Stodden David F

Biography

Dr. David F. Stodden is an Associate Professor in the College of Education's Department of Physical Education and Athletic Training. He earned his Ph.D. in Motor Behavior from Auburn University, his M.S. in Exercise and Sport Science from Iowa State University and his B.S. in Biology at Buena Vista University. Prior to joining the University of South Carolina in the fall of 2013, Dr. Stodden held faculty positions at Texas Tech University and Bowling Green State University. Additionally, he served as a consultant and minor league strength and conditioning coach for the Cleveland Indians organization and has worked at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Stodden's research focuses on identifying constraints in the acquisition and development of ballistic motor skills; the association of motor competence with physical activity, health-related physical fitness, perceived competence and obesity across the lifespan; and strength and conditioning related to performance. He currently is collaborating with researchers from Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Brazil, Iran, as well many in the U.S. Dr. Stodden has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Association for Sport & Physical Education other sources throughout his career. His research has been published in journals including Motor Control, Pediatric Exercise Science, Journal of Physical Activity & Health, Sports Medicine, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Journal of Applied Biomechanics and multiple others.

Research Interest

Dr. Stodden's research agenda focuses on promoting the acquisition and development of fundamental motor skills and the association of motor skill competence with physical activity, health-related physical fitness, perceived competence, and obesity across the lifespan. His research emphasizes the need to address and understand developmental mechanisms and casual pathways related to youth physical development and trajectories of physical activity and obesity. In addition, research addressing ballistic skills allows him to further explore the behavioral and mechanical nature of multijoint ballistic motor skills and apply this knowledge to skill acquisition, youth physical development and assessment validation.