Abby Foad

I am the Research Director for the Centre for Sport, Physical Education & Activity Research (spear).

As spear’s Research Director, I am responsible for directing spear's programme of contract research. I have directed and quality assured multiple projects for funders including the YST, DfE, DH, Mencap, ukactive, Sport England, Sport Wales, Sport Birmingham, Chance to Shine, Premiership Rugby and Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation. I’m committed to producing robust, accessible evidence that informs policy and practice and increases the quality, reach and impact of activity, health and wellbeing initiatives for people that need them most.

Spear’s research is funded by a range of national and international funders and delivers world-leading impact by informing investment, policy and provision, particularly around the physical activity and sport participation of young people, hard to reach and less active populations. spear is located within the Faculty of Science, Engineering & Social Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University.

My teaching specialism and subject expertise includes critical psychology, sport and physical activity policy, belief effects in sport and exercise, research methods and statistics.

My research focuses on physical activity policy, provision, practice and participation; mental health and wellbeing; community development.

Research Projects

2014/15 Skills2Play/Sport programme evaluation. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
Change4Life Sports Clubs research 2016 - part one report. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Ms Michelle Pletsch. Supervisor(s): Dr Abby Foad, Professor Mike Weed. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Embedding and sustaining Change4Life Sports Clubs: regional case studies – part three. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
How to get the inactive active: Creating a successful physical activity interventions within a University setting. Researcher(s): Miss Laura Ackerley. Supervisor(s): Dr Abby Foad, Dr Hayley Mills, Professor Mike Weed. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Lifetime evaluation of the Change4Life Primary School Sports Club Programme. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
Project ability. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad, Professor Jan Burns. [Project report]
spear@cccu Change4Life Sports Clubs Research 2016: Part One Report. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
Value for money & return on Investment of Change4Life Sports Clubs – part 2. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
YA peer leader programme. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
Youth Sport Trust evaluation of the Change 4 Life Primary School Sport Club Programme 2012/13: final report: August 2013. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
Youth Sport Trust evaluation of the Change 4 Life School Sports Clubs Programme 2011/12: final report: August 2012. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]
Youth Sport Trust lifetime evaluation of the Change4Life Primary School Sports Club Programme: final report: May 2015. Researcher(s): Dr Abby Foad. [Project report]

Premiership Rugby (Project Rugby), 2022-ongoing.
Get Berkshire Active (Active Medicine in Practice), 2022-ongoing.
Get Berkshire Active (Early Years and Family Project), 2022-ongoing.
Youth Sport Trust (Multi Sports Pilot), 2021-2022.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation, PL & PFA (Head 4 Health), 2021-2022.
Youth Sport Trust (Set for Success Quality Assurance), 2020-ongoing.
Youth Sport Trust (Girls Active 2015-20 Research), 2020.
Mencap & Sport England (Round the World Challenge), 2019-2021.
Chance to Shine & Sport England (Secondary School Girls Cricket Programme), 2019-2020.
Youth Sport Trust & Sport England (Healthy Lifestyle Champions), 2019-2020.
Kent Sport & Sport England (Community Sport Sessions), 2019.
ukactive & Sport England (This Mum Moves), 2018-ongoing.
TASS & Sport England (Talented Athlete Dual Career Accreditation Scheme), 2018-2019.
Youth Sport Trust & Sport England (Healthy Active Lifestyle Champions), 2018-2019.
Youth Sport Trust (Get Exam Fit), 2018.
Premiership Rugby & England Rugby (Project Rugby), 2017-2020.
Youth Sport Trust, British Cycling & HSBC (Go-Ride Go), 2017-2018.
Youth Sport Trust & Sport England (Hub Schools), 2017-2018.
Access Sport & Sport England (BMX Legacy Programme), 2016-2020.
EFDS & Mencap (Round the World Challenge), 2016-2017.
Youth Sport Trust (Extra-Curricular Sport), 2016-2017.
Youth Sport Trust & Sport England (Leadership Projects), 2016-2017.
Youth Sport Trust & Department for Education (Project Ability), 2016-2017.
Youth Sport Trust & Sainsbury’s (Active Kids Paralympic Challenge), 2015-2017.
Youth Sport Trust (YA Peer Leaders), 2015-2016.
Sport Wales (Physical Literacy Programme for Schools), 2014-2016.
Youth Sport Trust (Skills2Play), 2013-2016.
Sports Leaders UK (Energy Clubs), 2013-2014.
Youth Sport Trust & Department of Health (Change4Life Clubs), 2010-2016.
Youth Sport Trust & Lloyds TSB (National School Sport Weeks), 2010-2013.
Podium (Engagement of Further Higher Education with the London 2012 Games), 2010-2013.
StreetGames UK (Additionality Evaluation of the Impact and Reach of ‘Doorstep Sport’), 2010.
National Health Service (A Systematic Review of Evidence for the Potential of Live Sites to Generate Community and Public Health Outcomes), 2009-2010.
Sport England (The Potential of a Demonstration Effect from the 2012 Games to Grow and Sustain Participation in Sport), 2009.

