Assistant Professor
Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
119 Frank Kennedy Centre
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
R3T 2N2
Phone: (204)474-8378
E-mail: leisha.strachan@ad.umanitoba.ca

Education

September 2004 – June 2008
Doctor of Philosophy – Sport Psychology
Queen’s University
Supervisors: Dr. Jean Côté and Dr. Janice Deakin

September 2002 – August 2004
Master of Human Kinetics – Sport Psychology
University of Windsor
Supervisor: Dr. Krista Chandler

September 1997 – May 1999
Bachelor of Education
Major: Physical Education   Minor: French
University of Manitoba

September 1994 – May 1997
Bachelor of Physical Education
University of Manitoba

Keywords: positive youth development, sport participation, children, youth, sport psychology

Research Interests: Dr. Strachan’s research interests focus on positive youth development in sport. Specifically, she is interested in examining the experiences and various outcomes (i.e., personal development, enjoyment, burnout) of children and youth in both recreational and elite sport programs.

Dr. Strachan received funding from the Sport Canada Research Initiative to explore positive youth development in elite sport settings. She is also currently working on developing a project aimed at examining the experiences of children involved in the Mini U sport programs at the University of Manitoba. In March 2011, Dr. Strachan was awarded a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to begin development of a technology-based program aimed to deliver positive programming to youth sport teams and coaches. She is also part of a Public Health Agency of Canada funded research team examining the role of parents in promoting physical activity to their children.

Additionally, the topics of imagery use in sport (particularly with young athletes), physical activity program delivery, and career transitioning continue to be of interest to Dr. Strachan. In terms of applied work, Dr. Strachan has had the opportunity to consult with athletes in team and individual sports including volleyball, baton twirling, wheelchair curling, rowing, and judo.

Other Interests: As a former National team member and World medalist in the sport of baton twirling, Dr. Strachan continues to be involved in the sport as a coach and judge. She has also had the opportunity to do choreography across Canada as well as in England and Scotland. Besides her involvement in baton twirling, Dr. Strachan enjoys working in the Caribbean Community in Winnipeg and singing at her church, Blessed John XXIII.

Honours and Awards:

• 2011 - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Standard Research Grant: "SCORE! Using technology to design and deliver positive youth sport programs"
• 2008 to 2009 - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Post Doctoral Grant Recipient
• 2008 to 2009 - Sport Canada Research Initiative (SCRI) Grant Recipient: "Promoting positive youth development in elite sport contexts using photo elicitation"
• 2005 to 2008 - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Grant Recipient

External Research Funding:

2012: Sport Canada
“Examining psychological literacy through the LTAD” (Co-PI’s – Adrienne Leslie-Toogood & Leisha Strachan)
Amount awarded: $20,600
 
2011: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Sport Canada
“SCORE! Using technology to design and deliver positive youth sport programs” (PI - Leisha Strachan; Co-I’s – Dany MacDonald; Collaborator – Jean Côté)
Amount awarded: $39,496 (from January 2013-December 2015)
 
2011: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Standard Research Grant)
“SCORE! Using technology to design and deliver positive youth sport programs” (PI - Leisha Strachan; Co-I’s – Dany MacDonald; Collaborator – Jean Côté)
Amount awarded: $27, 572 (from March 2011-March 2012)
 
2011: Sport Canada
“Examining psychological literacy through the LTAD” (Co-PI’s – Adrienne Leslie-Toogood & Leisha Strachan)
Amount awarded: $14,600

Internal Research Funding:

2012: Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
“Examining the Meaning of Mini-University Sport Camp Instructors’ Experiences Using Photo Elicitation” (PI – Leisha Strachan; Co-I – Jay Gamey)
Amount awarded: $4,400
 
2011: University of Manitoba Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
“SUPER! Engaging new immigrant youth in physical activity through a positive youth development program” (PI – Leisha Strachan, Partners – Immigrant and Refugee Communities of Manitoba (IRCOM) and Community Vibes Incorporated)
Amount awarded: $5,600

Recent Publications:

Chapters

Fraser-Thomas, J., Strachan, L., & Jeffery-Tosoni, S. (chapter in press). Family influence on children’s involvement in sport. In J. Côté & R. Lidor (Eds.), Conditions of children’s talent development in sport.

