.
Mackintosh, C., Darko, N., Rutherford, Z., Wilkins, H.M. 'A qualitative study of the impact of the London 2012 Olympics on families in the East Midlands of England: lessons for sports development policy and practice.' SPORT EDUCATION AND SOCIETY, 20(8) pp. 1065-1087.
Mackintosh, C., Liddle, J. 'Emerging school sport development policy, practice and governance in England: Big Society, autonomy and decentralisation.' Education 3-13: the professional journal for primary education, 43(6) pp. 603-620.
Mackintosh, C., Cookson, G., Griggs, G. 'Reflections on the PING! table tennis initiative: Lessons and new directions for sports development?.' International Journal of Public Sector Management, 27(2) pp. 128-139.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'The public realm of community sports development evaluation, policy and practice; innovation, evidence and the paradox of an evolving agenda.' International Journal of Public Sector Management, 27(2) pp. 1-5.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'Pop-up power: a discussion of the pop up sports club phenomenon.' Sport & Physical Activity Professional, pp. 14-15.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'A complex landscape.' Sport & Physical Activity Professional, pp. 12-12.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'An Evaluation of the Outdoor Table Tennis Initiative (OTTI): ‘Ping pong in the fresh air - how does that work?’.' Managing Leisure: An International Journal, (3)
Mackintosh, C.I. 'Dismantling the school sport partnership infrastructure: findings from a survey of physical education and school sport practitioners.' Education 3-13: the professional journal for primary education, iFirstpp. 1-18.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'An analysis of County Sports Partnerships in England: The fragility, challenges and complexity of partnership working in sports development.' International Journal of Sport Policy, 1(3) pp. 45-64.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'Sports development research communities: Insights from theory and practice.' Leisure Studies Association Newsletter, (89) pp. 3-4.
Mackintosh, C.I., Cutforth, C., Harris, S. 'European Sports Development Network: Building Practitioner and academic bridges.' Sport Management, pp. 50-51.
Mackintosh, C. 'International Journal of Sport Policy.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 2(3) pp. 1-1.
Mackintosh, C.I., Mackintosh, S. 'Cycling, PE and Community Sports development.' PE and Sport Today, pp. 10-13.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'Onwards and Upwards: 2012 and sports development,.' Inform, pp. 32-35.
Mackintosh, C.I. 'Bonding Issues: Partnership working in sports development.' Recreation, pp. 20-21.
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Conference papers
Stebbings, G., Mackintosh, C., Burden, A., Sims, D. 'Webinars in distance learning - the key to student progression?.' In HELMeTO - International Workshop on Higher Education Learning Methodologies and Technologies Online. Bari, Italy (Virtual), 17/9/2020 - 18/9/2020.
Press and media
Selected media appearances
BBC Radio 4 Eddie Mair Show - interview on olympic legacy and ‘soft’ community legacy in participation and volunteering.
BBC Radio Nottingham - London 2012 Olympic shows
Sunday Telegraph
Observer
Big Issue Up North
BBC Sport Online
House of Lords media team for special Inquiry (2020-2021)