Degrees

• B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College, 1991. Majors: health fitness and communications
• M.A., kinesiology, University of Minnesota, 1995. Emphasis: sport psychology
• Ph.D., kinesiology, University of Minnesota, 2002. Emphasis: sport psychology, sport sociology

Research interests

Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D. is the Associate Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, Co-Founder of the Minnesota Youth Sport Research Consortium, and instructor in the area of Physical Activity Social & Behavioral Science. Dr. LaVoi’s multidisciplinary research includes influences from sport & exercise psychology, sport sociology, sport management, youth development, child development, moral development, and feminist studies. LaVoi’s research has focused on the relational qualities of the coach-athlete relationship, the affect of adult "background anger" behaviors (parents and coaches) in youth sport on children and youth, the emotional experiences of youth sport parents, the physical activity of underserved girls, the barriers and supports experienced by female coaches, and media representations of girls and women in sport.

Dr. LaVoi joined the University of Minnesota faculty in the School of Kinesiology in 2005. From 1994 to 1998 she was an Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Head Tennis Coach at Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA. After returning to University of Minnesota for her doctoral work from 1998 to 2002, she took a position as a Research & Program Associate in the Center for Ethical Education at the University of Notre Dame where she helped initiate and develop the Play Like a Champion Educational Series for parents and coaches, and taught in the Psychology Department from 2002-2005. While at Notre Dame Dr. LaVoi developed Parent And Coaches Together (PACT) for the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association, an educational program to improve the climate in youth sports and ensure all children enjoy and develop through soccer. Dr. LaVoi has published and presented on the many facets of her research and outreach in a variety of contexts across the country—most frequently delivering research-based educational workshops to coaches at all levels of competition and youth sport parents. Currently she serves on the National Advisory Boards for espnW, the NCAA Forum for the Scholarly Study of Intercollegiate Athletics in Higher Education, and the Alliance of Women Coaches, which provide professional development and networking opportunities for female coaches. She was the co-editor and a contributing author of The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report: Developing Physically Active Girls, in addition to authoring and collaborating on many other reports, journal articles, and book chapters.

Professional experience

• University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame, IN., director of sports programming, Center for Ethical Education and The Mendelson Center for Sports, Character & Community. 2002-2005.
• Wellesley College, Assistant Professor of physical education & head women’s tennis coach, Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics. Wellesley, MA. 1994-1998.
• Carleton College, assistant women’s tennis coach. Northfield, MN. 1992-1993.

Professional memberships

• Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)
• North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS)
• National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE)
• American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD)
• Association for Moral Education (AME)

Selected Publications

1. LaVoi, N.M. & Dutove, J. K. (in press). Barriers and supports for female coaches: An ecological model. Sports Coaching Review.

2. Daniels, E., & LaVoi, N.M. (in press). Athletics as Solution and Problem:  Sports Participation for Girls and the Sexualization of Female Athletes. In T.A. Roberts and E.L. Zubriggen (Eds.) The Sexualization of Girls and Girlhood. New York: Oxford University Press.

3. Hardin, M., & LaVoi, N.M. (in press). Inappropriate Behavior and Lesbianism: The Contrasting Falls of Two Women’s College Basketball Coaches. In L, Wenner (Ed.) Fallen Sports Heroes, Media, and Celebrity Culture.

4. LaVoi, N.M. (2012). Trends in gender-related research in sport and exercise psychology. Revista Iberoamericana de Psicología del Ejercicio y el Deporte (Ibero-American Journal of Sport andExercise Psychology).

5. Cooky, C. & LaVoi, N.M. (2012). Playing but losing: Women's sports after Title IX. Contexts, 11, 42-45. doi: 10.1177/1536504212436495

6. Omli, J., & LaVoi, N.M. (2012). The Emotional Experiences of Youth Sport Parents I: Anger. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 24 (1), 10-25. doi: 10.1080/10413200.2011.578102

7. Thul, C.M. & LaVoi, N.M. (2011). Reducing physical inactivity and promoting active living: from the voices of East African immigrant adolescent girls. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 3(2), 210-237.

8. Minano, Camacho M., LaVoi, N.M, & Barr-Anderson, D. (2011). Interventions to promote physical activity among adolescent girls: A systematic review. Health Education Research. doi: 10.1093/her/cyr040

9. Nelson, T.F., Stovitz S., Thomas M.,LaVoi N. M., Bauer K., Neumark-Sztainer D. (2011). Do youth sports prevent pediatric obesity? A systematic review and commentary. Current Sports Medicine Reports,10(6), 360-370.

10. Calhoun, A.S., LaVoi, N.M., & Johnson, A. (2011 ). Framing with Family: Examining Online Coaching  Biographies for Heteronormative and Heterosexist Narratives. International Journal of Sport Communication, 4(3), 300-316.

11. Leberman, S., & LaVoi, N.M. (2011). Juggling balls and roles, mother-coaches in youth sport:Beyondthe dualistic mother-worker identity. Journal of Sport Management, 25, 474-488.

12. LaVoi, N.M., & Norris, A.L. (January, 2011). Youth Sport Report: Parent Perception of How Frequently Youth Sport Interferes With Family Time. Click here to download report.

13. LaVoi, N.M., & Kane, M.J. (2011). Sport Sociology for Sport Management. In P. Pedersen, L. Thibault, & J. Quarterman (Eds.), Contemporary Sport Management (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

14. Omli, J., & LaVoi, N.M. (2009). The perfect storm: Background anger in youth sports. Journal of Sport Behavior, 32(2), 242-260.