I received my PhD in Kinesiology (Sport History/Philosophy) from Penn State University in 2005 and my MHK (Sport Psychology) from the University of Windsor in 1998.

In addition to faculty appointments at Laurier, I previously served as a faculty member at the University of Windsor (1999-2000), Penn State University–Altoona College (2004-05) and Brock University (2006-07).

Generally, my scholarship focuses on sociocultural aspects of sport/human movement. Within this context, my research emphasizes the application of philosophical pragmatism to normative sporting issues, connections between human movement and culture at-large, and how sport/human movement functions as a sociopolitical "tool." Current research projects fall into roughly 4 interrelated areas: 1/ developing normative theories and tools to better understand problems (and resolution processes) in and through sport; 2/ how sport is used as a sociocultural "tool"; 3/ exploring ethical issues in sport; 4/ how sport (kinesiology) inquiry can be reconsidered to enhance its sociocultural impact.

Past projects have included exploring socio-historical ideas/connections to sport and culture (i.e. relationship between hockey and Canadian culture); and the design, delivery, and organization of sport/meaningful movement (i.e. development and elite athletics).

• British Philosophy of Sport Association (BPSA) Developing Researcher Award (2010).
• University of Windsor Faculty of Human Kinetics Distinguished Speaker (2016).

At this time Dr. Elcombe is not supervising MKin graduate students. Students interested in graduate studies related to international sport development and governance can contact Dr. Elcombe regarding the Masters in International Public Policy program delivered through the Balsillie School of International Affairs.

Undergraduate students entering fourth year (with the requisite academic standing) may contact Dr. Elcombe to discuss possible KP490 Thesis opportunities related to sport ethics, sport development/governance, or cultural/political issues in sport.

• Elcombe, Tim L., & Hardman, Alun R. (2019). Pragmatic Conventionalism and Sport Normativity in the Face of Intractable Problems. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport. [Available online]. DOI: 10.1080/00948705.2019.1673763

• Elcombe, Tim L. (2018). "Sport Philosophy Inquiry in 3D: A Pragmatic Response to the (Sport) Philosophy Paradox." Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 12 (3), 317-333.  doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2017.1377758

• Elcombe, Tim L. (2017). "Beyond ‘Crude Pragmatism’ in Sports Coaching: Insights from C.S. Peirce, William James, and John Dewey: A Commentary" [Invited Paper]. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 12 (1), 23-25.

• Elcombe, Tim L. (2017). "Jogos Bonitos? Sport, Art, and Aesthetics". In R. Scott Kretchmar (Ed.) Philosophy: Sport. Macmillan’s Interdisciplinary Handbooks: Philosophy Series (pp. 299-317). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillian Reference USA/Gale.

• Kretchmar, R. Scott & Elcombe, Tim L. (2015). "Philosophic Research in Physical Activity". In Jerry R. Thomas, Jack K. Nelson, and Stephen J. Silverman (Eds.) Research Methods in Physical Activity (7th ed.) (pp. 245-264). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

• Tracey, Jill, & Elcombe, Tim L. (2015). "Expert Coaches’ Perceptions of Athlete Performance Optimization." International Journal of Sports Science, 10 (6), 1001-1013

• Elcombe, Tim (2014). “Reflections on Canadian Moral Nation-Making on the Occasion of the Summit Series’ Seventy-Fifth Anniversary”. In Brian Kennedy (Ed.), Coming Down From the Mountain: Reflections on the Summit Series (pp. 279-297). Hamilton, ON: Wolsak & Wynn.

• Elcombe, Tim, Hochstetler, Douglas, & McLaughlin, Douglas (2014). “The Sport Philosophy Literature: Foundations, Evolutions, and Annotations”. In Cesar Torres (Ed.), The Bloomsbury Companion to the Philosophy of Sport (pp. 427-461). London, UK: Bloomsbury.

• Elcombe, Tim (2013). “Agapastic Coaching: Charles Peirce, Coaching Philosophy and Theories of Evolution”. Rich Lally, John Kaag, & Douglas Anderson (Eds.), Pragmatism and Sport (pp. 89-104). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

• Elcombe, Tim (2012). “Sport, Aesthetic Experience, and Art as the Ideal Embodied Metaphor”. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, 39 (2), 201-217.

• Wenn, Stephen, & Elcombe, Tim (2011). “A Path to Peace: Some Thoughts on Olympic Revenue and the IOC/USOC Divide”. The SAIS Review of International Affairs, 31 (1), 117-133.

• Elcombe, Tim (2010). “The Moral Equivalent of ‘Don Cherry’”. Journal of Canadian Studies, 44 (2), 194-218.

• Elcombe, Tim (2010). “Hockey New Year’s Eve in Canada: Nation-making at the Montreal Forum”. International Journal of the History of Sport, 27 (8), 1287-1312.

• Elcombe, Tim (2010). “Thinking Small about Sport: A Philosophical Recovery of Moral Leadership”. In Alun Hardman and Carwyn Jones (Eds.) Philosophy of Sport: Global Issues from International Perspectives (pp.6-21). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars.

• Elcombe, Tim (2010). “Is Cristiano Ronaldo a Modern Pablo Picasso?” In Ted Richards (Ed.) Soccer and Philosophy: Beautiful Thoughts on the Beautiful Game (pp. 161-171). Chicago, IL: Open Court.

• Elcombe, Tim, & Tracey, Jill (2010). “Stretched Elastics, the Tour de France, and a Meaningful Life”. In Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza and Michael W. Austin (Eds.) Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone: A Philosophical Tour de Force (pp. 241-252). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

KP141: Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Kinesiology

KP340d: Sport Development, Governance, and Globalization

KP443: Ethics in Sport and Physical Activity

Why it matters with athletes don't stand up (Globe and Mail, Sept. 21, 2017)