Dr Alex McAuley

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Email:: Alexander.mcauley@bcu.ac.uk

Alex McAuley, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Research for Athlete and Youth Sport Development (RAYSD) Lab at Birmingham City University.

His research interests include exploring the multifactorial factors and specific mechanisms underpinning optimal human performance in sport, as well as creating more appropriate environments and processes that foster the positive development of athletes across the lifespan.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Teaching

Research

Postgraduate Supervision

Publications

Journal editorials

Kelly, A. L., Baker, J., Johnston, K., & McAuley, A. B. T. (2024). 40 years of relative age effects in sport: Lessons from the past and directions for the future. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/61144/40-years-of-relative-age-effects-in-sport-lessons-from-the-past-and-directions-for-the-future

Journal articles

McAuley, A. B. T., Baker, J., Johnston, K., Varley, I., Herbert, A. J., Suraci, B., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., & Kelly, A. L. (in press). Talent inclusion: An ’imperfect solution’ to genetic testing in sport – Response to commentaries. Current Issues in Sports Science.
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Baker, J., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2024). Genetic associations with acceleration, change of direction, jump height, and speed in English academy football players. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(2), 350-359. https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/abstract/9900/genetic_associations_with_acceleration,_change_of.306.aspx
McAuley, A. B. T., Varley, I., Herbert, A. J., Suraci, B., Baker, J., Johnston, K., & Kelly, A. L. (2023). Maturity-associated polygenic profiles of under 12–16-compared to under 17– 23-year-old male English academy football players. Genes, 14(7), 1431. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14071431
Brown, T., McAuley, A. B. T., Khawaja, I., Gough, L. A., & Kelly, A. L. (2023). Talent identification and development in male cricket: A systematic review. Journal of Expertise, 6(2),176-206. https://www.journalofexpertise.org/articles/volume6_issue2/JoE_6_2_Brown_etal.html
McAuley, A. B. T., Baker, J., Johnston, K., Varley, I., Herbert, A. J., Suraci, B., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., & Kelly, A. L. (2023). Talent inclusion and genetic testing in sport: A practitioner’s guide. Current Issues in Sports Science, 8(1), 008. https://doi.org/10.36950/2023.1ciss008
Johnston, K., McAuley, A. B. T., Kelly, A. L., & Baker, J. (2023). Language games and blurry terminology: Can clarity enhance athlete development? Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, 1150047. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1150047
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Baker, J., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2022). Genetic variations between youth and professional development phase English academy football players. Genes, 13(11), 2001. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13112001
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., Jackson, D. T., & Kelly, A. L. (2022). A systematic review of the genetic predisposition to injury in football. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, 5(2), 97-115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-022-00187-9
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Baker, J., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2022). Genetic associations with technical capabilities in English academy football players: A preliminary study. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 63(2), 230-240. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.22.13945-9
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Baker, J., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2022). Genetic associations with personality and mental toughness profiles of English academy football players: An exploratory study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 61, 102209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102209
McAuley,A.B.T.,Baker,J.,&Kelly,A.L.(2022).Defining“elite”statusinsport:From chaos to clarity. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 52(1), 193–197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-021-00737-3
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2022). Genetic testing in professional football: Perspectives of key stakeholders. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, 4(1), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-021-00131-3
Evans, D. A., Jackson, D. T., Kelly, A. L., Williams, C. A., McAuley, A. B. T., Knapman, H., & Morgan, P. T. (2022). Monitoring post-match fatigue during a competitive season in elite youth soccer players. Journal of Athletic Training, 57(2), 184-190. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0245.21
Dimundo,F.,Cole,M.,Blagrove,R.C.,McAuley,A.B.T.,Till,K.,&Kelly,A.L.(2021). Talent identification in an English premiership rugby union academy: Multidisciplinary characteristics of selected and non-selected male Under-15 players. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 162. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.688143
Dimundo, F., Cole, M., Blagrove, R. C., McAuley, A. B. T., Till, K., Hall, M., Pacini, D., & Kelly, A. L. (2021). The anthropometric, physical, and relative age characteristics of an English Premiership rugby union academy.International Journal of Strength and Conditioning, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v1i1.67
Dimundo, F., Cole, M., Blagrove, R., Till, K., McAuley, A. B. T., Hall, M., Gale, C., & Kelly, A. (2021). Talent identification and development in male rugby union: A systematic review. Journal of Expertise, 4(1), 33–55. https://journalofexpertise.org/articles/volume4_issue1/JoE_4_1_Dimundo_etal.html
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2021). The association of the ACTN3 R577X and ACE I/D polymorphisms with athlete status in football: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(2), 200–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1812195
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2021). Genetic association research in football: A systematic review. European Journal of Sport Science, 21(5), 714–752. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1776401

