Colin Deal graduated from Acadia University in 2013 with an honour's kinesiology degree. He then completed a master’s at the University of Ottawa (2015) and a PhD at the University of Alberta (2022) in which he studied youth sport as a context for positive youth development with a particular focus on connecting the individual development of young athletes to benefits for the broader community through the concept of ‘contribution.’
Colin worked as an Instructor at Athabasca University (2022-2023) before joining SSEHS as a Dean’s Associate Fellow in Sport Psychology in 2023.
Dr Deal’s research is youth sport as a context for positive youth development. He is particularly interested in how youth sport (up to and including university athletes) can be delivered to facilitate the psychological and social development of young athletes. Dr Deal is particularly focused on the concept of contribution as a link between the individual benefits experienced by young athletes and the benefits their development may have on their broader communities through activities such as volunteering.
Dr Deal uses qualitative research methods with expertise in grounded theory and a range of data collection techniques including interviews and focus groups.
Featured publications
- Deal, C. J., & Holt, N. L. (2021). Coaches’ perspectives on contribution. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20(4), 1225-1244. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1956568
- Holt, N. L., Jørgensen, H., & Deal. C. J. (2021). How do sport parents engage in autonomy-supportive parenting in the family home setting? A theoretically informed qualitative analysis. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 43(1), 61-70. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2020-0210
- McHugh, T.-L.F., Deal, C. J., Blye, C.-J., Dimler, A. J., Halpenny, E. A., Sivak, A., & Holt, N. L. (2019). A meta-study of qualitative research examining sport and recreation experiences of Indigenous youth. Qualitative Health Research, 29(1), 42-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/104973231875
- Deal, C. J., Pankow, K., Chu, T. A., Pynn, S. R., Smyth, C. L., & Holt, N. L. (2018). A mixed methods analysis of disciplinary incidents in men's soccer. Sport Management Review, 21(1), 72-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2017.04.002
- Deal, C. J., & Camiré, M. (2016). University student-athletes’ experiences of facilitators and barriers to contribution: A narrative account. The Qualitative Report, 21, 2087-2102.
- Deal, C. J., & Camiré, M. (2016). An examination of university student-athletes’ motivations to contribute. Journal of College & Character, 17(2), 116-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/2194587x.2016.1159227