André Roca

André is a Lecturer in Skill Acquisition and Coaching in the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science of St Mary's University, Twickenham, London. André joined St Mary?s in 2013 following postdoctoral research and lectureship in skill acquisition at the German Sport University Cologne. He gained a first class BSc Ed (Hons) Sport Sciences and Physical Education from the University of Coimbra, Portugal and a PhD in Expertise and Skill Acquisition from Liverpool John Moores University.He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and delivers on modules in the areas of skill acquisition and sports coaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. He is currently the module leader for Applied Skill Acquisition and Coaching Process II.André?s broad research focus is the psychology of expertise and its acquisition in sports with particular focus on football. His current research centres on understanding the complex perceptual?cognitive skills such as decision making and creativity, and how these are acquired through practice. He also supervises PhD and Master?s dissertation students in this research area across a number of different institutions worldwide.Holder of a UEFA ?A? Coaching Licence, André has several years' experience coaching elite young football players across different European countries. As a football player he was part of a team that won the U15 Portuguese Championship. Currently he is the Head Coach of St Mary?s Men?s Football 1st team whom he led to being crowned BUCS South Eastern 1st Division champions in his first season in charge.Research area(s)Dr André Roca undertakes research in the following areas:- Expertise and skill learning in sport- Anticipation and decision making- Sport creativity- Visual perception and motor performance- Cognition and action- Implicit and explicit learning- Practice scheduling- Observational learning and feedback -Talent identification- Football science and coaching

graduation at Sport Sciences and Physical Education from University of Coimbra (2005) and doctorate at Expertise and Skill Acquisition from Liverpool John Moores University (2011). He is currently skill acquisition and coaching at St Mary?s University. Has experience in