Professor Shane Pill
Professor
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Since 2006, Shane lectures & undertakes research in physical education, sport coaching & sport development, curriculum studies, & educational leadership at Flinders University.
Shane has published over 200 research, scholarly & report publications. He has grant success in the research areas of physical education, mental health education, sport coaching, sport for development, coach development, and community sport engagement.
Shane has a demonstrated record in higher education in innovation, new course development and course leadership in Education. He has extensive not for profit education sector board experience.
Shane is regularly called on to work with community, state & national sport organisations on research initiatives, coach education & development, sport development, & resource initiatives. He is also regularly called on to work with state & national education bodies on professional development, policy, curriculum, & research initiatives. He is a sort after speaker, nationally & internationally.
Shane has been awarded Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) Life Member & Fellow status for his distinguished service to the fields of sport, physical education and recreation over many years.
Member: Flinders University Institute for Mental Health & Wellbeing.
Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) South Australian College of Advanced Education
Masters of Educational Leadership: Australian Catholic University
Doctor of Philosophy: University of Tasmania
Gold Level (Level 3) Australian Football (AFL) Accredited Coach.
Honours and Awards
Most Supportive RHD Supervisor Awards, from CEPSW and FUSA: 2023
Metzler-Freedman Exemplary Paper Award: 2023
ACHPER(SA) President’s Award: distinguished service to the profession: 2021
Australian Award for University Teaching, 2016 & 2021
Flinders University Vice Chancellors Award for Teaching Excellence, 2015 & 2019.
Flinders University EPSW College Excellence in Teaching Award, 2018
SANFL 2013: Coach Award. Services to coaching & coach education
28th ACHPER International Conference (Melbourne: 2013) Early Career Researcher Award-Best paper
CEASA World Teachers Day Award 2007 & 2013.
Flinders University EHL Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching: 2013.
Life Member (2013) and Fellow (2007): The Australian Council for Health, Physical Education & Recreation (LMACHPER): 2013.
Outstanding Service Award, St Thomas School Sport: 2012
Physical Education Week Award: 2000, 2009, 2010.
AFCA (WA Branch) Citation: Excellence in Coaching & nomination for Coach of the Year, 1993 & 1994.
Recent Grants
2025
Adelaide United FC - United in Schools: Program evaluation
Breakthrough-Little Heroes Foundations: Big Talks for Sports Little People
2024
Volleyball Australia: Junior volleyball game scaling
Tennis Australia: Teen Team Tennis evaluation
American Community School of Abu Dhabi: Program Evaluation
Sports College SA: Industry PhD
2023
Shooting Hoops Foundation: Program Evaluation
South Australian Department for Education: Big Talks for Little People in HPE trial
Breakthrough-Little Heroes Foundations & Medibank: Big Talks for Little People schools program cultural appropriateness
Netball Australia: Modified games and environments
Tennis Australia: Women Tennis Coaching
2022
Breakthrough-Little Heroes Foundations: Big Talks for Little People Out of Hours School Care trial
South Australian Government: Active Gamers program evaluation
Uni of Canberra: Affiliated Schools Project: Personalised system of instruction for PE
Association of Independent Schools NSW: What is Physical Education?
2021
DFAT-Oceania Hockey: Hooked in for Health program evaluation
2020
Tennis Australia: Women’s Coaching Project
United World College Dover and East, Singapore: Program Evaluation
2019
South Australian Sports Institute. Coach developer project
Singapore American School: Program Evaluation
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work Research Lead: Industry and Enterprise 2024
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work Teaching and Learning Research Section Lead 2023
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work Decolonising the Curriculum Workgroup Chair 2022-2023
Interim Dean of Education: College of Education, Psychology and Social Work 2022
Academic Supervisor 2019-present
Course Coordinator: Bachelor of Sport, Health & Physical Activity 2014-2019
Sport, Health & Physical Education Discipline Lead 2017-2019
Chair: Bachelor of Sport, Health & Physical Activity Academic Programs Advisory Committee 2014-2017
School of Education Research Higher Degree Coordinator 2013-2015
School of Education Middle & Secondary School Degree Coordinator 2011-2013
Chair: Middle & Secondary Years of Schooling Curriculum Change, Review & Renewal project 2009-2010.
