António Palmeira Attends PhD Defense at KU Leuven, Strengthening Research Network

Leuven, Belgium – November 14, 2023 – KU Leuven, one of Europe’s leading research universities, recently hosted CIDEFES member António Palmeira as one of the judges for the PhD defense of Koen Van Meervelt. During his visit, Palmeira took the opportunity to strengthen his network with Gert Vande Broek and the esteemed research team from the Leuven Centre of Sport Sciences.

The thesis entitled “Towards a contextual perspective on coach behavior: Investigating athletes’ expectations and coach dynamics” was successfully defended by Koen Van Meervelt. His groundbreaking research delved into understanding the impact of contextual factors on coach behaviors and their effects on athletes’ performance and well-being.

During his visit, Palmeira engaged in fruitful discussions with Gert Vande Broek, a distinguished researcher at KU Leuven’s Leuven Centre of Sport Sciences. Their conversations centered around current trends in sports psychology research and potential avenues for future collaboration. The meeting further solidified their commitment to advancing knowledge in this field through joint efforts.

The Leuven Centre of Sports Sciences is renowned for its cutting-edge research and innovative contributions to various fields related to sports performance and athlete well-being. The collaboration between António Palmeira and Gert Vande Broek is expected to yield significant breakthroughs in understanding how contextual factors shape coach behavior and subsequently influence athletes’ expectations, performance, and overall dynamics within a team.

About Leuven Centre of Sport Sciences:
The Leuven Centre of Sport Sciences at KU Leuven is dedicated to conducting high-quality interdisciplinary research in sports sciences. With a focus on athlete performance optimization, well-being, injury prevention, and talent development, the center collaborates with national and international partners to advance knowledge in these critical areas.