People

Many psychologists have contributed through their own academic and professional work to the thinking that inspired the development of the 5Cs as an accessible conceptual and educational framework for the public. Developed by Professor Chris Harwood while working within youth football, the 5Cs framework can be applied across sport and many other achievement or social contexts to help the individual or team with their development and performance. Practitioners working in youth sport have used the framework to enrich athletes’, coaches’ and parents’ understanding of how to build, support and nurture these important qualities.  Scroll down to find out more about the individuals involved in developing and delivering the 5Cs framework.

Chris is a leading academic and practitioner in the psychology of youth sport with over 25 years experience researching and supporting athletes, coaches and parents. He is a HCPC Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist who focuses upon the youth education, development and support programmes of national and international governing bodies, sports clubs and professional academies. He developed the 5Cs Framework to make sport psychology accessible and targeted at helping young people to build their psychosocial strengths through sport.

Karl is a HCPC Registered, British Psychological Society Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with over 10 years experience working in both youth and adult sport, focusing on performance, developmental and well-being objectives. He has held lead Sport and Exercise Psychologist roles in Premier League Football, Premier League Football Academies, County Cricket and Paralympic Sport. Karl has held lecturing positions in Psychology at London Metropolitan University and the University of Greenwich before joining Loughborough University in 2017 as Sport and Performance Psychology Lead.

Richard is a UEFA ‘A’ Licensed football coach with over 10 years’ experience in integrating sport psychology principles into coaching practice. He graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science, and a MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Currently working in youth development, Richard has previously worked for the Cook Islands Football Association, in senior football within New Zealand, and in senior youth roles at Aldershot Town and Crawley Town’s academies. Passionate about coach education, he brought his coaching knowledge into co-authoring Coaching Psychological Skills in Youth Football: Developing the 5Cs.