Doc Reeds

SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST

Doc Reeds has been teaching Sport Psychology , Motor Behavior and Coaching Theory and Techniques at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, for 32 years (mostly face-to-face, but also online). He arrived in Buffalo from Nova Scotia, Canada, where he taught courses in Sport Psychology and coached the Men’s Soccer Team at Acadia University. His teams were ranked as high as eighth in Canada. He was recognized twice as Atlantic University Athletic Association (AUAA) Coach of the Year. Following his time at Acadia University, he served as the men’s soccer coach at Canisius College. (Canisius College competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Association [MAAC] at the NCAA Division I level.) Canisius won the Conference Championship in 1996. He also served as the Western New York Olympic Development Coach for U17 boys.

During his academic career, Doc Reeds served as the Department Chair and Director of the Graduate Programs at Canisius College for 11 years. He was named Faculty of Education Teacher of the Year, the New York State Western Zone Higher Education Teacher of the Year and was bestowed the prestigious honor of Professor Emeritus. His research in sport psychology focuses on personality, perceptual styles, stimulus detection and teaching effectiveness, and has been published in prestigious journals. His work has been cited in the World Sport Psychology Handbook. His 14 years as a head coach has given him many experiences and has formed the basis for much of what he teaches in his courses in Sport Psychology and Sport Management.

Doc Reeds hold two undergraduate degrees; one as a major in Physical Education (BPE) Magna Cum Laude with a minor in Psychology, and one in Education (B Ed). He is a certified teacher of Physical Education and Health and high school psychology and sociology (Individual in Society/Global Studies). He is certified as a coaching educator (CCE) in Canada (National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). He served on the editorial review board for the Level I and Level II Sport Psychology course for coaches. In New York State, he is a course conductor for BOCES’ New York State Coaching Certification Program, and with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) in the United States.

His graduate school training led to a Master’s degree in Human Kinetics (MHK), with a specialization in Sport Psychology, and a Doctorate in Exercise Science, with a specialization in Psychology and Sport Psychology. He received his first opportunity to work as a Sport Psychologist with elite athletes as he served on the team to train Canada’s Olympic Baseball team, which competed in the Los Angeles Olympics. His research was presented at international symposia in Caracus, Venezuela, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and in Rome, Italy. He has served as a consultant and guest clinician with teams in the NHL and AHL. He has worked with young golfers in the AJGA, and has helped develop a curriculum to teach about disordered eating among athletes.

As a competitive athlete, he played four years of soccer in university, earning three varsity letter awards at McMaster University in Hamilton, and one varsity letter at the University of Toronto. He was as a member of the Guelph Oaks Soccer Club in the Southern Ontario Soccer League (SOSL) and played for the Hamilton Sparta Soccer Club in The Ontario Inter-City Soccer League (OICSL). He played for the Buffalo Soccer Club (BSC) in the Buffalo and District Men’s Premier Division. From a sport management perspective, he served as the assistant general manager for the Hamilton Steelers Soccer Club in the Canadian Professional Soccer League. He worked in the area of marketing and promotion and coordinated the team’s summer youth camps.

Most recently, he coached his son’s premier travel soccer team. The boys competed in the State Cup, aiming to earn a berth in the National Championship Series. He has also coached his daughter’s school team. He helps out at his children’s school by serving on the Board of Directors, on the Athletic Advisory Committee, and works as the assistant to the Director of Athletics.