Bruner, M. W., Strachan, L., & Côté, J. (2011). Developmental transitions in sport. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching Children in Sport. (pp. 227-239). London: Routledge.

Côté, J., Bruner, M., Erickson, K., Strachan, L., & Fraser-Thomas, J. (2010). Athletes development and coaching. In J. Lyle & C. Cushion (Eds.), Sport coaching: Professionalism and practice (pp. 63-83). Oxford, UK: Elsevier.

Strachan, L., MacDonald, D.J., Fraser-Thomas, J., & Côté, J. (2008). Youth sport: Talent, socialisation, and development. In R. Fisher & R. Bailey (Series Eds)., /Perspectives: Volume 9. Talent identification and development - The search for sporting excellence (pp. 201-216). Germany: H&P Druck.

Côté, J., Strachan, L., & Fraser-Thomas, J. (2008). Participation, personal development and performance through youth sport. In N. L. Holt (Ed.), Positive youth development through sport (pp. 34-45). London: Routledge.

Journal Publications

Strachan, L. (2011). Enhancing coach-parent relationships in youth sports: Increasing harmony and minimizing hassle - A commentary. International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching, 6/(1), 47-48.  

Strachan, L., Côté, J., & Deakin, J. (2011). A new view: Exploring positive youth development in elite sport contexts. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 3/(1), 9–32.

Strachan, L. (2009). Optimization of performance in top-level athletes: An action-focused coping approach – A commentary. International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching, 4/(1), 75-77.

Strachan, L., Côté, J., & Deakin, J. (2009). An evaluation of personal and contextual factors in competitive youth sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 21, 340-355.

Strachan, L., Côté, J., & Deakin, J. (2009). “Specializers” versus “samplers” in youth sport: Comparing experiences and outcomes. The Sport Psychologist, 23, 77-92.

Recent Academic Conference Presentations

Strachan, L., MacDonald, D. J., & Côté, J. (2012, November). SCORE! Using technology to deliver positive youth sport programs. Presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology conference, Halifax, NS.
 
Strachan, L., MacDonald, D. J., & Côté, J. (2012, October). Coaches’ perceptions of project SCORE : A pilot study. Presented at the Sport Canada Research Initiative conference, Ottawa, ON.
 
Leslie-Toogood, A., Strachan, L., Davies, K., Downs, M., & Lagimodiere, C. (2012, January). Examining psychological literacy through the Long Term Athlete Development Model. Presented at the Canadian Sport for Life Conference, Ottawa, ON.
 
Strachan, L. (2011, November). Examining positive youth development in elite sport contexts using photo elicitation. Presented at the Sport Canada Research Initiative conference, Ottawa, ON.

Strachan, L. (2011, June). Examining children’s experiences in summer sport camps using photo elicitation. Presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity conference, Burlington, Vermont.

Gregg, M., & Strachan, L. (2010, October). Developmental differences in youth soccer players’ use of imagery. Presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology conference, Ottawa, ON.

Strachan, L. (2010, October). Promoting positive youth development in elite sport contexts using photo elicitation : Preliminary findings. Presented at the Sport Canada Research Initiative conference, Ottawa, ON.

Strachan, L., & Côté, J. (2009, November). Promoting positive youth development in elite sport contexts using photo elicitation. Presented at the Sport Canada Research Initiative conference, Ottawa, ON.

Strachan, L., Côté, J., & Deakin, J. (2009, June). Coaches’ perceptions of promoting positive youth development in elite sport contexts. Presented at the International Society of Sport Psychology 12th World Congress of Sport Psychology, Marrakech, Morocco.

Côté, J., Bruner, M., Erickson, K., Strachan, L., & Fraser-Thomas, J. (2009, June). Vers une définition de l’entraîneur expert (Towards a definition of an expert coach). Presented at the International Society of Sport Psychology 12th World Congress of Sport Psychology, Marrakech, Morocco.

McFadden, K., Strachan, L., Bruner, M, MacDonald, D. J., & Côté, J. (2009, March). A review of questionnaires for children in sport. Presented at the Eastern Canada Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium, York University, Toronto, ON.