Biography
Professor Tony Myers is experienced in applied data analysis methods, advising researchers, PhD and MRes students on statistical analysis in general and applied Bayesian modelling in particular. He is the chair of the Journal of Sports Science Statistics and Research Design Advisory Group and founder and chair of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), Sport, Exercise and Health Analytics Special Interest Group. Professor Myers has delivered webinars on Bayesian data analysis to national and international audiences on behalf of Human Kinetics, BASES, and the Biomechanics Lecture Series. He is involved with several national and international collaborations and funded projects, including collaborations with researchers in the USA, Dubai, Tunisia, Germany, Portugal, and Australia. Professor Myers has built a reputation as a world authority on the influences on judging the sport of Muay Thai, being a principal investigator for research projects researching the sport over a fifteen-year period. He has accepted several invitations to disseminate research findings through presentations and seminars across the UK, the republic of Ireland, Denmark, Canada, and USA. In addition, he is an internationally recognised coach in the sport, having trained several British, European and World professional Muay Thai champions.
In the REF 2014 and REF 2021 Professor Myers’s impact case studies were recognised as internationally excellent in terms of social impact. He has been involved in several successful funded bids both nationally and internationally. Professor Myers was involved in a project with Sport Malta funded by the Maltese government that explored the efficacy of a diet and physical activity intervention in Malta. He presented the findings to all the EU directors of sport in Malta on 15-16 March 2017. Following his presentation, the Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport announced that the project was being made available to all schools across Malta. Nationally, Professor Myers was part of a successful HEA strategic excellence initiative bid at Newman, ‘Enhancing retention, progression and achievement through student partnership’ project. He analysed university data to produce a statistical report that explored the influence of subject area, entry qualifications, disability and ethnicity in success and achievement, which resulted in important changes across subject areas. Most recently, Professor Myers was part of a team at Newman who secured a £424,457 bid from Comic Relief’s ‘Ahead of the Game’ fund, which funded a PhD scholarship for which he is now Director of Studies. In addition, he was an external assessor for international research bids including a Research Council and Industrieel Onderzoeksfonds (IOF) Council of KU Leuven funding bid for €538,147.00 on Integrated computer modelling of cardiorespiratory fitness for personalised risk profiling and heart failure prevention, and a Swiss National Science Foundation funding bid for Swiss National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures — Digital Sports Data Hub (DSDH) for CHF 135,037,10.00.
Professor Myers is currently Director of Studies for two PhD students and supervises two additional PhD students at Newman, as well as being a supervisor for a PhD student from the University of Hull. Professor Myers has successfully supervised PhD students to completion at Newman and has been an external advisor for other successful PhDs candidates from Leeds Beckett and the University of Sterling. He was formerly an external examiner for a coaching programme at the University Wolverhampton, two programmes at the University of Chichester, as well as external examining PhD, EdD and MRes students from Leeds Beckett University, University of Birmingham and Coventry University.
Profile
Research Interests
Professor Myers’s research involves data analysis for a number of different research projects ranging from sports performance to predicting survival in cardiac patients. His research in sport psychology focuses on factors that influence sport officials, mental toughness, emotional intelligence and motivational climate.
Teaching
Professor Myers teaches research methods module to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as advising PhD students on data analysis.
Administrative Responsibilities
Programme leader
Membership of Professional Organisations
A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SHEA), member of The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and the European College of Sport Science.