- Curriculum and pedagogy
- Education leadership
- Physical education and sport
- Skill learning
- Sport coaching
- Sport participation
Community Engagement
- Goodwood FC: Womens Coach (2020-24)
- WWTFC FC Womens assistant coach (2021-22)
- Australian Sports Commission Reference Group (2016) Advisory committee (2022-23)
- SA Catholic Primary Schools Sports Association Professional Learning Committee (2006-16)
- South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) Physical Education Review Advisory Panel (2016-17)
- SANFL AFL Ambassador Advisory Committee (2012-2013)
- Dep of Education & Child Development Health Eating and Physical Activity Advisory Committee (2011-12)
- Dep of Education & Child Development Australian Curriculum HPE Advisory Group (2011-15)
- Dep of Education & Childrens Services Learner Wellbeing Project Reference Committee (2006-07)
- Dep of Education & Childrens Services Premiers be active Challenge Advisory Group (2007-10)
- West Adelaide Football Club: Coach 2012-15
- St Thomas School Sport Program: Coach (2003-12)
- Cabra College School Sport Program: Coach (2013-16)
Leadership
-
AIESEP Teaching Games for Understanding SIG International Advisory Board and Executive 2021-24
- Australian Council for Health, Physical Education & Recreation (ACHPER) National Board President (2016-19); National Board Vice President (2015-2016); SA Branch Board Member (2001- 2015); SA Branch President (2002-15); National Board (2004-2010/2015-2019)
- ICHPER.SD Oceania Secretary 2015-2016
Conference Committees
- Active Healthy Kids Alliance, Global Matrix 3.0 Event, Planning Committee (2018)
- 30th ACHPER International Conference, Canberra, ACT, Conference Chair (2017)
- 29th ACHPER International Conference, Adelaide SA, Conference Chair (2015)
- 27th ACHPER International Conference, Adelaide SA, Conference Chair (2011)
- South Australian HPE Conference Organising Committee (2001-2013: 2009-2010 & 2012-2013 Conference Chair)
- Asia Pacific Sport in Education Conference Conference Chair (2008)
Membership of Professional Associations
- Australian Council for Health, Physical Education & Recreation (ACHPER) Life Member (2013)
- International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education AIESEP
- Teaching Games for Understanding Special Interest Group (AIESEP - TGfU SIG)
- Australasian Skill Acquisition Research Group (ASARG)
- Australian Football Coaches Association
- Education - Curriculum
- Education - Teaching
- Physical education
- Schools
- Sport
- Teaching
- Sport and physical education
Listen or watch:
FIFA Training Centre: Expert knowledge The spectrum of coaching styles https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/community/expert-knowledge/the-spectrum-of-coaching-styles.php
ASC Podcast: Developing thinking players https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/digital-media/presentations/2025/asc-coaching-webinars-2025/videos/developing-thinking-participants
Football Researchers Review: The game based model theory https://open.spotify.com/show/32uahoxIOJ2wUTSXcDDsGE
The Sport Psyche Show: The Spectrum of Coaching Styles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVemQLsy5Bg
Australian Sports Commission Podcast: Participant - centred coaching https://sportaus.podbean.com/e/coaching-and-officiating-what-is-participant-centred-coaching/
Australian Sports Commission Podcast: Sport coaching https://www.ausport.gov.au/officiating/podcasts#Shane%20Pill
PE Insights podcast: Spectrum of Teaching Styles https://open.spotify.com/episode/3JqzRGY4qfGITH50iwTQvG
Beyond the club podcast: Coach developers: what, why and when https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DpXUjolLT0nwAc6E8iacD?go=1&sp_cid=513f703f0316a7cac14ae07f89e725c2&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=a5a055da087d44de
The Coach Doctor podcast: Applying Game Sense to your coaching Part 1 https://www.everand.com/podcast/610348269/Professor-Shane-Pill-Applying-Game-Sense-to-your-Coaching-Part-1-Professor-Shane-Pill-from-Flinders-University-in-South-Australia-is-one-of-the-lea
The Coaches Network podcast: A game sense approach https://redcircle.com/shows/the-coaches-network-podcast/ep/5aa61122-103c-4f07-9688-5554a1e390de
ICOACHKIDS Podcast: Creating positive experiences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXfk4qWeo14
Rugby coach weekly podcast: Games for training and learning https://www.rugbycoachweekly.net/rugby-coaching/team-management/shane-pill-games-for-training-and-learning-the-methods-and-the-pitfalls?srsltid=AfmBOoptMrVQCERBbkZAX5d-R_UlXgW4L-GPXBiuQRxD6_ougRAGQAma
Playing with Research in PE Podcast: Game sense https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrkMaIcG_lM
GAA Coach Webinar Series 2020: Coach education https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7plrBHHd7M
The athlete development show: Game sense https://www.facebook.com/AthleteDevelopment/videos/on-the-podcast-this-week-craig-chats-to-shane-pill-about-accidental-academia-and/1820793898000936/
iPhysed podcast: A sense of games https://www.iphys-ed.com/podcast/
Positive Pedagogy podcast: Game sense https://www.audacy.com/podcast/positive-pedagogy-for-sport-coaching-eab2c/episodes/game-sense-with-dr-shane-pill-6b752
The Talent Equation podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/your-kids-should-say-what-game-are-we-going-to-play/id1209549739?i=1000499156435
Run for your Life podcast: Powering up your PE practice https://runyourlifeshowwithandyvasily.buzzsprout.com/881980/episodes/3033403-86-powering-up-your-pe-practice
Read
Learning through sport blog - play with purpose https://learningthroughsport.blogspot.com/
Physical education can be undervalued at school https://theconversation.com/in-sports-mad-australia-new-research-suggests-physical-education-can-be-undervalued-at-school-233448
TGfU Blog: Play with purpose http://www.tgfu.info/special-blogs/september-special-blog-play-with-purpose
Video game design hacks PE class https://www.educationtoday.com.au/news-detail/Video-gaming-design--5209
Putting gaming in the PE mix https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2021/02/28/putting-gaming-in-the-pe-mix/
Aboriginal game play a way to learn https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2021/08/31/aboriginal-game-play-a-way-to-learn/
Home tennis keeps kids active, and learning https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2020/04/29/home-tennis-keeps-kids-active-and-learning/
Need for school children to return to sport https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2021/01/27/need-for-school-children-to-return-to-sport/
We need to teach kids activities they’ll go on to enjoy https://theconversation.com/bushwalking-and-bowls-in-schools-we-need-to-teach-kids-activities-theyll-go-on-to-enjoy-123004
Howzat! Flinders students bowl over Indian cricket https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2018/12/09/howzat-flinders-students-bowl-over-indian-cricket/
Making sense of Aussie Rules coaching https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2015/05/05/making-sense-of-aussie-rules-coaching/
Digital Technology and Physical Education https://edtechsa.sa.edu.au/digital-technology-and-physical-education/
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