Funding Available: Awards of up to £3000 will be offered.

Background Context:

The CRiC Research Support Fund aims to support Postgraduate and Early-Career Researchers with the development of critical research, by supplementing associated research activity. In this way, the purpose of the Research Support Fund is to help shape the identity of researchers working in the discipline of sport coaching, which is aligned to the CRiC mission and purpose (available here). In 2024, three awards were provided to researchers within the CRiC community.

Successful applicants will demonstrate a desire to use the CRiC Research Support Fund to generate critical and interrogative insights to the field of sport coaching. The funding can be used to supplement a range of research related activity. The fund covers three general themes:

Project enrichment

This covers activity related to enhancing research projects, which might include, but not limited to:

• Scoping exercises for new projects;
• Reviews of literature and related activity;
• To support collaborative activities (e.g., to gain access to a critical friend; hosting CRiC related events).

Data collection, scope, and scale

This covers activity directly related to data collection

• Expenses to support data collection (e.g., travel to access populations);
• Expenses for technology that supports data collection;
• Related costs that support quality throughout data collection.

Connecting with others

This covers activity related to dissemination activities, which might include, but not limited to:

• Costs associated with transcription, proof-reading, or formatting for dissemination;
• Costs associated with designing and producing materials for coaches (e.g., infographics, app development, social media);
• Cost associated with dissemination (e.g., presentation to a National Governing Body, conference outside of CRiC).

CRiC may allocate awards in smaller amounts to provide resources across multiple projects. For successful applicants, the budget may be used flexibly but must be used within the 6-months of payment. Projects at all stages of development are welcomed.

CRiC Requirements

This call for funding is open to single applicants and collaborations. To apply for this project, the applications must include:

• All of the research team must be registered members of CRiC;
• At least one researcher must qualify as either a postgraduate (enrolled on an MSc or Doctoral programme) or identify as an Early-Career Researcher / post-doctoral researcher (typically within 5-years of Doctoral completion).

Successful applicants for this CRiC Award will be expected to present their research at the latest CRiC endorsed conference. In addition, successful applicants will be required to write a short (250 word) testimonial explaining how the funding was used to support the project. As an organisation, we would also ask that authors include CRiC logo or acknowledgement on future dissemination of the supported project.

Application deadline: 3rd August 2026

Please Dr. Charlie Corsby with any questions about the Research Support Fund: C.L.T.Corsby@Lboro.ac.uk

All applications will be reviewed by a CRiC Assessment Panel (minimum two reviewers). Please get in touch with CRiC Executive Board members should you want advice or support with the application.