Who is David "Dirk" Smith?
Coach David "Dirk" Smith (M.Sc, B.Sc, CSCS) is a sport psychology expert, performance coach, teacher, writer, journalist, researcher and athlete. He brings passion, drive to learn, and over 15 years of experience to teach, inspire and guide athletes, coaches and everyday people to find and express themselves through exercise and sport. Connect with Dirk on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and ResearchGate.
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Qualifications Include
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In brief...
I created Stonewall Performance taking inspiration from the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn which was the event that ignited the modern LGBT rights movement. In my own experiences as an openly gay man and athlete, exercise and sports has been influential in my path of self acceptance. My identity as an athlete is synonymous with my identity as a gay man but the two have not always agreed. I've experienced first hand the kind of homophobia, discrimination, fear, and hate that gay people experience in sports. I have also found exercise and sports to be there for me when I was struggling with my own feelings of self confidence and self identity. Most importantly, through sports i've been able to find a community that has embraced me for who I am and have given me the opportunity to express myself to show the world what I can do. My motivation and passion for creating Stonewall Performance is to use exercise and sports as a vehicle to empower other athletes, LGBT and straight alike to discover their own motivations, identities, confidence and express themselves without fear.
In the fall of 2018, I moved from my hometown Denver, USA to Cologne, Germany to pursue my Masters degree in Psychology in Sports and Exercise at the Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln or "SpoHo" so I can learn, understand, and help drive the role of LGBTQI athletes in professional and elite sports. Through education, conducting research, coaching, competing and being active in the sports community; I am working to build representation and awareness of LGBTQI athletes in sports. I am doing this by leading the LGBTQI students group at the SpoHo, connecting with LGBTI athletes, coaches and professionals; coaching athletes, writing articles for Compete Magazine, competing in sports, running workshops, and speaking at conferences.
I currently hold a M.Sc in Psychology of Sports and Exercise, B.Sc in Exercise and Sport Science, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. I have over 10 years experience teaching and coaching exercise and sport on all levels ranging from kids to adults; specifically, in swimming and strength and conditioning. In addition, I have 10 years experience designing and leading various lectures, workshops and webinars on a wide variety of sport science and psychology topics. I have experience performing qualitative and quantitative scientific research in various topics; including heart rate variability, coaching behaviors in esports, emergent coordination, judgement and decision-making behaviors. I am working on several papers and a textbook chapter on these topics that are in the process of being published.
In the fall of 2018, I moved from my hometown Denver, USA to Cologne, Germany to pursue my Masters degree in Psychology in Sports and Exercise at the Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln or "SpoHo" so I can learn, understand, and help drive the role of LGBTQI athletes in professional and elite sports. Through education, conducting research, coaching, competing and being active in the sports community; I am working to build representation and awareness of LGBTQI athletes in sports. I am doing this by leading the LGBTQI students group at the SpoHo, connecting with LGBTI athletes, coaches and professionals; coaching athletes, writing articles for Compete Magazine, competing in sports, running workshops, and speaking at conferences.
I currently hold a M.Sc in Psychology of Sports and Exercise, B.Sc in Exercise and Sport Science, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. I have over 10 years experience teaching and coaching exercise and sport on all levels ranging from kids to adults; specifically, in swimming and strength and conditioning. In addition, I have 10 years experience designing and leading various lectures, workshops and webinars on a wide variety of sport science and psychology topics. I have experience performing qualitative and quantitative scientific research in various topics; including heart rate variability, coaching behaviors in esports, emergent coordination, judgement and decision-making behaviors. I am working on several papers and a textbook chapter on these topics that are in the process of being published.
