Keywords
Biography
I am a Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences, Accredited Exercise Scientist and Accredited Sports Scientist at the University of New South Wales, interested in group dynamics in physical activity and sport.
The application of my research interests varies from high-performance sport to participation for health and wellbeing.
My Grants
Understanding Influences on Cooperative Motor Skill Learning - $2200
UNSW School of...view more
I am a Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences, Accredited Exercise Scientist and Accredited Sports Scientist at the University of New South Wales, interested in group dynamics in physical activity and sport.
The application of my research interests varies from high-performance sport to participation for health and wellbeing.
My Grants
Understanding Influences on Cooperative Motor Skill Learning - $2200
UNSW School of Health Sciences Seed Funding - 2025
School of Health Sciences and UNSW ARC program evaluation, optimisation, and expansion of the SheCan learn to gym program - $14000
Medibank - 2024
MOCHA: Motor and Cognitive Holistic Assessments - $200000
Research Infrastructure Scheme - 2024
Travel Grant- $1050
UNSW School of Health Sciences - 2024
My Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy (Exercise and Sport Science) / Doctor of Health Sciences August | 2023
Dual Award Doctoral Degree
University of Newcastle (Australia) and Ghent University (Belgium)
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (Honours) | November 2017
University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science | November 2016
University of Newcastle
My Awards
Early Career Educator of the Year | 2024
School of Health Sciences UNSW
Oral Presentation Award | 2021
Australian Skill Acquisition Network Conference
Faculty Medal | 2018
University of Newcastle
People’s Choice Award | 2017
Australian Skill Acquisition Network Conference
My Research Activities
Hands, D. E., O’Brien-Smith, J., de Jonge, X. A. K. J., Livingston, G. C., & Borges, N. R. (2025, January 14). Tactical performance of an Australian A-League association football team: Comparing spatiotemporal data between different phases of play in matches. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. Taylor & Francis.
O’Brien-Smith, J., Smith, M. R., Lenoir, M., & Fransen, J. (2025). Exploring the effects of instruction and game design on youth soccer players’ skill involvement and cooperative team behaviour. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 96(1), 109–115. Routledge.
O’Brien-Smith, J., Smith, M. R., Vansteenkiste, P., Fransen, J., Zeuwts, L., Bennett, K. J. M., & Lenoir, M. (2025). Understanding the role of gaze behaviour and coaching experience in the assessment of youth soccer teams. Science and Medicine in Football, 9(2), 163–171. Routledge.
Mohammadi Orangi, B., Lenoir, M., Yaali, R., Ghorbanzadeh, B., O’Brien-Smith, J., Galle, J., & De Meester, A. (2023). Emotional intelligence and motor competence in children, adolescents, and young adults. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 20(1), 66–85. Routledge.
Butcher, C., Fransen, J., O’Brien-Smith, J., & Smith, M. (2022). A scoping review of methods used to reduce the influence of biological maturity on talent selection and development in youth sport. OSF Preprints. OSF.
O’Brien-Smith, J., Fransen, J., Sheehan, W. B., Lenoir, M., Bennett, K., & Smith, M. R. (2022). Collective behaviour in high and low-level youth soccer teams. Science and Medicine in Football, 6(2), 164–171. Routledge.
O’Brien-Smith, J., Bennett, K. J. M., Fransen, J., & Smith, M. R. (2020). Same or different? A comparison of anthropometry, physical fitness and perceptual motor characteristics in male and female youth soccer players. Science and Medicine in Football, 4(1), 37–44. Routledge.
O’Brien-Smith, J., Tribolet, R., Smith, M. R., Bennett, K. J. M., Fransen, J., Pion, J., & Lenoir, M. (2019). The use of the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder in the talent pathway in youth athletes: A systematic review. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22(9), 1021–1029. Elsevier.