Other Activities
Publications
Myers, T.D. (2022) Just a New Slant on a Very Old Story? Digital Guru Media Seen Through an Evolutionary Lens. In Digital Wellness, Health and Fitness Influencers (pp. 73-92). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003256021-5
Warner, A., Vanicek, N., Benson, A., Myers, T. D., & Abt, G. (2022). Agreement and relationship between measures of absolute and relative intensity during walking: a systematic review with meta-regression. PLoS ONE. 17(11): e0277031. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277031
Argento, R., Holland, M.J.G., Lawrence, S., Myers, T.D (2022). Sporting excellence in Malta Viewed through an Ecological Lens: A qualitative investigation into athletes’ attitudes, aspirations and feelings MCAST Journal of Applied Practice, 6(2)
Ellis, M., Myers, T.D, Taylor, R., Morris, R., & Akubat, I. (2022). The Dose–Response Relationship Between Training-Load Measures and Changes in Force–Time Components During a Countermovement Jump in Male Academy Soccer Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 1(aop), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2022-0107
Nevill, A. M., Duncan, M. J., & Myers, T. D (2022). NICE’s recent guidelines on “the size of your waist” unfairly penalizes shorter people. Obesity research & clinical practice, 16(4), 277-280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2022.08.002
Richardson, D. L., Tallis, J., Duncan, M. J., Clarke, N. D., & Myers, T. D. (2022). The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived physical activity, physical function and mood of older adults in the UPreview Changes (opens in a new tab)K: A follow-up study (March 2020–June 2021). Experimental gerontology, 111838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2022.111838
Nevill, A. M., Duncan, M. J., & Myers, T.D. (2022). BMI is dead; long live waist- circumference indices: But which index should we choose to predict cardio-metabolic risk? Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2022.04.003
Lipski, E. S., Spindler, D. J., Hesselink, M. K. C., Myers, T. D., & Sanders, D. (2022). Differences in Performance Assessments Conducted Indoors and Outdoors in Professional Cyclists. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 1- 7. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0341
Nevill, A. M., Myers, J., Kaminsky, L. A., Arena, R., & Myers, T. D. (2021). Comparing individual and population differences in minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slopes using centile growth curves and log-linear allometry. ERJ Open Research, 7(3), 00088-02021. https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00088-2021
Nevill, A. M., Tomkinson, G. R., Lang, J. J., Wutz, W., & Myers, T. D. (2021). How Should Adult Handgrip Strength Be Normalized? Allometry Reveals New Insights and Associated Reference Curves. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002771
Towlson, C., MacMaster, C., Gonçalves, B., Sampaio, J., Toner, J., MacFarlane, N., … Myers, T.D. & Abt, G. (2021). The effect of bio-banding on technical and tactical indicators of talent identification in academy soccer players. Science and Medicine in Football, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2021.2013522
Taylor, R., Myers, T. D., Sanders, D., Ellis, M., & Akubat, I. (2021). The Relationship between Training Load Measures and Next-Day Well-Being in Rugby Union Players. Applied Sciences, 11(13), 5926. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app11135926
Safi, A. & Myers, T. D. (2021) Barriers to Physical Activity: A Comparison of Afghans Living in the UK and Afghanistan. Advances in Physical Education, 11, 103-117.
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=107524
Morris, R., Myers, T.D, Emmonds, S. et al. Does Resisted Sled Towing Improve the Physical Qualities of Elite Youth Soccer Players of Differing Maturity Status? (2021) Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-020-00087-w
Nevill A.M, Negra Y, Myers T.D, Duncan MJ, Chaabene H, Granacher U. (2021) Are Early or Late Maturers Likely to Be Fitter in the General Population? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.; 18(2):497. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020497
Towlson C, MacMaster C, Gonçalves B, Sampaio J, Toner J, MacFarlane N, Barrett S, Hamilton A, Jack R, Hunter F, Myers T.D., Abt G. (2020) The effect of bio-banding on physical and psychological indicators of talent identification in academy soccer players, Science and Medicine in Football. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2020.1862419
Noon, M.R., Eyre, E.L., Ellis, M., Myers, T.D., Morris, R.O., Mundy, P.D., Penny, R. and Clarke, N.D. (2020). The Influence of Recruitment Age and Anthropometric and Physical Characteristics on the Development Pathway of English Academy Football Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 1(,1-9). https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0534
Myers, T. D., Negra, Y., Sammoud, S., Chaabene, H., & Nevill, A. M. (2020). Discerning excellence from mediocrity in swimming: new insights using Bayesian quantile regression. European Journal of Sport Science, 1-21. DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2020.1808080
Ellis, M., Penny, R., Wright, B., Noon, M., Myers, T.D & Akubat, I. (2020) The Dose-Response Relationship Between Training Load Measures and Aerobic Fitness in Elite Academy Soccer Players, Science and Medicine in Football, DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2020.1817536
Dugdale, J.H., Sanders, D., Myers, T.D., A. Williams, M. & Hunter, A. M. (2020) A case study comparison of objective and subjective evaluation methods of physical qualities in youth soccer players, Journal of Sports Sciences, 38:11-12, 1304-1312, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1766177
Nevill, A. M, Yassine Negra, Myers, T.D. Senda Sammoud, & Helmi Chaabene (2020) Key somatic variables associated with, and differences between the 4 swimming strokes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38:7, 787 794, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1734311
Brown, F, Jeffries, O, Gissane, C, Howatson, G, van Someren, K, Pedlar, C, Myers, T.D, and Hill, JA. (2020). Custom-fitted compression garments enhance recovery from muscle damage in rugby players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
Abt, G., Bray, J., Myers, T.D, & Benson, A. (2020). Letter to the editor regarding the article ‘Walking cadence required to elicit criterion moderate-intensity physical activity is moderated by fitness status’ by Abt et al. (2019), Journal of Sports Sciences, 38:3, 306-307. doi: 0.1080/02640414.2019.1697485
Abt, G., Bray, J., Myers, T.D., & Benson, A. C. (2019). Walking cadence required to elicit criterion moderate-intensity physical activity is moderated by fitness status. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37:17, 1989-1995, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1612505
Cullen, T., Thomas, G., Wadley, A. J., & Myers, T.D. (2019). The effects of a single night of complete and partial sleep deprivation on physical and cognitive performance: A Bayesian analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences ,37(23), 2726-2734.
