Al Smith
Dean's Office
Professor and Emma Eccles Jones Endowed Dean, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
Educational Background
Biography
I arrived at Utah State University in 2021 to assume the role of Dean, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. I am also a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science and mentor doctoral students in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Prior to arriving at Utah State, I served for nine years as Professor and Chair in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University and for fourteen years as a faculty member in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Purdue University. I am a past president of the American Kinesiology Association and the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, served on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board, and am a Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology. I earned a BA in Psychology at the University of Rochester, MS in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and PhD in Exercise and Movement Science from the University of Oregon. I grew up in Rochester, NY and was a first-generation college student with a passion for sport and for research. Over time, I was able to bring together these passions and pursue a meaningful career in higher education. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the KHS team at Utah State!
Teaching Interests
Because of my current administrative role, I do not teach courses but do participate in a weekly graduate seminar with doctoral students interested in youth development through sport. My past teaching at the undergraduate level has been in the areas of sport and exercise psychology and youth physical activity behavior. At the graduate level I have taught motivational processes in sport and exercise, advanced sport and exercise psychology, psychosocial aspects of youth sport and physical activity, and data analysis in health and kinesiology.
Research Interests
My research addresses the link of sport and physical activity involvement with young people's psychological and social functioning. I am most known for my research on peer relationships in the physical activity domain (e.g., sport, physical education) and the motivational implications of these relationships for children and adolescents. I also conduct research in areas such as sport parenting, athlete burnout, and the promise of physical activity for ameliorating symptoms and impairments of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young children. My work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the U.S. Department of Education as well as other agencies such as the International Olympic Committee. I enjoy collaborating with other scholars, and have published research with colleagues who are experts in areas including neuroscience, motor control, physical education pedagogy, nursing, human development, and biobehavioral and clinical psychology.
Awards
Honorary Doctorate, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, 2025
Karlstad University, Sweden
Jerry R. Thomas Distinguished Leadership Award, 2025
American Kinesiology Association
School of Health and Human Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award, 2022
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Simmons Chivukula Award for Academic Leadership, 2021
Michigan State University
Excellence in Research Award, 2018
Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
University of Rochester Athletics Hall of Fame, 2015
Fellow, National Academy of Kinesiology, 2012
Publications | Books
- Horn, T.S, Smith, A.L, (2019). Advances in sport and exercise psychology (4th ed.). Human Kinetics
- Raedeke, T.D, Smith, A.L, (2009). Athlete Burnout Questionnaire manual. FiT Publishing
- Smith, A.L, Biddle, S.J, (2008). Youth physical activity and sedentary behavior: Challenges and solutions. Human Kinetics
- DeFreese, J.D, Raedeke, T.D, Smith, A.L, (2021). Athlete burnout: An individual and organizational phenomenon: Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance. McGraw-Hill
- Smith, A.L, Ullrich-French, S., (2020). Peers and the sport experience: Handbook of sport psychology. Wiley
- Smith, A.L, Pacewicz, C.E, Raedeke, T.D, (2019). Athlete burnout in competitive sport: Advances in sport and exercise psychology . Human Kinetics
- Smith, A.L, Mellano, K.T, Ullrich-French, S., (2019). Peers and psychological experiences in physical activity settings: Advances in sport and exercise psychology . Human Kinetics
Publications | Book Chapters
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- O'Neil, L., Smith, A.L, (2026). Main and interactive effects of perceived competence and control on feelings of efficacy in youth sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 82, 103012. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103012
- Worley, J.T, Smith, A.L, (2026). Positive peer relationships, social identity, and adaptive sport motivation in youth athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 82, 102996. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102996
- Palmer, K., Robbins, L.B, West, P., Ling, J., Kao, T.A, Pathak, D., Smith, A.L, (2025). Perspectives of Rural High School Students Involved in a Multi-Component, After-School Physical Activity Intervention. The Journal of School Nursing, 41:6, 741-751. doi: 10.1177/10598405241271257
- Dennis, M., Shoulberg, E.K, Hoza, B., Krasner, A., Scott, H., Smith, A.L, (2025). Does Aerobic Fitness Buffer the Associations Between Young Children’s ADHD Symptom Severity and Academic and Social Functioning?. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 33:3, 131-144. doi: 10.1177/10634266231223497
- Scott, H., Shoulberg, E.K, Krasner, A., Dennis, M., Tompkins, C.L, Smith, A.L, Hoza, B., (2025). The Importance of Physical Activity Variability and Its Relation with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Young Children. Journal of Attention Disorders, 29:10, 817-831. doi: 10.1177/10870547251335436
