Philippa Velija

Dr Philippa Velija

Head of Education and Sociology

School of Sport, Health and Social Sciences

Room no. RM206

Biography

After completing her PhD at Brunel University in 2007 Philippa worked at York St John University as Head of Programme for Sport Education and Development. In this role she led the team to develop a number of new programmes in physical education and youth sport, and sport development and coaching, as well as developing new assessment strategies, placement opportunities and enhancing the staff and student experience in the subject area.

During her time at York St John, Philippa was also part of the Unit for child and youth studies, a multidisciplinary research group focused on understanding a range of issues in child and youth studies. 

Philippa has taught a number of modules focusing on the sociology of sport, including introduction to sociology of sport, sport and sociological theories, sport policy, sport and the body and gender in sport. In addition, she has led the dissertation module for undergraduate students and co-delivered research methods modules for sport students. She is committed to working with students to help them develop an understand issues of equity and diversity in sport and adopting sociological theories to understanding complex issues in sport are issues.

Philippa's approach to teaching is to adopt a research informed teaching approach, by embedding this as part of the curriculum. Students can learn about research when staff work together with students to engage them in up to date research in the fields of study and help them produce valuable knowledge and research in their disciplines. 

Taught courses

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MA Youth Sport and Physical Education
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PGCert Youth Sport and Physical Education
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BA (Hons) Physical Education

Further information

  1. Recent publications

    Find out more about Philippa's recent publications

    Mierzwinski, M, Cock, S & Velija, P. (2019) Bullying in School Sport a Figurational Position Statement, Quest, published online 31st Jan 2019.

    Velija, P (2019) Gender and Leadership in English Cricket:  A Case Study of the Women’s Cricket Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board in Gender diversity in European sport leadership: progress and stagnation. London: Routledge

    Malcolm, D. and Velija, P. (2018) Figurational Research in Sport, Leisure and Health, London: Routledge

    Velija, P. (2018) Gender and Sexual Relations in British Sports Broadcasting: Beyond Clare Balding in Magrath LBGT Athletes in Sports Media London: Palgrave 

    Mierzwinski, M & Velija P. (2019) Figurational sociology and masculine embodiment in Male Physical Education in Handbook of Sport and Masculinity. London: Routledge

    Velija, P with Mansfield, L. (2017). ‘The UK House of Commons Women and Sport Report 2014-2015: Policy, Evidence and Impact’, in (eds) Mansfield, L., Caudwell, J., Wheaton, B., and Watson, R. The Palgrave Handbook of Feminism and Sport, Leisure and Physical Education. Basingstoke. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Malcolm, D and Velija, P.,(2017). Cricket: the quintessential English game?. IN: Gibbons, T. and Malcolm, D. (eds.) Sport and English National Identity in a ‘Disunited Kingdom’. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 19 - 33.

    Velija, P and Hughes, L (2017). ‘Men fall like boiled eggs, Women like boiled eggs: Civilised female bodies and gender relations in British National Hunt racing. International Review for Sociology of Sport, first published date 09 June 2017.

    Velija, P. (2015) Women’s Cricket and Global Processes: The Emergence and Development of Womens Cricket as a Global Game. Palgrave Macmillian.

    Noret, N, Smith, A, Velija, P, Mierzwinski, M and Birbeck, N. (2015) Bullying in School Sport Report, in Conjunction with The Ben Cohen Stand Up Foundation.

    Mierzwinski, Velija and Malcolm (2014) ‘Women’s Experiences in the Mixed Martial Arts: A Quest for Excitement?’, Sociology of Sport Journal, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p66.

    Velija, P. Ratna, A and Flintoff, A (2012). ‘Women and Cricket: Negotiating the Changing Field of Play, International Review for Sociology of Sport, ifirst

    Velija, P., Fortune, L., and Mierzwinski, M. (2012). ‘Women, gender and embodiment in the Martial Arts’, Leisure Studies .Ifirst Article, 1-17.

    Velija, P. (2012) ‘The Batting is fragile and uncertain’ Media Representations of Women in Cricket (1998-2008)’ Media Report to Women.

    Velija, P. (2012). ‘A Maiden Over: A Socio-Historical Overview of the Women’s Ashes’. Sport in Society. Vol 15, 8.

  2. Research interests

    Philippa's research contributes to the academic area of the sociology of sport and focuses on issues of social justice, but more specifically on gender relations in sport.

    Philippa has been research active in the area of sociology of sport, contributing to the recent REF. Recently, her research has focused on the production of a sole authored book with Palgrave published in 2015 entitled Women’s Cricket and Global Processes: The Emergence and Development of Women’s Cricket as a Global Game. 

    She has published in several peer reviewed journals, including International Review for Sociology of Sport, Sociology of Sport Journal, developing a strong research profile focusing on issues of gender relations in sport, including women’s cricket, horse racing, MMA, girls and Physical Education and Sport.

    She is currently supervising a PhD on civilising processes, physical education and masculine identities. 

  3. Work in progress

    Philippa is currently working on a joint edited text with Dominic Malcolm for undergraduate students entitled, Figurational Research in Sport, Health and Leisure.

    Due in 2017, it will be published by Routledge. She is currently working on a number of book chapters on gender and sport, including a contribution to the Gibbons, T. and Malcolm, D. (Eds.) Sport & English National Identity in a 'Disunited Kingdom' and the forthcoming Handbook of Sport Feminisms.