Dr Darren Cooper

Dr Darren Cooper in sports attire smiling at camera

Principal Lecturer in Sports Therapy, Course Leader for MSci Sports Therapy., Lead for Continuing Professional Development in Learning and Teaching

School of Sport and Exercise Science

Academics

Contact Details

email: d.cooper@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 542623

Darren joined the ¹ú²úÊÓƵ in June 2013; his areas of expertise are Sports Therapy, Elite Sports Performance, Sports Biomechanics and Learning and Teaching.

Alongside academia, Darren trained as an elite rower on GB’s World Class Start Programme for a number of years competing at elite regattas around the country and trialling against international athletes. After rowing, he took up triathlons and has competed in all distances from sprint to Ironman, aiming to complete at least one Ironman distance race per year.

Darren’s interest in sport has led to numerous and extensive injuries that have meant that being a Sports Therapist has been very beneficial and saved him a fortune! He has worked with athletes professionally since 2003 ranging from dedicated amateurs to Olympians and World Record holders.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Education (Durham) Thesis title: The Effectiveness of Instructional Video in the Acquisition of Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor Skills in Practical Sports Therapy Rehabilitation (), Durham University (2016)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Teesside University (2008)
  • MSc Sports and Exercise, Teesside University (2005)
  • BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy, Teesside University (2004)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Teaching & Research

Teaching

Darren enjoys teaching all areas of Sports Therapy and is currently teaching on a range of Sports Therapy modules from Academic Study Skills to Peripheral and Spinal Manual Therapy. He has taught on every module across the Sports Therapy degree and assists with the development of modules and assessments.

Research

Darren is currently undertaking a variety of research projects within Sports Therapy, Sports Biomechanics and Learning and Teaching. His main focus is currently exploring the application of forces within manual therapy techniques (from a clinical, and learning and teaching perspective) and methods of quantifying the efficacy of these forces.

Publications

Peer reviewed journal articles

Bryant, J, Cooper, D., Peters, D.M. and Cook, Matthew (2023) Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 8 (37). ISSN 2411-5142

Galis, J. and Cooper, D. (2022) Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 36 (9). pp. 2454-2460. ISSN 1064-8011

Galis, J. and Cooper, D. (2020)  Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. ISSN 1064-8011 (Published Online ahead of In Press)

Cooper, D., Bevins, J. and Corbett, M. (2018)  Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 36. pp. 87-91. ISSN 2468-7812

Houten, D. and Cooper, D. (2017) Somatosensory and Motor Research, 34 (3). pp. 158-171. ISSN Print 0899-0220 Online 1369-1651

Cooper, D., Higgins, S. and Beckmann, N. (2017)  Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 45 (4). pp. 546-560. ISSN 0047-2395 Online: 1541-3810

Cooper, D. and Higgins, S. (2015)  British Journal of Educational Technology, 46 (4). pp. 768-779. ISSN 1467-8535

Book section

Cooper, D. (2018)  In: The Science of Basketball. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, pp. 143-155. ISBN Paperback: 978-1138701540; Hardback: 978-1138701533

Conference or workshop items

Cooper, D., Iles, D., Hickman, D and Holland, C (2019) : Learning in Partnership, 12th - 13th June 2019, ¹ú²úÊÓƵ. (Unpublished)

Hope, H. and Cooper, D. (2018)  In: FACE 2018: Transformative Higher Education – Access, Inclusion and Lifelong Learning, 4th - 6th July 2018, ¹ú²úÊÓƵ. (Unpublished)

Hope, H. and Cooper, D. (2018)  In: The ¹ú²úÊÓƵ Annual Learning and Teaching Conference 2018, 13th - 14th June 2018, ¹ú²úÊÓƵ. (Unpublished)

Cooper, D. (2015)  In: HEA Social Sciences Conference, 3-4 December 2015, The Studio, Manchester. (Unpublished)

Cooper, D. (2010)  In: 3Rivers Consortium Conference, March 2010, Sunderland University. (Unpublished)

Cooper, D. (2010)  In: University of Teesside 10th Annual Learning & Teaching Conference, 3rd February 2010, Teesside University. (Unpublished)

Wright, M., Cooper, D., Harrison, C., Cooley, D. and Fleming, L. (2009)  In: First International Sports Science and Sports Medicine Conference, 20th – 22nd August 2009, Newcastle upon Tyne 

Professional Bodies

Member of the Society of Sports Therapists ()

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy ()

External Responsibilities

  • External Examiner for the University of Derby
  • External Examiner for Leeds Trinity University