Professor Cliff Mallett
Professor

Cliff Mallett

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 56765

Background

Professor Mallett has enjoyed a distinguished career in elite coaching and academia. Prof. Mallett was an Olympic and World Championship medal-winning coach and won a National university teaching award (2011). In 2017, he was awarded the prestigious August-Wilhelm Scheer Professorial Fellowship at Technische Universität München (TUM) in Germany. He developed a world-renowned online program in sports coaching and consults nationally and internationally to many elite sporting organisations. Prof. Mallett is a leading international scholar in two broad and interrelated research areas - sport psychology and coaching; specifically:

Understanding the person-in-context

  • Multi-layered understanding of the person-in-context (personality profiling of coaches and athletes)
  • Motivation of elite coaches and athletes (Self-Determination Theory - SDT);
  • Autonomy-supportive learning environments in sport (Self-Determination Theory - SDT);
  • Mental toughness in elite sport (coaches and athletes).
  • Players' leadership: A Social Identity Approach (SIA)

High Performance coach learning and development:

  • How high performance coaches learn in the workplace;
  • Coaches as sculptors, architects, performers and leaders.

In 2016, Professor Mallett led and completed an international research project examining what can we learn from some of the world's most successful coaches. Prof. Mallett was Chair and Co-Chair of the Research Committee for the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) from 2010-2019.

Background

Professor Cliff Mallett joined the School of Human Movement Studies in 2000 after a career in physical education and also in elite coaching as a National High Performance Coach in track and field with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). He teaches undergraduate and graduate students and actively researches in the area of elite sport. Prof. Mallett regularly consults with elite coaches and athletes as well as coach developers in several national sporting organisations and international organisations.

Availability

Professor Cliff Mallett is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Health Sciences Psychology Sports science and exercise

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Sport and performance psychology

  • Sport coaching

Research impacts

Professor Mallett's program of resaerch has informed both policy and practice in sports coaching, in both the youth development and elite sport sectors - nationally and internationally. He has published extensively in sport psychology and coaching to foster an evidence-based appraoch to coach learning, development, and subsequent practice to foster positive outcomes for all actors in the sport setting, especially the athletes.

Search Professor Cliff Mallett’s works on UQ eSpace

221 works between 1997 and 2025
All (221) Journal Article (125) Book Chapter (34) Conference Publication (51) Book (4) Other Outputs (7)

41 - 60 of 221 works

2022

Journal Article

Developmental pathways of youth sport coaches in Singapore

Mizushima, Jun, Loo, Joanne Kyra, Lou, Shermain and Mallett, Clifford J. (2022). Developmental pathways of youth sport coaches in Singapore. International Journal of Sport and Health Science, 20 202218, 241-248. doi: 10.5432/ijshs.202218

Developmental pathways of youth sport coaches in Singapore

2021

Journal Article

When the final whistle blows: Social identity pathways support mental health and life satisfaction after retirement from competitive sport

Haslam, Catherine, Lam, Ben C.P., Yang, Jie, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, S. Alexander, Cruwys, Tegan, Boen, Filip, Mertens, Niels, De Brandt, Koen, Wang, Xinyan, Mallett, Clifford J. and Fransen, Katrien (2021). When the final whistle blows: Social identity pathways support mental health and life satisfaction after retirement from competitive sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 57 102049, 102049. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102049

When the final whistle blows: Social identity pathways support mental health and life satisfaction after retirement from competitive sport

2021

Journal Article

Combining psychology, a Game Sense Approach and the Aboriginal game Buroinjin to teach quality physical education

Williams, John, Pill, Shane, Coleman, James, Mallett, Cliff and Hughes, Scott (2021). Combining psychology, a Game Sense Approach and the Aboriginal game Buroinjin to teach quality physical education. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 13 (1), 34-48. doi: 10.1080/25742981.2021.1966312

Combining psychology, a Game Sense Approach and the Aboriginal game Buroinjin to teach quality physical education

2021

Journal Article

Football, culture, skill development and sport coaching: extending ecological approaches in athlete development using the Skilled Intentionality Framework

Vaughan, James, Mallett, Clifford J., Potrac, Paul, López-Felip, Maurici A. and Davids, Keith (2021). Football, culture, skill development and sport coaching: extending ecological approaches in athlete development using the Skilled Intentionality Framework. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 635420, 635420. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635420

Football, culture, skill development and sport coaching: extending ecological approaches in athlete development using the Skilled Intentionality Framework

2020

Journal Article

Examining the Coach Motivation Questionnaire in Fitness Professionals (CMQ-FP): factor structure, invariance, and predictive analysis