- Pacewicz, C.E, Smith, A.L, Frank, K., (2025). Teammate communication, loneliness, and contagion of athlete burnout. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 78, 102807. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102807
- Gottardo, G., Worley, J.T, Smith, A.L, (2025). Perceptions of Parent Behavior and Burnout in High School Coaches. Quest, 77:sup1, 29-44. doi: 10.1080/00336297.2024.2423663
- Alali, M.A, Robbins, L.B, Kao, T.A, Ling, J., Pathak, D., Smith, A.L, (2024). Physical Activity Behaviors of Female Adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Nursing Research, 73:6, 458-466. doi: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000763
- Blazo, J.A, Smith, A.L, Whiteman, S., Kashy, D.A, (2024). Sibling comparisons, sibling relationship quality, and perceived sport competence in young athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 72, 102613. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102613
- Martinez, M.F, Weatherwax, C., Piercy, K., Whitley, M.A, Bartsch, S.M, Heneghan, J., Fox, M., Bowers, M.T, Chin, K.L, Velmurugan, K., Dibbs, A., Smith, A.L, Pfeiffer, K.A, Farrey, T., Tsintsifas, A., Scannell, S.A, Lee, B.Y, (2024). Benefits of Meeting the Healthy People 2030 Youth Sports Participation Target. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 66:5, 760-769. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.12.018
- Blazo, J.A, Smith, A.L, Whiteman, S., Kashy, D.A, (2024). Sibling Comparisons, Sibling Relationship Quality, and Perceived Sport Competence in Young Athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 72, 102613. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102613
- Harris, T.S, Smith, A.L, Boardley, I., (2024). Morality-and Norm-Based Subgroups of Disability-Sport Athletes Differ on Their Anticipated Guilt and Intentions Toward Doping. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 41:2, 229-246. doi: 10.1123/apaq.2023-0041
- Pires, D.A, Isoard-Gautheur, S., Madigan, D.J, Smith, A.L, Gustafsson, H., (2024). Five unsolved issues concerning burnout in athletes: An expert perspective. Sports Psychiatry, 3:1, 39-46. doi: 10.1024/2674-0052/a000074
- Scott, H., Shoulberg, E.K, Dennis, M., Krasner, A., Smith, A.L, Hoza, B., (2024). Associations of ADHD-Risk and Motor Competence With School Functioning. Journal of Attention Disorders, 28:1, 31-42. doi: 10.1177/10870547231197214
- Bateman, A.G, Myers, N.D, Feltz, D., Pfeiffer, K.A, Kelly, K., Smith, A.L, Lee, S., McMahon, A., Prilleltensky, I., Prilleltensky, O., Brincks, A.M, (2024). The Self-Efficacy to Regulate Physical Activity Scale: Exploring the Factor Structure, Temporal Invariance, and External Validity in a Latent Variable Framework. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 28:1, 40-56. doi: 10.1080/1091367X.2023.2218837
- Lee, S., Patel, P., Myers, N., Pfeiffer, K., Smith, A.L, Kelly, K., (2023). A systematic review of eHealth interventions to promote physical activity in adults with obesity or overweight. Behavioral Medicine, 49, 213-230. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2022.2065239
- Pacewicz, C.E, Smith, A.L, (2023). Communication profiles and sport experiences of collegiate track and field athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 68, 102450.
- Hill, C.R, Smith, A.L, Myers, N.D, Feltz, D.L, (2022). Tripartite efficacy and behavior of clients working with a personal trainer. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 34:4, 846-861.
- Madigan, D.J, Gustafsson, H., Hill, A.P, Mellano, K.T, Pacewicz, C.E, Raedeke, T.D, Smith, A.L, (2022). Perspectives on the future of burnout in sport. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 16:1, 75-88. doi: 10.1123/jcsp.2021-0045
- Pacewicz, C.E, Smith, A.L, (2022). Teammate relationships, loneliness, and the motivational and well-being experiences of adolescent athletes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 16:1, 3-22. doi: 10.1123/jcsp.2021-0015
- Dorsch, T., Blazo, J.A, Coakley, J., Côté, J., Wagstaff, C., Warner, S., King, M.Q, Smith, A.L, (2022). Toward an integrated understanding of the youth sport system. Research Quarterly in Exercise and Sport, 93:1, 105-119. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2020.1810847
- Delli Paoli, A.G, Smith, A.L, Pontifex, M.B, Moser, J.S, (2021). Aerobic fitness moderates girls' affective and working memory responses to social exclusion. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 55, 101927. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101927
- Defreese, J.D, Smith, A.L, (2021). A person-centered exploration of athlete burnout across a competitive season. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 15:2, 89-104. doi: 10.1123/jcsp.2019-0084
- Whitley, M., Smith, A.L, Dorsch, T., Bowers, M., Centeio, E., P., (2021). Re-envisioning post-pandemic youth sport to meet young people’s mental, emotional, and social needs. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 1-7. doi: 10.1249/TJX.0000000000000177
- Meredith, W., Smith, A.L, Dorsch, T., Bowers, M., Centieo, E., (2021). Reimagining the youth sport system across the United States: A commentary from the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, doi: 10.1080/07303084.2021.1963181
- Moss, T., Samendinger, S., Kerr, N.L, Cesario, J., Smith, A.L, Johnson, D.J, Feltz, D.L, (2021). Attenuation of the Köhler effect in racially dissimilar partnered exercise reversed using team identity strategy. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 43:2, 105-114. doi: 10.1123/jsep.2020-0085
- Alali, M.A, Robbins, L.B, Ling, J., Kao, T.S, Smith, A.L, (2020). Concept analysis of relatedness in physical activity among adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 55, e293-e304. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2020.06.005
- Pacewicz, C.E, Smith, A.L, Raedeke, T.D, (2020). Group cohesion and relatedness as predictors of self-determined motivation and burnout in adolescent female athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 50
- Smith, A.L, (2019). A case for peer-focused efforts to understand and promote physical activity in young people. Kinesiology Review, 8, 32-39.
