Dr Simon Goodwill BEng, MRes
Head of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in Sport and Physical Activity
- School of Sport and Physical Activity
- Sport and Physical Activity Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Centre
- Health Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Institute
Summary
Dr Simon Goodwill is the Head of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in Sport and Physical Activity and also the Head of the Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Group (SERG), in the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity. The aim of his PhD was to model the impact between a tennis ball and racket, and he has since continued to be involved in many research projects with the International Tennis Federation.
He has worked extensively with elite level Performance Analysts, developing custom software applications to help them improve athlete performance. These applications include image processing techniques which are used to track the motion of athletes in the field. Many of the developed systems were used by athletes during their training for the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics and Tokyo 2020.
About
Simon’s main research area is in the application of novel photogrammetry techniques. He has developed a range of customised software applications which link data acquisition hardware with camera systems. Simon leads the EIS Innovation Partnership project, and has developed a wide range of systems to help monitor elite athlete’s training and tournament performances. Simon has over 15 years of software programming experience, and has built applications that interface with a variety of hardware devices including machine vision cameras, timing units, force platforms and IP cameras.
He has worked extensively with elite level Performance Analysts, developing custom software applications to help them improve athlete performance. These applications include image processing techniques which are used to track the motion of athletes in the field. Many of the developed systems were used by athletes during their training for the London 2012 Olympics and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. This work has been referenced in the Inspired by 2012: The legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games - a joint UK Government and Mayor of London report. In the last Olympic cycle (2012-2016), Simon led on the delivery of research projects to develop and implement technological innovations for ten different sports. These innovations directly supported Team GB athletes to win 42 medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
In the past, Simon’s projects have included the development of software and hardware for interactive sport science exhibits including a bike race simulator that was used at events related to Le Tour Yorkshire (Grand Départ 2014). He has developed 2D and 3D camera calibration toolboxes (check2d and check3d respectively) which are user friendly implementations of the planar calibration method. These toolboxes allow cameras to be used in novel applications which were not possible using standard DLT calibrations.
More recently, Simon has been playing a major role in the development of the Advanced Wellbeing Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Centre (AWRC). The AWRC is a world-leading £15.7 million research centre funded by the UK Department of Health (DoH), Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and with support from a European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) grant. The AWRC co-creates, evaluates and exploits innovations in sport, physical activity and health with commercial and non-commercial partners. Simon’s current work involves the application of the methodologies and tools that he has used to monitor and enhance the performance of elite athletes have been used to monitor sleep and physical activity to answer health related research questions.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
Current research projects
- Performance Innovation Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Partnership
- Court pace rating
- iBoxer2 - data management for GB Boxing
Collaborators and sponsors
- UK Sports Institute
Publications
Key Publications
Elliott, N., Choppin, S., Goodwill, S., Senior, T., Hart, J., & Allen, T. (2018). . Sports Engineering, 21 (2), 137-147.
Hext, A., Heller, B., Kelley, J., & Goodwill, S. (2017). . European Journal of Sport Science, 17 (5), 503-510.
Pitt, T., Lindsay, P., Thomas, O., Bawden, M., Goodwill, S., & Hanton, S. (2015). . Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 16 (P1), 36-44.
Elliott, N. (2015). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Allen, T., Choppin, S., & Goodwill, S.
Allen, T., Haake, S., & Goodwill, S.R. (2011). . Journal of Sports Sciences, 29 (3), 311-325.
Allen, T., Haake, S., & Goodwill, S. (2010). . Proceedings of the institution of mechanical engineers, part p: journal of sports engineering and technology, 224 (3), 229-236.
Journal articles
Burton, C., Dawes, H., Goodwill, S., Thelwell, M., & Dalton, C. (2023). . PLOS ONE, 18 (1).
Mills, K.L., Billingham, J., Choppin, S., Dunn, M., Senior, T., & Goodwill, S. (2022). . Sports Engineering, 25 (1).
Mitropoulos, A., Goodwill, S., Copeland, R., & Klonizakis, M. (2022). . European Journal of Public Health.
Foster, L., Gielen, M., Beattie, M., & Goodwill, S.R. (2014). . Ubiquitous Computing and Ambient Intelligence, 8867 (8867), 100-107.
Haake, S., Allen, T., Jones, A., Spurr, J., & Goodwill, S. (2012). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 226 (7), 626-635.
Choppin, S., Goodwill, S., & Haake, S. (2011). . Sports engineering, 13 (4), 163-170.
Dunn, M., Goodwill, S., Wheat, J., & Haake, S. (2011). . Portuguese Journal of Sport Sciences, 11 (Supp.2), 859-862.
Haake, S., Goodwill, S.R., & Choppin, S. (2010). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 224 (4), 249-257.
Allen, T., Haake, S., & Goodwill, S.R. (2009). . Sports engineering, 12 (2), 87-98.
Haake, S.J., Goodwill, S.R., & Carre, M.J. (2007). A new measure of roughness for defining the aerodynamic performance of sports balls. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART C-JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE, 221 (7), 789-806.
Haake, S., Goodwill, S.R., & Carre, M.J. (2007). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part C: Journal of mechanical engineering science, 221 (7), 789-806.
Goodwill, S., Kirk, R., & Haake, S. (2005). . Sports engineering, 8 (3), 145-158.
