Dr. Steve Barrett

Dr. Steve Barrett is a sport scientist and innovation leader whose work focuses on how technology can improve training load management, performance monitoring, and decision-making in elite football environments. He is currently at PlayerMaker, where he serves as Vice President of Sports Performance (Research & Innovation) (January 2024–present) and Director of Sport Science and Research Innovation (February 2020–present). In these roles, he leads strategy across sport science, performance analysis, research, and coaching innovation to keep PlayerMaker at the forefront of applied performance technology and practitioner support.

Alongside his work in sport tech, Steve holds several advisory positions, including Board Advisor at Performr.ai(February 2025–present) and Board Advisor at Hytro (June 2021–present), supporting board-level decision-making around product direction and performance applications. He also served as Board Advisor at SweatSearch Ltd (February 2024–January 2026), providing strategic guidance to founders during a key growth phase.

Before moving fully into performance technology leadership, Steve worked extensively in professional football. He was Senior Sport Scientist at Hull City (December 2014–February 2020), supporting applied monitoring and performance preparation in a full-time club setting. Earlier, he spent several years with The Football Association as U23/U20/U18 Women’s Physical Performance Coach (November 2011–July 2017), contributing to training camp delivery, tournament support, and testing provision across the women’s pathway. He also built a strong applied foundation at Scunthorpe United, working as a Youth Football Coach/Sport Scientist (July 2006–December 2014) and previously as Lead Sport Scientist/Performance Analyst/Technical Development Officer (March 2009–August 2010), where he implemented conditioning and recovery support, structured training systems for 5–21-year-olds, and integrated development frameworks within the club environment. His early consultancy experience includes work with Doncaster Rovers Belles as a Sport Science Consultant (September 2009–July 2010), creating physical feedback templates and supporting staff and student data collection processes.

Steve’s academic pathway is anchored at the University of Hull, where he completed a PhD in Sport Science (2011–2016). His thesis examined the reliability, convergent validity, and acute time-based alterations of PlayerLoad (tri-axial accelerometer) data during soccer-specific activities—work that directly underpins how modern wearable metrics are interpreted in practice. He also holds an MSc in Sport Science from the University of Hull (2009–2011). Alongside his applied roles, he contributed in higher education as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Hull (January 2012–February 2020), delivering teaching across sports coaching, performance modules, and exercise physiology.

Academic Institution: University of Hull. Practical Affiliation (current & previous): PlayerMaker; Hull City; The Football Association; Scunthorpe United; Doncaster Rovers Belles; Perform Better. Languages Spoken: English. Content Feature: Technology in sport. Area: Training load management.