Abt, G., Bray, J., Myers, T.D., & Benson, A. C. (2019). Walking cadence required to elicit criterion moderate-intensity physical activity is moderated by fitness status. Journal of Sports Sciences, 1-7 doi: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1612505
Ellis, M., Noon M, Myers, T.D & Clarke N. (2018). Low doses of caffeine enhances physical performance in elite adolescent male soccer players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. pp. 1-21. ISSN 1555-0265
Morris, R., Jones, B., Myers, T.D, Lake, J., Emmonds, S., Clarke, N., & Till, K. (2018). Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Characteristics in Elite Youth Male Soccer Players: Comparisons by Age and Maturity Offset. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000002673
Morris, R., Emmonds, S., Jones, B., Myers, T.D., Clarke, N.D Lake, J., Ellis, M., Singleton, D, Roe, G., Till, K. (2018). Seasonal Changes in Physical Qualities of Elite Youth Soccer Players according to Maturity Status: Comparisons with Aged Matched Controls. Science and Medicine in Football. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2018.145459
Powell, E., Woodfield, L.A. Nevill, AM., Powell, A.J., Myers, T.D. (2018) We have to wait in a queue for our turn quite a bit’: Examining children’s physical activity during primary physical education lessons. European Physical Education Review. doi:10.1177/1356336×18785343
Duncan, J. Clarke, S. Myers, T. D., Tallis, T., Arnab, S. (2018). A hybrid, gamified and mystery-driven approach for facilitating problem based learning in a postgraduate strength and conditioning module. Practice and Evidence of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Myers, T. (2017). Getting Out of the Laboratory to Make Experiments Real: Can Sports Fans Influence Muay Thai Judges? Frontiers for Young Minds, Understanding Neuroscience. 5:13. doi:10.3389/ frym.2017.00013.
Powell, A., Myers, T., (2017). Developing Mental Toughness: Lessons from Paralympians, Frontiers in Psychology 8:1270. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01270
Sanders, D., Heijboer, M., Hesselink, M. K., Myers, T., & Akubat, I. (2017). Analysing a cycling grand tour: Can we monitor fatigue with intensity or load ratios? Journal of Sports Sciences. 1-7. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2017.1388669.
Taylor, R. Sanders, D., Myers, T. D., Taylor, C. A. & Akubat, I. (2017).
The reliability and validity of integrated external and internal load ratios as measures of fitness in academy rugby union players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000002391
Sanders, D., Myers, T., & Akubat, I. (2017). Training Intensity Distribution in Road Cyclists: Objective Versus Subjective Measures. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 12, doi:10.1123/IJSPP.2016-0523
Taylor, R. Sanders, D., Myers, T. D. Abt, G., Taylor, C. A. & Akubat, I. (2017). The Dose-Response Relationship Between Training Load and Aerobic Fitness in Academy Rugby Union Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2017-0121
Sanders, D., Abt, G., Hesselink, M. K., Myers, T., & Akubat, I. (2017). Methods of monitoring training load and their relationships to changes in fitness and performance in competitive road cyclists. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 12, 5,:668-675. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2016-0454
Sanders, D., Heijboer, M., Hesselink, M. K., Myers, T., & Akubat. (2017). A field-based cycling test to assess predictors of endurance performance and establishing training zones. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001910.
Dinsdale A., & Myers, T.D. (2016). Interpreting statistical tests for training interventions. Professional Strength and Conditioning. 41, 7-16
Myers, T.D. (2014). Achieving external validity in home advantage research: generalizing crowd noise effects. Frontiers in Psychology, 5:532. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00532
Myers, T. D., Balmer, Nevill, A.M. & Al-Nakeeb, Y. (2013). Techniques used by elite Thai and UKMuay Thai fighters: An analysis and simulation. Advances in Physical Education. 3, 4, 175-186. doi: 10.4236/ape.2013.34029
Myers, T. D., Nevill, A.M. & Al-Nakeeb, Y. (2013). A comparison of the effect of two different judging systems on the technique selection of Muay Thai competitors. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise. 8, 3, 761-777. doi: 10.4100/jhse.2013.83.01
Myers, T. D., & Balmer, N. J. (2012). The impact of crowd noise on officiating in Muay Thai: achieving external validity in an experimental setting. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, 346. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00346
Myers, T.D., Nevill, A.M. & Al-Nakeeb, Y. (2012). The influence of crowd noise upon judging decisions in Muay Thai. Advances in Physical Education. 2, 4. doi: 10.4236/ape.2012.24026
Graham M.R., Myers T. D., Evans P., Davies B., Cooper S.M., Bhattacharya K., Grace F.M., Baker J.S. (2011). Direct hits to the head during amateur boxing is associated with a rise in serum biomarkers for brain injury. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology. 24, 1,119-25.