- Boardley, I.D, Grix, J., Ntoumanis, N., Smith, A.L, (2019). A qualitative investigation of coaches’ doping confrontation efficacy beliefs. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 45, 101576.
- Lee, S., Shin, M., Smith, A.L, (2019). The relationship of physical activity from physical education with perceived peer acceptance across childhood and adolescence. Journal of School Health, 89:6, 452-459.
- Boardley, I.D, Smith, A.L, Mills, J., Grix, J., Wynne, C., Wilkins, L., (2018). Development of moral disengagement and self-regulatory efficacy assessments relevant to doping in sport and exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 36, 57-70.
- Smith, A.L, (2018). A systematic review of siblings and physical activity experiences. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11:1, 122-159. doi: 10.1080/1750984x.2016.1229355
- Delli Paoli, A.G, Smith, A.L, Pontifex, M.B, (2017). Does walking mitigate affective and cognitive responses to social exclusion?. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 39, 97-108.
- Dorsch, T., Smith, A.L, Dotterer, A., (2016). Individual, relationship, and context factors associated with parent support and pressure in organized youth sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 23, 132-141.
- Hoza, B., Smith, A.L, Shoulberg, E., Linnea, K., Dorsch, T., Blazo, J., McGonigal, C., McCabe, G., (2015). A randomized trial examining the effects of aerobic physical activity on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in young children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43, 655-667.
- Dorsch, T., Smith, A.L, McDonough, M.H, (2015). Early socialization of parents through organized youth sport.. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 4:1, 3-18.
- Dorsch, T., Smith, A.L, Wilson, S.R, McDonough, M.H, (2015). Parent goals and verbal sideline behavior in organized youth sport.. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 4:1, 19-35.
- DeFreese, J.D, Smith, A.L, (2014). Athlete social support, negative social interactions and psychological health across a competitive sport season. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 36, 619-630.
- Smith, A.L, (2013). Teammate social support, burnout, and self-determined motivation in collegiate athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14:2, 258-265. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.10.009
- Smith, A.L, (2013). Pilot Physical Activity Intervention Reduces Severity of ADHD Symptoms in Young Children. Journal of Attention Disorders, 17:1, 70-82. doi: 10.1177/1087054711417395
- Ullrich-French, S., McDonough, M.H, Smith, A.L, (2012). Social connection and psychological outcomes in a physical-activity based youth development setting. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 83, 431-441.
- Riley, A., Smith, A.L, (2011). Perceived coach-athlete and peer relationships of young athletes and self-determined motivation for sport. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 42, 115-133.
- Smith, A.L, Gustafsson, H., Hassmen, P., (2010). Peer motivational climate and burnout perceptions of adolescent athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11, 453-460.
- Cox, A.E, Smith, A.L, Williams, L., (2008). Change in physical education motivation and physical activity behavior during middle school. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43, 506-513. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.04.020
- Smith, A.L, (2006). Goal orientation profile differences on perceived motivational climate, perceived peer relationships, and motivation-related responses of youth athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24:12, 1315-1327. doi: 10.1080/02640410500520427
- Smith, A.L, Ullrich-French, S., Walker, E., Hurley, K.S, (2006). Peer relationship profiles and motivation in youth sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 28, 362-382. doi: 10.1123/jsep.28.3.362
- Ullrich-French, S., Smith, A.L, (2006). Perceptions of relationships with parents and peers in youth sport: Independent and combined prediction of motivational outcomes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 7, 193-214. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2005.08.006
- Smith, A.L, (2003). Peer relationships in physical activity contexts: A road less traveled in youth sport and exercise psychology research. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 4, 25-39. doi: 10.1016/S1469-0292(02)00015-8
- Raedeke, T.D, Smith, A.L, (2001). Development and preliminary validation of an athlete burnout measure. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 23, 281-306. doi: 10.1123/jsep.23.4.281
- Smith, A.L, (1999). Perceptions of Peer Relationships and Physical Activity Participation in Early Adolescence. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 21:4, 329-350. doi: 10.1123/jsep.21.4.329
- Weiss, M.R, Smith, A.L, Theeboom, M., (1996). "That's what friends are for:" Children's and teenagers' perceptions of peer relationships in the sport domain. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 18, 347-379. doi: doi.org/10.1123/jsep.18.4.347
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
Other
- Smith, A.L, Fairbrother, J.T, (2021). Leading through times of uncertainty: The future of higher education, work, and kinesiology. Kinesiology Review
- Williams, N.I, Smith, A.L, (2020). Promoting physical activity through kinesiology teaching and outreach – An eye toward the future. Kinesiology Review
- Smith, A.L, Gould, D., (2019). Introduction to the special issue on contemporary youth sport: Critical issues and future directions. Kinesiology Review
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.