Rodrigues, F., Macedo, R., Mallett, C. J., Kawabata, M. and Monteiro, D. (2020). Examining the Coach Motivation Questionnaire in Fitness Professionals (CMQ-FP): factor structure, invariance, and predictive analysis. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 93 (2), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2020.1846674

Examining the Coach Motivation Questionnaire in Fitness Professionals (CMQ-FP): factor structure, invariance, and predictive analysis

2020

Journal Article

All for us and us for all: introducing the 5R Shared Leadership Program

Fransen, Katrien, Haslam, S. Alexander, Steffens, Niklas K., Peters, Kim, Mallett, Clifford J., Mertens, Niels and Boen, Filip (2020). All for us and us for all: introducing the 5R Shared Leadership Program. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 51 101762, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101762

All for us and us for all: introducing the 5R Shared Leadership Program

2020

Book Chapter

The continuing education of the coach: a lifelong journey

Mallett, Cliff , Rynne, Steven and Trudel, Pierre (2020). The continuing education of the coach: a lifelong journey. Sport Coaches' Handbook. (pp. 239-258) edited by Dan Gould and Cliff Mallett. Champaign, IL, United States: Human Kinetics .

The continuing education of the coach: a lifelong journey

2020

Book Chapter

The coaching role

Gould, Dan and Mallett, Cliff (2020). The coaching role. Sport Coaches' Handbook. (pp. 1-14) edited by Dan Gould and Cliff Mallett. Champaign, IL, United States: Human Kinetics.

The coaching role

2020

Book

Sport Coaches' Handbook

Dan Gould and Cliff Mallett eds. (2020). Sport Coaches' Handbook. Champaign, IL, United States: Human Kinetics.

Sport Coaches' Handbook

2020

Journal Article

Exploring sport psychology in the discipline of sports coaching

Cropley, Brendan, Thelwell, Richard, Mallett, Cliff J. and Dieffenbach, Kristen (2020). Exploring sport psychology in the discipline of sports coaching. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 32 (1), 1-4. doi: 10.1080/10413200.2019.1695295

Exploring sport psychology in the discipline of sports coaching

2020

Journal Article

A commentary and reflection on sport psychology in the discipline of sports coaching

Cropley, Brendan, Thelwell, Richard, Mallett, Cliff J. and Dieffenbach, Kristen (2020). A commentary and reflection on sport psychology in the discipline of sports coaching. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 32 (1), 121-128. doi: 10.1080/10413200.2019.1695690

A commentary and reflection on sport psychology in the discipline of sports coaching

2020

Book Chapter

High performance coaches

Grey, Mathew, Mallett, Clifford J., O'Brien, Katherine A. and Rynne, Steven B. (2020). High performance coaches. The Routledge international encyclopedia of sport and exercise psychology. (pp. 343-358) edited by Dieter Hackfort and Robert Schinke. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315187228-24

High performance coaches

2019

Journal Article

Making ‘us’ better: high-quality athlete leadership relates to health and burnout in professional Australian football teams

Fransen, Katrien, Haslam, S. Alexander, Steffens, Niklas K., Mallett, Clifford J., Peters, Kim and Boen, Filip (2019). Making ‘us’ better: high-quality athlete leadership relates to health and burnout in professional Australian football teams. European Journal of Sport Science, 20 (7), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1680736

Making ‘us’ better: high-quality athlete leadership relates to health and burnout in professional Australian football teams

2019

Journal Article

Developing Creativity to Enhance Human Potential in Sport: A Wicked Transdisciplinary Challenge

Vaughan, James, Mallett, Clifford J., Davids, Keith, Potrac, Paul and Lopez-Felip, Maurici A. (2019). Developing Creativity to Enhance Human Potential in Sport: A Wicked Transdisciplinary Challenge. Frontiers in Psychology, 10 2090, 2090. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02090

Developing Creativity to Enhance Human Potential in Sport: A Wicked Transdisciplinary Challenge

2019

Journal Article

Blending and becoming: migrant Chinese high-performance coaches’ learning journey in Australia

Tao, Yi-Che, Rynne, Steven B. and Mallett, Clifford J. (2019). Blending and becoming: migrant Chinese high-performance coaches’ learning journey in Australia. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 24 (6), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/17408989.2019.1641191

Blending and becoming: migrant Chinese high-performance coaches’ learning journey in Australia

2019

Journal Article

When you watch your team fall apart - coaches' and sport psychologists' perceptions on causes of collective sport team collapse

Wergin, V. Vanessa, Mallett, Clifford J., Mesagno, Christopher, Zimanyi, Zsuzsanna and Beckmann, Juergen (2019). When you watch your team fall apart - coaches' and sport psychologists' perceptions on causes of collective sport team collapse. Frontiers in Psychology, 10 (JUN) 331, 1331. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01331

