About WCSF
What is WCSF?
The World Congress on Science and Football (WCSF) is the leading international forum for research and innovation across all codes of football, bringing together academics, practitioners and industry partners from around the world.
Chairs
A warm welcome from the conference chairs, Dr. Martin Littlewood and Dr. Sigrid Olthof! We are delighted to welcome you to Liverpool for the World Congress on Science and Football. Together with the Local Organising Committee and the Scientific Committee, we are excited to celebrate 40 years of football science with you at Liverpool John Moores University!
Dr Martin Littlewood
An Associate Professor in Performance Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University and an accredited performance psychologist with over 20 years of experience in elite professional sport. His work spans applied practice in Premier League and international football environments alongside an active research profile. Martin’s research focuses on talent development, athlete identity, and the design of sport psychology systems that embed effective psychological support within organisations. He co-developed the Sport Psychology Canvas, a framework supporting practitioners and clubs in designing and documenting high-quality psychology provision across development and performance settings.
Dr Sigrid Olthof
A Senior Lecturer in Performance Analysis and Analytics at Liverpool John Moores University with applied experience across international high-performance sport. Her work focuses on optimising player and team performance through performance analysis, training design, and applied analytics in football and other team sports. Her research explores small-sided games, training methods, coach behaviour, and the use of wearable technologies such as GPS. Sigrid works closely with coaching and medical staff to integrate data and technology into training and competition environments. She currently serves as the Chair of the International Steering Committee on Science and Football.
Local Organising Committee
Theo Bampouras
Joe Causer
Francesca Champ
Graeme Close
Colum Cronin
Kathryn Curran
Dominic Doran
Kevin Enright
Jonathan Foulkes
Ed Hope
Stephen McQuilliam
James Morton
Sam Moss
Daniel Owens
Chelsea Oxendale
James Roberts
Mark Robinson
Craig Twist
Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee supports the development of the conference programme and helps ensure the academic quality of WCSF. Members contribute to abstract review, programme development, and session chairing during the congress.
Dr. Anne Benjaminse, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
Dr. Michel Brink, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
Dr. Colum Cronin, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
Prof. Jesse Davis, KU Leuven, Belgium
Prof. Barry Drust, University of Birmingham, UK
Dr. Sabrina Forster, Saarland University, Germany
Dr. Job Fransen, Charles Sturt University, Australia
Prof. Warren Gregson, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Prof. Anne Hecksteden, University of Innsbruck, Austria
Prof. Franco Impellizzeri, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Dr. Matthias Kempe, University of Vienna, Austria
Dr. Katrine Okholm Kryger, St Mary’s University Twickenham, UK
Prof. Allistair McRobert, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Prof. James Morton, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
Prof. Stig Arve Sæther, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Prof. André Seabra, University of Porto, Portugal
Dr. Bruno Travassos, Universidade da Beira Interior, Portugal
Prof. Mark Williams, University of Utah, USA
World Congress on Science and Football
The World Congress on Science and Football is the leading international conference dedicated to research and innovation across all codes of football. The congress brings together researchers, practitioners, and industry partners to advance the role of science in football performance, health, technology, and society.
WCSF provides a global forum for presenting new research, sharing applied practice, and developing international collaborations across the football science community. It is held every two years and hosted by universities around the world
History
The first World Congress on Science and Football was held at the Albert Dock in Liverpool in 1987, organised by Professors Tom Reilly and Adrian Lees from Liverpool John Moores University. Their vision was to bring together scientists whose research focused on football and practitioners interested in applying scientific knowledge to the game.
From its earliest edition, the congress embraced a multidisciplinary perspective, covering topics such as physiology, coaching, performance analysis, psychology, injury prevention, and football in the community. Importantly, it also welcomed contributions from across multiple codes of football, including association football, rugby codes, American football, Australian Rules football, and Gaelic football.
Over the past four decades, the congress has been hosted by universities around the world and has developed into the leading international forum for football science. Today, WCSF continues to connect researchers, practitioners, and industry partners who share a common goal: advancing the role of science in football.
In 2027, the congress returns to Liverpool for its 40th anniversary, celebrating the city where football science first brought the global research community together.
International Steering Committee
The International Steering Committee provides strategic oversight for the World Congress on Science and Football and supports the long-term development of the conference.
The committee currently consists of:
Dr. Sigrid Olthof (chair, Liverpool John Moores University)
Distinguished Professor Aaron Coutts (University of Technology Sydney)
Dr. Martin Littlewood (Liverpool John Moores University)
Prof. Tim Meyer (Saarland University)
Helena Mahmood (PhD representative, University of the West of Scotland)
WCSF 2029: A call for bids
As we look ahead to World Congress on Science and Football 2027, we also look forward to the next chapter of this conference. The international Steering Committee now welcomes institutions to submit bids to host the 2029 edition.
Further information:
The submission deadline for the WCSF 2029 bid is 31 January 2027. Interested in hosting the congress in 2031 or beyond? Contact the International Steering Committee!
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a modern public research university located in the heart of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. With more than 25,000 students from over 100 countries, LJMU combines over 200 years of educational heritage with a strong commitment to research, innovation, and real-world impact.
The university is internationally recognised for its work in sport and exercise sciences, with strong links to professional sport organisations and industry partners. LJMU provides world-class facilities and an environment that supports collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and industry.
Contact us
Please get in touch with us:
wcsf2027@ljmu.ac.uk
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