Staff Profile
Dr Mark Mierzwinski
Senior Lecturer in Sociology of Sport
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I graduated from York St John University with a first-class degree in Sport Studies before completing a MSc in the Sociology of Sport at Loughborough University. From 2010, I have lectured at York St John University, completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PCAP). Alongside lecturing, from 2013-2020, I completed a part-time PhD. For five years I was a Learning and Teaching Lead in the School of Sport (2017-2019) and then Science, Technology and Health (2019-2022). In 2022, I gained a Senior Fellowship at the Higher Education Academy and co-founded the Tackling Welfare in Sport Together (TWiST) research group. Since 2023, I have been Course Lead for the MSc Physical Education and Sports Coaching, MSc Sports and Exercise Therapy, and MSc Sport and Exercise Science.
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
- Email – m.mierzwinski@yorksj.ac.uk
- Phone – 01904 876 459
- Research - View my work in RaY
- Postgraduate Research Supervisor
Further information
Teaching
I generally teach across modules concerning the sociology of sport, social justice, qualitative research methods and contemporary sports issues. Currently, I am the module director for:
- SPO6021M Duty of Care in Physical Education and Sports Coaching
- SPO7001M Advanced Research Methods and Dissemination
- SPO7002M Placement in Sport
- SPO7004M Debate and Current Opinion in Sport, Exercise, and Physical Education
And I teach on the following courses:
- BSc Physical Education and Sports Coaching
- MSc Physical Education and Sports Coaching
- MSc Sport and Exercise Science
- MSc Sport and Exercise Therapy
Research
My broad research interest lies in how people socially construct, promote and enact social justice in sports, education and healthcare environments. Currently, I am interested in athlete welfare and duty of care, with respect to language and discrimination, in sport. To date, I apply a figurational sociological framework and adopt a range of qualitative methods.
I welcome any self-funded PhD research projects relating to these areas. I have been principal investigator or co-principal investigator on a number of funded research projects, including ‘rurality as a health inequality’, ‘post-16 access to colleges’ and ‘improving racial literacy amongst undergraduate sport students’.
Publications
Mierzwinski, M. & Green, M. (2025) How do 9–10-year-olds conceptualise, engage in, and navigate banter within primary education? A figurational analysis. Children & Society. (In Press)
Green, M. & Mierzwinski, M. (2025) A figurational analysis of secondary Physical Education gendered changing room procedures and practices in England. European Physical Education Review.
Green, M. & Mierzwinski, M. (2025) ‘It is a grey area in sport, not just in school’: A figurational analysis of banter in secondary Physical Education in England. International Review for the Sociology of Sport.
Swain, S., Green, M., & Mierzwinski, M. (2025) Decoloniality and anti-racist pedagogy: Sport students' experiences of enhancing their racial literacy. Sport, Education and Society. (In Press)
Mierzwinski, M. & Velija, P. (2024) Young People’s Use of School-Based Banter. In: Gabriel, Norman, (ed.) International Comparisons in Learning and Education. Palgrave Studies on Norbert Elias. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 131-154
Green, M., Mierzwinski, M., & Haines Lyon, C. (2024) Conceptualising and navigating bullying in English secondary schools: a figurational analysis of power imbalances in physical education. Sport, Education and Society, 1-13.
McGivern, P. & Mierzwinski, M. (2024) A comparison of gambling behaviours among sport-based and non-sport-based students in the UK. Mental Health and Social Inclusion.
Professional activities
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and was external examiner at Northumbria University (2019 to 2023). I am Chair of a longstanding community charity, whilst I also coach football and cricket to children. I am a member of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), the Football Association (FA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