When you watch your team fall apart - coaches' and sport psychologists' perceptions on causes of collective sport team collapse

2019

Journal Article

Supporting elite athletes in a new age: experiences of personal excellence advisers within Australia’s high-performance sporting environment

Chambers, Timothy P., Harangozo, Gemma and Mallett, Clifford J. (2019). Supporting elite athletes in a new age: experiences of personal excellence advisers within Australia’s high-performance sporting environment. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11 (5), 650-670. doi: 10.1080/2159676X.2019.1605404

Supporting elite athletes in a new age: experiences of personal excellence advisers within Australia’s high-performance sporting environment

2019

Book Chapter

Psychological skills for football players

Konter, Erkut, Beckmann, Jurgen and Mallett, Clifford J. (2019). Psychological skills for football players. Football psychology: From theory to practice. (pp. 179-197) edited by Erkut Konter, Jürgen Beckmann and Todd M. Loughead. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315268248-15

Psychological skills for football players

2019

Other Outputs

Parents as partners in Junior Rugby League: report to NRL research board

Sanders, Matthew R., Mallett, Cliff J., Kirby, James, Rynne, Steven and Marshall, David (2019). Parents as partners in Junior Rugby League: report to NRL research board. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.

Parents as partners in Junior Rugby League: report to NRL research board

2019

Book Chapter

Effective coaching in football

Nash, Christine and Mallett, Clifford J. (2019). Effective coaching in football. Football psychology: from theory to practice. (pp. 101-116) edited by Erkut Konter, Jürgen Beckmann and Todd M. Loughead. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315268248-9

Effective coaching in football

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Representative Coaches: Quality, impact and learning in the high performance landscape
    Queensland Academy of Sport
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Research in high performance coaching and sporting organisations
    Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club Limited
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Representative Coaches: Quality, impact and learning in the high performance landscape
    Australian Sports Commission
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Mental performance in competition training program for coaches
    Australian Sports Commission
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Elevate Coach Program
    Australian Sports Commission
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    High performance coach development: Harnessing cross cultural advantages
    Australia-Japan Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Development and pilot testing of the Active Triple P program for parents of Junior Rugby League players
    Rugby League Research Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Mitigating the impacts of Relative Age Effect in junior rugby league: Evaluating an intervention
    Rugby League Research Projects
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Creating a thriving community for young people through junior rugby league
    Rugby League Research Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Knowing the person: Enhancing success in securing high potential leaders
    Australian Rugby Union Limited
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Evaluation of Physical Activity Initiative in Schools
    Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Australian Sports Commission Junior Sports Framework Review
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Development and validation of the Tennis Australia Psychological Profile
    Tennis Australia
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Mental toughness in the Australian military: Conceptualisation, measurement and development.
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Indigenous Sport Coaching and Development: Coach influence on youth participation and ongoing involvement in physical activity
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Youth coach training in mental toughness and its impact on positive youth development.
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Enhancing recovery in sport
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Learning and mentoring in high performance sports coaching
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2001
    Elite coaching: What fuels the fire?
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Cliff Mallett is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    Training talent to thrive: Piloting the Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment protocol in a Western drama school

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring the role of cognitive control in sports coaching expertise

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Paul Dux

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Identity leadership in action: An ethnographic approach to identify leadership behaviours in a professional football team

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam, Associate Professor Nik Steffens

  • Doctor Philosophy

    What does a pathways (sport) coach need to know and do?

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Identity leadership in action: An ethnographic approach to identify leadership behaviours in a professional football team

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam, Associate Professor Nik Steffens

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigations into the coach-athlete relationship of Australian Football

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Psychological flexibility and coaching in Australian high performance sport

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor James Kirby

  • Doctor Philosophy

    High performance athletes and coaches experiences: A retrospective look at the value of autonomy-supportive coaching

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Michalis Stylianou

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Coach education: current effectiveness of Olympic coaching practices.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mental health of athletes in subjectively judged sports such as dance, gymnastics, and figure skating

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Vanessa Wergin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Coaches' learning - through and from the athlete

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The pedagogical work of high performance sport coaches.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Coaches of the future: Optimising relationships, learning, and performance in sport

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Cliff Mallett directly for media enquiries about:

  • Athletes - professional
  • Coach learning and development
  • High performance coaching
  • Mind - sport
  • Motivation - in sport
  • Performance - sport
  • Psychology - sport
  • Sport - motivation
  • Sport - professional
  • Sport psychology
  • Sports coaching

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