Edward T. Hall
Edward is a sociologist, a researcher, and a people developer. He is the founder of the think-tank Sociological Innovations in Sport Exchange (SiS-X) and its peer development programme the Coach Common Room. Edward is an expert advisor to some of the world's highest profile organisations, and a personal mentor to those at the forefront of global sport.
Edward’s contributions to world-leading new knowledge, policy change, workforce development and practice innovations have generated sustained impact on international sport organisations, teams, their leaders and multi-disciplinary practitioners.
Edward has helped to transform the practice of thousands of leaders, coaches, officials, and educators, which has benefitted tens of thousands of athletes around the globe.
Researcher
Edward’s research is driven by a fascination with the relational, micropolitical, and emotional complexities of sports work. Alongside an international group of collaborators, he critically explores how networks of social relations influence the thoughts, feelings and interactions of sport professionals, and how sense is made of experience, relationships and the self.
Edward has published in the discipline’s leading peer-reviewed journals and books, been invited presenter at numerous international conferences, symposia, and industry events, and examined PhD and Professional Doctorate candidates both in and beyond the sports field.
The driving mission for Edward’s work is to better understand the situated opportunities and challenges sport workers navigate in order to inform transformational changes in practice that benefit those leading, working and participating in sport and exercise.
Edward’s research has been independently reviewed as 4* world-leading according to the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research. In 2024, he was Chair the International Coaching Conference.
Mentor
Edward works with governing organisations, national teams and elite professional clubs to provide formal support for their high-performing and high-potential coaches, performance specialists and sport scientists. He has been sought out as a personal mentor and become a critical friend to World Cup and European Championship finalists, as well as national cup winners across multiple sports.
“I can confidently say that working with Dr Hall since 2016 has dramatically benefitted my own coaching practice, skills, and philosophy. His biggest skill was getting me to reflect, and not just surface-level reflection; Edward took it to another level.”
International Rugby Coach
Expert
Advisor
Edward’s work is characterised by the integration of theory and practice. He adopts an evidence-informed approach to developing the critical consciousness of policy makers, systems architects, leaders, managers and practitioners.
Edward has advised international sports on their workforce development systems and cultures, informed transformational change in elite sport policy and high-performance organisational philosophy, and provided professional advice to some of the world’s leading coaches.
“This research will continue to inform long-term planning for strategic youth talent development coaching for hundreds of British Athletics coaches until the 2028 summer Olympics.”
Pathway Lead, British Athletics
Educator
Edward’s teaching, in parallel with his research, is driven by the issues, challenges and opportunities evident in everyday practice. This interwoven approach helps to deconstruct the taken-for-granted and open up new horizons for novel ideas, which inform judicious decisions, insightful actions, and skilful practice.
As well as tutoring thousands of students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and writing unique doctoral programmes, Edward has been commissioned to develop bespoke workforce education programmes. He has delivered novel and compelling content to help prepare future-focussed practitioners across a wide spectrum inclusive of volunteers at local clubs and those competing at the Olympic Games.
Edward has served as an External Examiner at undergraduate and postgraduate level to quality assure some of the world’s leading institutions and programmes. His graduates have gone on to work in high-profile sport and media settings.
Speaker
Edward is frequently invited to speak at whole-sport symposia, international institutions, and for elite sport collectives. He was the Chair of the 6th International Coaching Conference in 2024, and has contributed presentations to various other assemblies, webinars and podcasts, spanning sport, performance, leadership and coaching domains.