Myers, T.D., Nevill, A.M. & Al-Nakeeb, Y. (2010). An examination of judging consistency in a combat sport. The Quantitative Journal of Sport, 6, 3, 1-16. doi: 10.2202/1559-0410.1178,
Myers, T.D., Balmer, N.J., Nevill, A.M. & Al-Nakeeb,Y (2006). Evidence of Nationalistic Bias in Muaythai. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine CSSI, 21-27.
Conference presentations
Powell, A, & Myers, T.D. (2018). Mental Toughness in Rugby Union. 23rd Congress European College of Sports Science, Dublin, 4th-7th July.
Sanders, D., Abt, G., Hesselink, M.K., Myers, T.D, Akubat, I (2016). Methods of monitoring training load in well-trained competitive cyclists: the dose-response relationship with changes in fitness and performance. Science and Cycling. Caen, France, 29th- 30th June.
Powell, A, & Myers, T.D. (2015). Mental Toughness in Elite Muay Thai. 20th Congress European College of Sports Science, Malmö, 24th-27th June.
Myers, T.D., Balmer, N.J., Rehman, M., Strotmeyer, S. (2014). Sport commentary effects on spectators’ views of who wins. Oral and abstract, 19th Congress European College of Sports Science, Amsterdam, 2nd – 5th July
Powell, A, & Myers, T.D. (2013). Mental Toughness in an RFU England Rugby Academy. 18th Congress European College of Sports Science, Barcelona, 26th-29th June.
Myers, T.D. (2012). Keynote speaker. Muay Thai Judging and training. New Jersey. Partially funded by the New Jersey Athletic Commission. USA. 1st December, 2012
Myers, T.D., & Balmer, N. J. (2011). The influence of crowd noise of judging sport Proceedings of the 16th Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Science. 6th-9th July. Liverpool.
Myers, T.D. (2010) Applied sports psychology and coaching. Keynote presentation at a student conference Coventry University 26th April 2010
Graham, M. R., Myers T.D., Thomas N., Davies, E., B., Cooper, S. M., Evans P. J. & Baker J. S. (2009). Boxing head-guards do not prevent Cerebral Trauma. Physoc conference presentation Cardiff
Baker J. S., Evans P. J., Davies, E., B, Cooper, S. Thomas N., Myers T.D., & Graham, M. R., (2009). S100B is Superior to Neurone Specific Enolase as a Prognostic Marker for Brain Damage following Technical Knockouts. Physoc conference presentation Cardiff
Barker, J. B., Myers, T., Davies, K., & Galloway, S. (2009). Using hypnosis in sport psychology. Workshop delivered as part of the BASES 2009 workshop programme, Stoke-on Trent
Myers, T.D., & Nevill A.M. (2008). The effects of different judging styles on technique selection of elite Thai and UK Muay Thai competitors. Poster presentation at the BASES annual conference Brunel University 2 – 4 September
Myers, T.D., & Balmer, N.J., (2007) Political Bias in Muay Thai and its consequences Annual Conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences BASES abstracts, Journal of Sports Sciences, 25,3, 235 – 369
Myers, T.D. (2007) Cultural differences in judging Muay Thai .Annual Conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences BASES Abstracts. Journal of Sports Sciences, 25, 3, 235 – 369
Myers, T.D. (2005). Keynote speaker. Judging Muay Thai. hosted by the Danish Muay Thai Federation. Copenhagen, 30th January 2005
Myers, T. D., & Reid, M. (2005). The effect of pre-shot routine on putting performance in golf. Abstract at 10th Congress European College of Sports Science Belgrade 13th-16th July 2005
Myers, T.D. (2004). Keynote speaker. Officiating in Muay Thai, Calgary, Canada, 17th-19th April
Myers, T.D, Griggs, G, Al-Nakeeb, Y., Lyons, M., Duncan, M., Woodfield, L. and Dodd, L. (2004) Lifestyle and health habits of a Higher Education Community. Proceedings of the 9th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, 3rd-6th July, Clermont-Ferrand.
Al-Nakeeb, Y., Lyons, M. Duncan, M., Myers, T.D. , Woodfield, L., Griggs, G., Dodd, L and Nevill, A. (2004) Lifestyle, adiposity and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a Higher Education community. Proceedings of the 9th Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Science. 3rd-6th July, Clermont-Ferrand.