Visit the website at: www.canterbury.ac.uk/spear

Email: spear@canterbury.ac.uk

Embedding physical activity guidance during pregnancy and in postpartum care: ‘This Mum Moves’ enhances professional practice of midwives and health visitors Dr Katrina Taylor, Dr Marlize DeVivo, Dr Hayley Mills, Dr Philip Hurst, Miss Stacey Draper, Dr Abby Foad, (24 Jul 2023): Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. [Journal article]
Engaging and sustaining people with intellectual disabilities in physical activity: a narrative review of existing evidence Professor Jan Burns, Miss Annabel Carter, Miss Stacey Draper, Dr Abby Foad, (26 Nov 2022, 02 Sep 2024): International Journal of Developmental Disabilities. [Journal article]
The placebo and nocebo effect on sports performance: a systematic review Dr Philip Hurst, Professor Florentina Hettinga, Professor Bart Roelands, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Damian Coleman, C. Beedie, (15 Aug 2019): European Journal of Sport Science. [Journal article]
Adventures in coach learning: considering new approaches Dr Katie Dray, Dr Abby Foad, Professor Mike Weed, (01 Mar 2018): Applied Coaching Research Journal. [Journal article]
An educational placebo effect intervention reduces the likelihood of athletes using performance enhancing drugs Dr Philip Hurst, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Damian Coleman, C. Beedie, Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies (SIPS) conference on placebo studies. [Conference paper]
Consensus statement on placebo effects in sports and exercise: the need for conceptual clarity, methodological rigour, and the elucidation of neurobiological mechanisms. C. Beedie, Dr Philip Hurst, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Elliot Cohen, Professor Bart Roelands, Professor Florentina Hettinga, Professor Simon Harvey, (16 Aug 2018): European Journal of Sport Science. [Journal article]
Athletes intending to use sports supplements are more likely to respond to a placebo Dr Philip Hurst, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Damian Coleman, C. Beedie, (18 Apr 2017): Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (MSSE). [Journal article]
Caution, this treatment is a placebo. It might work, but it might not”: why emerging mechanistic evidence for placebo effects does not legitimise complementary and alternative medicines in sport C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Philip Hurst, Dr Abby Foad, (31 Jul 2017): British Journal of Sports Medicine. [Journal article]
Is the intention to use sport supplements a predictor of placebo and nocebo responding among athletes? Dr Philip Hurst, C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Abby Foad, Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies (SIPS). [Speech]
Is there a role for implicit and explicit information about placebo and nocebo effects in reducing the use of drugs in sport? Dr Philip Hurst, C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Abby Foad, Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies (SIPS). [Speech]
Active Kids Paralympic Challenge Dr Abby Foad, (2016). The Centre of Sport, Physical Education, and Activity Research (SPEAR), Canterbury Christ Church Universirty. [Research report]
Beliefs versus reality, or beliefs as reality? The placebo effect in sport and exercise Dr Philip Hurst, Dr Abby Foad, C. Beedie, (2016), Sport and Exercise Psychology. London. [Book chapter]
Development and validation of the Sports Supplements Beliefs Scale Dr Philip Hurst, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Damian Coleman, C. Beedie, (10 Oct 2016): Performance Enhancement & Health. [Journal article]
Knowledge and experience of placebo effects modifies athletes’ intentions to use sport supplements Dr Philip Hurst, C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Abby Foad, American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. [Lecture]
Placebo and nocebo effects during repeat sprint performance Dr Philip Hurst, C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Abby Foad, American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. [Lecture]
Capitalizing on the placebo component of treatments C. Beedie, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Philip Hurst, (01 Jul 2015): Current Sports Medicine Reports (CSMR). [Journal article]
Development and validation of the sports supplements beliefs scale [Conference paper abstract] Dr Philip Hurst, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Damian Coleman, (25 Nov 2015), British Association Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) conference: Journal of Sports Sciences. [Journal article]
The engagement of further and higher education with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games II Dr Suzanne Dowse, Dr Abby Foad, I. Wellard, (Apr 2012). [Report]
Placebo effect of an inert gel on experimentally induced leg muscle pain Dr Abby Foad, C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, (Nov 2010): Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine. [Journal article]
The placebo effect in sports performance: a brief review C. Beedie, Dr Abby Foad, (2009): Sports Medicine. [Journal article]
Beliefs versus reality, or beliefs as reality? The placebo effect in sport and exercise C. Beedie, Dr Abby Foad, (2008), Sport and Exercise Psychology. London. [Book chapter]
Identification of placebo responsive participants in 40km laboratory cycling performance C. Beedie, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Damian Coleman, (Mar 2008): Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. [Journal article]
Pharmacological and psychological effects of caffeine ingestion in 40-km cycling performance Dr Abby Foad, C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, (2008): Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. [Journal article]
Positive and negative placebo effects resulting from the deceptive administration of an ergogenic aid C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Abby Foad: International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. [Journal article]
Caffeine works: whether you believe it or not: evidence for pharmacological effects of caffeine ingestion on 40km cycling performance Dr Abby Foad, C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, (2006), Endurance Sport Science Conference. [Conference paper]
Is caffeine all in the head? Evidence for the placebo effects attributable to caffeine in cycling performance C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Abby Foad, (2006), Endurance Sport Science Conference. [Conference paper]
Placebo effects of caffeine on cycling performance C. Beedie, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Abby Foad: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. [Journal article]
Placebo effects of ergogenic aids in sports performance: experimental, psychometric and interview data C. Beedie, Dr Abby Foad, Dr Damian Coleman, Dr Mark Uphill, (2006), BASES Symposium. [Conference paper]

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