My Biography

Richard has worked in WIT since 2005 in the Department of Sport & Exercise Science on a wide range of undergrad and postgrad courses. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Limerick examining the Biomechanics of Elite Athletes. He holds an MSc in Sports Psychology and Physiology from Ithaca College New York. Richard has been involved in many multidisciplinary projects over the years and his interests range from strength and conditioning, biomechanics, sports psychology, statistics and artificial intelligence. Richard is keen to collaborate with colleagues interested in performance sport.

Lecturer in the Department of Sport & Exercise Science since 2005 across the following courses:

Undergraduate

- Bachelor of Business in Recreation & Sport Management

- Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Recreation and Sport Management

- BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Performance

- BSc (Hons) in Exercise Science (Common Entry, Sport, Nutrition, & Health)

Postgraduate Taught

- MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Current Postgrads by Research

- Ph.D. - Chloe Leddy  - Machine Learning and AI in GAA - SERD funded 

- Ph.D. - Mark Flynn - The effects of strength training on performance in endurance athletes - IRC funded 

Social Media

Follow us on Facebook - Department of Health Sport & Exercise Science

Follow us on Twitter - @DSESWIT

Research

Current Research interests:

- Strength and Conditioning intervention based studies
- Kinematic and kinetic analysis of human movement in sport
- Machine learning and Ai in movement assessments in sport

Completed a PhD in the University of Limerick in 2018, in the area of Strength & Conditioning - Movement Specificity of Resistance Training.

Biomechanics Research Unit
Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences University of Limerick
Email: [email protected]
Supervisors: Dr Ian Kenny, Dr Mark Lyons, and Dr Drew Harrison

Peer Reviewed Journals:

Article: Coaching Sprinting: Expert Coaches’ Perception of Resistance Based Training 
International Journal of Sport Science & Coaching
Bolger, R., Harrison, D., Lyons, M. and Kenny, I.C. (Accepted July 2015) https://goo.gl/CEHwTm 

Article: Sprinting Performance and Resistance-Based Training Interventions: A Systematic Review
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Bolger, R., Harrison, D., Lyons, M. and Kenny, I.C. (2015) https://goo.gl/VRBofC

Conference Presentations: 

Flynn, M., Bolger, R. and Hanlon, M. (2020) Validity of a Treadmill-Mounted Photoelectric System for Measuring Spatiotemporal Parameters Over a Range of Running Speeds. Presented at the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, Liverpool, UK. https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol38/iss1/163/

Healy, R., Bolger, R., Kenny, I.C. and Harrison, A. J. (2020) Kinematic Differences Between Sprinting and The Hurdle Jump Exercise. Presented at the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, Liverpool, UK. https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol38/iss1/132/

Bolger, R., Harrison, A. J., Lyons, M. and Kenny, I.C. (2014) Sprinting performance and resistance based training interventions: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Presented at the 2014 All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences and Physical Education, 24 January 2014, Limerick, Ireland. http://hdl.handle.net.proxy.lib.ul.ie/10344/3645

Teaching

Modules Past/ Present

• Sport & Exercise Biomechanics

• Conditioning for Sports Performance

• Major Project / Dissertation

• Biomechanics & Kinesiology

• Strength & Conditioning 1, 2 & 3

• Performance & Analysis

• Fitness Training & Performance

• Performance Psychology

• Resistance & Conditioning

• Exercise Programming

• MA Placement

• Advanced Fitness Studies

• Sport & Exercise Psychology

• Professional Practice

• Advanced Exercise Programming

Professional

Professional Memberships:

- International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS)
- International Society of Biomechanics (ISB)
- National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA)
- National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM)
- National Certificate in Fitness and Exercise (NCEF) Tutor
- United Kingdom Strength & Conditioning Association (UKSCA)
- Coach Developing Office with the Irish Ameature Weightlifting Association (IAWA)

Peer Reviewer:

- Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (Impact Factor = 4.029)
- Journal of Sports Sciences (Impact Factor = 2.597)
- Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research (Impact Factor = 2.973)

External Examiner:

- GMIT - MSc in Strength & Conditioning, MSc in Sport & Clinical Biomechanics, and the BSc in Sport & Exercise Science
- IT Carlow - MSc in Strength & Conditioning
- IT Tralee - BSc in Coaching & Sports Science, BSc in Health & Leisure Studies