Jon Brain

Jon Brain is a Sport and Exercise Psychologist and holds a Professional Doctorate. Jon's PhD focused on developing an understanding of how sport psychology services can be translated and applied in the fast-growing performance domain of esports. 

Following his passion in research and building a safe culture in sport, Jon joined Thomas More’s People and Well-being Research Group, research line 'Safeguarding Sport & Society' in 2024. He is coordination the Safe Football Allies Project, a four-year initiative funded by the Oak Foundation. The goal of the project is to develop comprehensive safeguarding structures within Belgian elite youth football, building on the success of our previous Safe Sport Allies bystander education program. Through collaboration with key partners such as the Royal Belgian Football Association, Pro League, Voetbal Vlaanderen, Association des Clubs Francophones de Football, ADEPS, Sport Vlaanderen, Ghent University, Safe Sport Lab Thomas More - Ghent University and Sportieq, we aim to establish a sustainable safeguarding system that can be implemented both in Belgian football and the wider international sports community.
 
When not conducting research, Jon works as an applied sport psychologist in both traditional sport and esports through his co-founded consultancy, Mastering the Mind. He has collected a variety of experience working professional football (e.g., KRC Genk, Coventry City Football Club), individual athletes (e.g., professional football, handball, sailing, gymnastics) and esports teams (e.g., Team Ireland Overwatch, Team Belgium Overwatch, Lionscreed).

• Brain, J., Quartiroli, A., & Wagstaff, C. R. (2024). Transitioning from traditional sport to Esport: Exploring sport psychology practitioners’ experiences. The Sport Psychologist, 38(4), 280-291. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2024-0074
• Brain, J., Hunter, H., Franklin, G., Quartiroli, A., Wagstaff, C., & Brown, D. (2024). Two confessional tales of trainee sport psychology practitioners’ experiences of operating in Trinidad and Tobago. The Sport Psychologist, 38(4), 271-279. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2024-0018
• Brain, J., Wright, O., Quartiroli, A., & Wagstaff, C. R. D. (2024). Sport Psychology Practitioners’ Contributions to the Drafting Process of a Professional Esports Team: A Case Study. Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology, 8(1), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0045
• Brain, J., Wright, O., Quartiroli, A., & Wagstaff, C. R. D. (2024). Supporting a National Team During the Overwatch World Cup: Three Confessional Tales. Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology, 8(S1), S1-28-S1-35. https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2023-0034