Professor Cliff Mallett
Professor

Cliff Mallett

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+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)

61 - 80 of 221 works

2019

Book Chapter

The coach as mentor

Rynne, S. B., Crudgington, B. and Mallett, C. J. (2019). The coach as mentor. Professional advances in sports coaching: research and practice. (pp. 228-247) edited by Richard Thelwell and Matt Dicks. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781351210980-15

The coach as mentor

2019

Conference Publication

A whole person profiling approach to fostering the coach-athlete relationship in high-performance sport

Coulter, Tristan, Parkes, Jarred, Mallett, Clifford and Hahn, Allan (2019). A whole person profiling approach to fostering the coach-athlete relationship in high-performance sport. North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Baltimore, MD, United States, 6-8 June 2019. Champaign, IL, United States: Human Kinetics.

A whole person profiling approach to fostering the coach-athlete relationship in high-performance sport

2018

Journal Article

Preliminary development of the Portuguese Coach Motivation Questionnaire

da Silva, Eduardo Jorge, Sanchez-Oliva, David, Mallett, Clifford J. and Palmeira, Antonio (2018). Preliminary development of the Portuguese Coach Motivation Questionnaire. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 13 (5), 649-657. doi: 10.1177/1747954118756047

Preliminary development of the Portuguese Coach Motivation Questionnaire

2018

Journal Article

Working with coaches and their teams in youth and collegiate sport in the USA

Crudgington, Bob and Mallett, Clifford J. (2018). Working with coaches and their teams in youth and collegiate sport in the USA. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 13 (3), 331-332. doi: 10.1177/1747954118771161

Working with coaches and their teams in youth and collegiate sport in the USA

2018

Other Outputs

Review of the Associated Independent Colleges

Mallett, Cliff, Rynne, Steven, Crudgington, Bob, Dickens, Sue and O'Brien, Kath (2018). Review of the Associated Independent Colleges. Brisbane, Australia: Associated Independent Colleges.

Review of the Associated Independent Colleges

2018

Book Chapter

The coffee club

Nash, Christine and Mallett, Clifford J. (2018). The coffee club. Learning to mentor in sports coaching: a design thinking approach. (pp. 150-168) edited by Fiona C. Chambers. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315172279-8

The coffee club

2018

Conference Publication

Imagery improves reaction time in elite sprinters

Iftikhar, Muhammad Talha, Mallett, Cliff J. and Javed, Mohammad Asghar (2018). Imagery improves reaction time in elite sprinters. 6th International Congress on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support (icSPORTS 2018), Seville, Spain, 20-21 September 2018. Setúbal, Portugal: SciTePress. doi: 10.5220/0006898300270033

Imagery improves reaction time in elite sprinters

2018

Conference Publication

Making a difference to athlete wellbeing: investigating the support services available to elite and professional Australian athletes

Chambers, Tim, Stansen, Caroline, Sandardos, Stacey, Harangozo, Gemma and Mallett, Cliff (2018). Making a difference to athlete wellbeing: investigating the support services available to elite and professional Australian athletes. 2018 APS Congress Psychology advancing into a new age, Sydney, Australia, 27–30 September 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1111/ap.12372

Making a difference to athlete wellbeing: investigating the support services available to elite and professional Australian athletes

2017

Journal Article

A three-domain personality analysis of a mentally tough athlete

Coulter, Tristan J. , Mallett, Clifford J. and Singer, Jefferson A. (2017). A three-domain personality analysis of a mentally tough athlete. European Journal of Personality, 32 (1), 6-29. doi: 10.1002/per.2129

A three-domain personality analysis of a mentally tough athlete

2017

Conference Publication

Inside the bunker – considering the learning of high performance officials

O’Brien, K., Rynne, S. B. and Mallett, C. J. (2017). Inside the bunker – considering the learning of high performance officials. International Council for Coaching Excellence Global Coach Conference, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 31 July-2 August 2017.

