Stephen Harvey West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences associate professor, will be honored as one of five Research Fellows selected by the Society of Health and Physical Educators. SHAPE will recognize Harvey at the 131st SHAPE America National Convention and Expo in Minneapolis, MN, April 5-9, 2016.

“Dr. Harvey’s recognition as a SHAPE Research Fellow is a tremendous honor and clearly demonstrates his status as a leading scholar within his discipline. CPASS is proud to have such a distinguished scholar among our faculty ranks,” James Hannon, professor and assistant dean of Academic Affairs and Research at CPASS stated.

Harvey said he is honored to receive the Research Consortium Fellow Status from SHAPE America. “This award demonstrates the importance of hard work and dedication to a specific and focused line of research inquiry, in my case, game-centered approaches to teaching and coaching,” Harvey explained.

“Awards such as this significantly enhance the visibility and standing of the physical education and sport instruction programs within the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, West Virginia University and beyond,” added Harvey.

Harvey’s research centers on improving teaching and coaching practice with focus on behavior and the impact on physical activity, motivation and learning.

Over the last decade Harvey has done extensive research, focusing on the use of game-centered approaches in both physical education and sport coaching settings and has emerged as one of the world’s leading scholars in this area of empirical study.

More recently, he has extended research to include a focus with a public health perspective. Harvey’s initiatives have focused on measuring not how much learners develop as players, but also to what extent game-centered approaches offer opportunities for students to accumulate ample amounts of health-enhancing physical activity while practicing their technical and tactical moves during game play.

Harvey has 40 peer-reviewed publications and 10 book chapters. He has also co-authored one book and co-edited two others. His latest co-authored book is titled Advances in Rugby Coaching: A Holistic Approach. In addition, Harvey has been involved in enterprise activities and is co-developer of the Coach Analysis Intervention System, a systematic observation iPad application that permits coaches and researchers to code their behavior both ‘live’ and from videotaped records of coaching sessions.

“SHAPE America Research Fellow status is reserved for members who have made significant and sustained contributions to research, creative or scholarly activity, as well as related service,” says Phillip Ward, Ph.D., chair of the Research Council.

According to Ward, the purpose of Fellow status is to promote scholarship as an integral component of SHAPE America, recognize research accomplishments and promote participation in the research activities of the organization.

SHAPE America is committed to ensuring all children have the opportunity to lead healthy, physically active lives. As the nation’s largest membership organization of health and physical education professionals, SHAPE America works with its 50 state affiliates and national partners to support initiatives such as the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, Let’s Move! Active Schools and the Jump Rope For Heart/Hoops For Heart programs. The group provides resources to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport while promoting development and advocacy in support of health and physical educators at all academic levels.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, Communications & Alumni Relations
304.293.0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu

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