Christopher McLaren-Towlson

Dr Christopher McLaren-Towlson

Lecturer in Growth, maturation and talent identification of atheletes

+44 (0)1482 466047 | C.Towlson@hull.ac.uk

Faculty and Department

  • Faculty of Health Sciences
  • School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

Related groups

  • Sport Health and Exercise Science (SHES)

Qualifications

  • BSc (Nottingham Trent University)
  • MSc (Nottingham Trent University)
  • PhD / DPhil (University of Hull)
  • PGCert (University of Hull)
  • PCAP (University of Hull)

Summary

Dr Towlson is a lecturer in Sports Coaching and Performance Science and the module leader for the Introduction to Performance Analysis (Level 5) and Performance Analysis in Practice (Level 6) modules.

He has completed an applied coaching science-focused PhD, a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice teaching qualification, BASES accredited, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research explores the influence of growth, maturation and talent identification within youth athlete populations. With a specific focus on the application of bio-banding within academy soccer. His previous research has been funded by FIFA, UEFA, Hull City FC and Manchester City FC.

Researchgate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher_Towlson

Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=NYMbYEMAAAAJ&hl=en

Orcid profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5960-0324

Chris is the module leader for Introduction to Performance Analysis (Level 5) and Performance Analysis in Practice (Level 6) modules in the Sports Coaching and Performance Science undergraduate degree programme.

He is also leads the Catapult Sports Education Partnership for the University of Hull whereby he is lead the academic for the Catapult Sports GPS/MEMS Workshops (Levels 1, 2 & 3) based at the university. Although these courses are available for paying external delegates working within professional sports teams and other academic institutions, these courses are also embedded in to the undergraduate (Level 5 and 6) Performance Analysis modules as part of the undergraduate Sports Coaching and Performance Science degree, as well as the level 7 MSc in Sports Performance (2019 start). Significantly, the University of Hull now offers students, external delegates the opportunity to complete a BASES endorsed, professional certificate / accreditation.

Chris`s recognized professional accreditations:

International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport (ISPAS) accredited (Level 3, Scientific) – The only member of SHES staff to hold this accreditation.

British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) accredited Sport Scientist – The only member of SHES staff to hold this accreditation.

Fellow of the Higher Academic Education Academy (HEA).

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Journal Article

Skeletal age prediction models by maturity status in male soccer players.

Flores, L. A., McLaren-Towlson, C., De León, L. G., Bonito, F., Mil-Homens, P., Peña-González, I., & Fragoso, M. I. (2025). Skeletal age prediction models by maturity status in male soccer players. Nature, 15, Article 18239. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00402-x

Does team size affect Scottish male academy soccer player technical, locomotor and psychosocial outcomes during age and maturity bio-banded small-sided games?

King, M., Barrett, S., Mclellan, R., Cox, J., Brown, M., Mackenzie, S., & Towlson, C. (in press). Does team size affect Scottish male academy soccer player technical, locomotor and psychosocial outcomes during age and maturity bio-banded small-sided games?. Journal of sports sciences, https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2456408

Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play

Escreet, E., Barrett, S., Toner, J., Iga, J., & Towlson, C. (2025). Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play. PLoS ONE, 20(1), Article e0316833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316833

John Toner

Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play

Escreet, E., Barrett, S., Toner, J., Iga, J., & Towlson, C. (2025). Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play. PLoS ONE, 20(1), Article e0316833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316833

John Toner

Creatine kinase and neuromuscular fatigue responses following differing spells of simulated cricket fast bowling

Bray, J. W., Towlson, C., Hayes, S. C., & Fogarty, M. (2025). Creatine kinase and neuromuscular fatigue responses following differing spells of simulated cricket fast bowling. PLoS ONE, 20(1 January), Article e0317692. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317692

Steve Hayes James Bray

Research interests

Chris`s research interests generally span the themes of athletic performance monitoring, long-term athletic development, talent identification and performance analysis of athletes’, with a specific focus on team-sports. His research values the translation of laboratory- and field-based research into industry-practice. Accordingly, he is currently involved in research projects with a number of professional sports teams and athletes:

Maturity-status ‘bio-banding’ as a tool for ongoing talent (de)selection of academy soccer players using a multi

The influence of maturity status on the efficacy of differential RPE (dRPE) within a professional youth football training and match programme.

The influence of maturity status on the technical and tactical demands of a professional youth football training and match programme.

Understanding the transfer between training and match play in professional football: Does the way we train translate to the match?

Examining player recovery kinetics in professional football.

The efficacy of virtual reality training in professional football.

The effect of training-ring size on the physical, technical, tactical, and movement profiles of Olympic-style boxers.

Lead investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

The validity, reliability and practical application of Sports Board within academy soccer programmes

Funder

Pro Football Support

Grant

£66,852.00

Started

3 January 2023

Status

Ongoing

Project

Maturity-status ‘bio-banding’ as a tool for ongoing talent (de)selection of academy soccer players using a multi-disciplinary approach

Funder

Union of European Football Associations

Grant

£12,500.00

Started

1 June 2018

Status

Complete

Postgraduate supervision

The influence of growth, maturity status and birth date distribution on the physical characteristics of elite youth football players.

The efficacy of virtual reality training in professional football.

Examining player recovery kinetics in professional football

PhD supervisions:

Tom Bennett - PT PhD, Hull FC RFU ("Evaluation of individualized speed running thresholds")

Ben Greenhough - PT PhD, Hull City AFC ("Efficacy of virtual reality training in elite soccer players")

Aimee Evans - PT PhD, ("Examining player recovery kinetics in professional)

Tia Kate Davidson - PT PhD, Manchester City FC ("Examing the the technical and tactical responses of acdemy soccer players")

MSc supervisions:

James Robinson - MRes, ("The validation of a new psycho-social behavioural scoring system for use within acdemy soccer")

Emily Escreet - MRes, Norwich City FC ("Technical and tactical demands of academy soccer players")

Demi Jo Watson - MRes, ("Coaches perceptions of bio-banding")

James Mallett - MRes, Hull City AFC ("Technical and Tactical demands of professional soccer players")

Amy Stringer - MRes, Hull City AFC ("Technical characteristics of academy soccer players during bio-banded match-play")

Kieran Short - MRes,Hull City AFC("The use of differential RPE within academy soccer")

Danny Snow - MRes, ("Physiological responses of boxers according to ring size")

Alex Lowthorpe - MRes, Hull City AFC ("Influence of relative pitch size during bio-banded play") Completed 2021

Calum MacMaster - MRes, Hull City AFC ("The effect of bio-banding on talent identification in soccer") Completed 2019

Awards and prizes

Research Excellance Award

2022 - 2022

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2020

International Society of Performance Analysis in Sport

2019 - 2022

Accredited Level 3

BASES Accredited Sport Scientist

2017 - 2022

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