Inside the bunker – considering the learning of high performance officials

2017

Journal Article

Passion and paranoia: an embodied tale of emotion, identity, and pathos in sports coaching

Potrac, Paul, Mallett, Cliff, Greenough, Kenny and Nelson, Lee (2017). Passion and paranoia: an embodied tale of emotion, identity, and pathos in sports coaching. Sports Coaching Review, 6 (2), 142-161. doi: 10.1080/21640629.2017.1367067

Passion and paranoia: an embodied tale of emotion, identity, and pathos in sports coaching

2017

Journal Article

A social identity approach to leadership development: the 5R program

Haslam, S. Alexander, Steffens, Niklas K., Peters, Kim, Boyce, Rosalie A., Mallett, Clifford J. and Fransen, Katrien (2017). A social identity approach to leadership development: the 5R program. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 16 (3), 113-124. doi: 10.1027/1866-5888/a000176

A social identity approach to leadership development: the 5R program

2017

Journal Article

The tales athletes tell: narrative structure and identity in Great British medalists

Coulter, T. J., Mallett, C. J. and Singer, J. A. (2017). The tales athletes tell: narrative structure and identity in Great British medalists. Progress in Brain Research, 232, 201-205. doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2016.11.010

The tales athletes tell: narrative structure and identity in Great British medalists

2017

Journal Article

Is perceived athlete leadership quality related to team effectiveness? A comparison of three professional sports teams

Fransen, Katrien, Haslam, S. Alexander, Mallett, Cliff J., Steffens, Niklas K., Peters, Kim and Boen, Filip (2017). Is perceived athlete leadership quality related to team effectiveness? A comparison of three professional sports teams. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20 (8), 800-806. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.11.024

Is perceived athlete leadership quality related to team effectiveness? A comparison of three professional sports teams

2017

Book Chapter

On the (potential) value of coaching

Rynne, Steven, Crudgington, Robert, Dickinson, Rebecca K. and Mallett, Clifford J. (2017). On the (potential) value of coaching. Routledge handbook of talent identification and development in sport. (pp. 285-300) edited by Joseph Baker, Stephen Cobley, Jörg Schorer and Nick Wattie. Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315668017-20

On the (potential) value of coaching

2016

Journal Article

Leading from the centre: a comprehensive examination of the relationship between central playing positions and leadership in sport

Fransen, Katrien, Haslam, S. Alexander, Mallett, Cliff J., Steffens, Niklas K., Peters, Kim and Boen, Filip (2016). Leading from the centre: a comprehensive examination of the relationship between central playing positions and leadership in sport. PLoS ONE, 11 (12) e0168150, e0168150. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168150

Leading from the centre: a comprehensive examination of the relationship between central playing positions and leadership in sport

2016

Journal Article

The practices and developmental pathways of professional and Olympic serial winning coaches

Lara-Bercial, Sergio and Mallett, Clifford J. (2016). The practices and developmental pathways of professional and Olympic serial winning coaches. International Sport Coaching Journal, 3 (3), 221-239. doi: 10.1123/iscj.2016-0083

The practices and developmental pathways of professional and Olympic serial winning coaches

2016

Journal Article

Recovery–stress imbalance in Australian Football League coaches: A pilot longitudinal study

Kellmann, Michael, Altfeld, Sebastian and Mallett, Clifford J (2016). Recovery–stress imbalance in Australian Football League coaches: A pilot longitudinal study. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 14 (3), 240-249. doi: 10.1080/1612197X.2015.1020662

Recovery–stress imbalance in Australian Football League coaches: A pilot longitudinal study

2016

Journal Article

The anatomy of a successful Olympic coach: actor, agent, and author

Mallett, Clifford J. and Coulter, Tristan (2016). The anatomy of a successful Olympic coach: actor, agent, and author. International Sport Coaching Journal, 3 (2), 113-127. doi: 10.1123/iscj.2015-0069

The anatomy of a successful Olympic coach: actor, agent, and author

2016

Journal Article

A subculture of mental toughness in an Australian Football League Club

Coulter, Tristan J., Mallett, Clifford J. and Singer, Jefferson A. (2016). A subculture of mental toughness in an Australian Football League Club. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 22, 98-113. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2015.06.007

A subculture of mental toughness in an Australian Football League Club

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

  • 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

  • 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

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

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne

  • 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

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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