Book chapters

Murata, A., McAuley, A. B. T., Ferguson, M. P., Toms, M. R., & Kelly, A. L. (2023). Activities and trajectories: To early specialise or to early sample? Exploring pathways of athlete development in youth soccer. In A. L. Kelly (Ed.), Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer. Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781032232799-8
Baker, J., McAuley, A. B. T., Kelly, A. L., & Wattie, N. (2023). Language games: Improving the words we use in soccer research and practice. In A. L. Kelly (Ed.), Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer. Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781032232799-20
McAuley, A. B. T., Baker, J., Suraci, B., & Kelly, A. L. (2023). Understanding the influence and application of genetics in soccer. In A. L. Kelly (Ed.), Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer. Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781032232799-14
Kelly, A. L., McAuley, A. B. T., Dimundo, F., & Till, K. (2022). Talent identification in male youth rugby. In K. Till, J. Weakley, S. Whitehead, & B. Jones (Eds.), The Young Rugby Player (pp. 67–90). Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003104797-5
Kelly, A. L., McAuley, A. B. T., Dimundo, F., & Till, K. (2022). Talent identification in male youth rugby: An ecological perspective. In K. Till, J. Weakley, S. Whitehead, & B. Jones (Eds.), Youth Rugby (pp. 40–55). Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003104841-4
McAuley, A. B. T., Baker, J., & Kelly, A. L. (2021). How nature and nurture conspire to influence athletic success. In A. L. Kelly, J. Côté, M. Jeffreys, & J. Turnnidge (Eds.), Birth advantages and relative age effects in sport: Exploring organizational structures and creating appropriate settings (pp. 159–183). Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003163572-13

Conference presentations

Cattle, A., Johnston, K., Kelly, A. L., McAuley, A. B. T., & Baker, J. (2024, March). Artificial intelligence and machine learning in sport: A scoping review. Paper presented at the Eastern Canada Sport and Exercise Symposium (ECSEPS). https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bZ0A66fYGVcCzFx9VwsldbnFKcfg-QxT/view?usp=sharing
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., Jackson, D. T., & Kelly, A. L. (2021, September). A systematic review of the genetic predisposition to injury in football. Paper presented at the 26th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS).
Dimundo, F., Cole, M., Blagrove, R. C., McAuley, A. B. T., Till, K., & Kelly, A. L. (2021, May). Characteristics that differentiated selected and non-selected male under-15 players at an English Premiership rugby union academy. Paper presented virtually at the 9th Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network (ESAN) Conference.
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2021, May). Genetic testing in professional football: Perspectives of key stakeholders. Paper presented virtually at the 9th Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network (ESAN) Conference.
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2020, December). Soccer genomics: past, present, and future. Paper presented at the RESFEST Annual Conference, Birmingham City University, Birmingham.
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2020, November). The association of the ACTN3 R577X and ACE I/D polymorphisms with athlete status in football: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Paper presented virtually at the inaugural Exercise & Sport Science Australia (ESSA) Twitter Conference. Abstract retrievable here: https://www.essa.org.au/Public/ESSTC2020.aspx
Dimundo, F., Cole, M., Blagrove, R. C., McAuley, A. B. T., Hall, M., & Kelly, A. L. (2020, October). The physiological profile of an English Premiership rugby union academy: Implications for long-term athlete development. Paper presented virtually at the 25th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS).
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2020, October). Genetic association research in football: A systematic review. Paper presented virtually at the 25th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS).
McAuley, A. B. T., Hughes, D. C., Tsaprouni, L. G., Varley, I., Suraci, B., Roos, T. R., Herbert, A. J., & Kelly, A. L. (2020, August). The Football Gene Project: A multi-disciplinary investigation into the association of genetic polymorphisms with performance-related phenotypes in football. Paper presented at the Centre of Life and Sport Sciences (C-LaSS) Research Conference, Birmingham City University, Birmingham.