A University of Chichester academic has received a prestigious international award in the United States for his research into improving psychological support for elite rugby players.
Dr Graham McKenzie, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, was presented with the 2026 Case Studies in Sport and Performance Psychology Paper of the Year Award by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
The award was announced at the association's annual conference in Minneapolis, recognising research which explored a different approach to supporting professional athletes.
Dr McKenzie's award-winning paper, published in 2025, was titled One Size Does Not Fit All: Pluralistic Practice for Long-Term Work With a Premiership Rugby Player.
The research documented two-and-a-half years of work with a 26-year-old male Premiership Rugby Union player, examining how different psychological methods could be combined to provide more personalised support.
Rather than relying on a single technique, the study advocated a pluralistic approach, where sport psychologists draw on a range of methods and perspectives depending on the athlete's individual needs and circumstances.
The approach recognises that what works for one athlete may not necessarily work for another, particularly when dealing with the pressures of professional sport.
Dr McKenzie said he was surprised and delighted to receive the recognition: “Winning this award came as a huge surprise, and it's an amazing feeling to have my work recognised by an editorial board for whom I have such enormous respect.
“It's particularly meaningful because I believe this has the potential to make a significant impact across both applied practice and research in sport psychology.”
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