Carre, M.J., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2005). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part C: Journal of mechanical engineering science, 219 (7), 657-666.
Haake, S., Carre, M.J., Kirk, R., & Goodwill, S.R. (2005). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part C: Journal of mechanical engineering science, 219 (11), 1179-1189.
Goodwill, S.R., Chin, S.B., & Haake, S. (2004). . Journal of wind engineering and industrial aerodynamics, 92 (11), 935-958.
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2004). . Experimental mechanics, 44 (2), 195-206.
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2004). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part C: Journal of mechanical engineering science, 218 (10), 1139-1153.
Haake, S., Carre, M.J., & Goodwill, S.R. (2003). . Journal of sports sciences, 21 (10), 839-850.
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2001). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part C: Journal of mechanical engineering science, 215 (11), 1331-1341.
Haake, S., Chadwick, S.G., Dignall, R.J., Goodwill, S., & Rose, P. (2000). . Sports engineering, 3 (2), 131-143.
Haake, S., Chadwick, S.G., Dignall, R.J., Goodwill, S.R., & Rose, P. (2000). . Racquet tech, 12-20.
Haake, S., & Goodwill, S.R. (1997). . JSME joint symposium, 97 (34), 137-144.
Conference papers
Mills, K., Billingham, J., Choppin, S., Goodwill, S., & Dunn, M. (2022). . In Allen, T., Espinosa, H., & Shade, S. (Eds.) Engineering of Sport 14, ISEA 2022, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 6 June 2022 - 10 June 2022.
Chiu, C.Y., Thelwell, M., Goodwill, S., & Dunn, M. (2020). Accuracy of Anthropometric Measurements by a Video-Based 3D Modelling Technique.
Foster, L., Heller, B., Williams, A., Dunn, M., Curtis, D., & Goodwill, S. (2016). . In Garcia, C.R., Caballero-Gil, P., Burmester, M., & Quesada-Arencibia, A. (Eds.) Ubiquitous computing and ambient intelligence : 10th International Conference, UCAmI 2016, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria, Spain, November 29 – December 2, 2016, (pp. 458-468). Springer:
Hext, A., Heller, B., Kelley, J., & Goodwill, S. (2016). . Procedia Engineering, 147, 622-626.
Higham, D., Kelley, J., Hudson, C., & Goodwill, S. (2016). . Procedia Engineering, 147, 637-642.
McInerney, C., Foster, L., Choppin, S., Stone, J., & Goodwill, S. (2016). A review of spatio-temporal metrics in invasion game sports. In World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport XI.
Mcinerney, C., Goodwill, S., Foster, L., & Choppin, S. (2016). . In ISPAS 2016 International Workshop, Institute of Technology, Carlow, 22 March 2016 - 23 March 2016.
Elliott, N., Choppin, S., Goodwill, S., & Allen, T. (2014). . Procedia Engineering, 72, 344-349.
Foster, L., Heller, B., Goodwill, S., & Curtis, D. (2014). . Procedia Engineering, 72 (72), 168-173.
Dunn, M., Haake, S., Wheat, J., & Goodwill, S. (2014). . Procedia Engineering, 72, 243-248.
Goodwill, S., Spurr, J., Kelley, J., & Haake, S. (2014). . Procedia Engineering, 72, 569-574.
Driscoll, H., Gaviria, S., & Goodwill, S. (2014). . Procedia Engineering, 72, 26-31.
Elliott, N., Choppin, S., Goodwill, S., & Allen, T. (2012). . In The Engineering of Sport Conference, Boston, USA, 1 July 2012.
Dunn, M., Wheat, J., Miller, S., Haake, S., & Goodwill, S. (2012). . In 30th Annual Conference of Biomechanics in Sports, Melbourne Australia, 2 July 2012 - 6 July 2012.
Kelley, J., Choppin, S.B., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2010). . Procedia engineering, 2 (2), 2967-2972.
Haake, S., Goodwill, S.R., Heller, B., Schorah, D., & Gomez, J. (2010). . Procedia engineering, 2 (2), 3299-3304.
Allen, T., Hart, J., Spurr, J., Haake, S., & Goodwill, S.R. (2010). . Procedia engineering, 2 (2), 3275-3280.
Allen, T., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2009). . Ansys conference and 27th CADFEM user meeting.
Choppin, S., Goodwill, S., Haake, S., & Miller, S. (2008). . In Estivalet, M., & Brisson, P. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 7, (pp. 563-569). Springer:
Kelley, J., Goodwill, S., Capel-Davies, J., & Haake, S. (2008). . The engineering of sport 7, 571-578.
Naemi, R., Aritan, S., Goodwill, S.R., Haake, S., & Sanders, R. (2008). . The engineering of sport 7, 291-300.
Allen, T., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2008). . 2008 Ansys UK User Conference.
Allen, T., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2008). . In Estivalet, M., & Brisson, P. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 7, (pp. 115-123). Springer:
Choppin, S., Goodwill, S.R., Haake, S., & Miller, S. (2007). . Tennis science and technology, 333-340.
Choppin, S., Goodwill, S., Haake, S., & Miller, S. (2007). . Tennis science and technology, 341-348.
Haake, S., Choppin, S., Allen, T., & Goodwill, S. (2007). . Tennis science and technology 3, 257-271.
Choppin, S., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2006). . Proceeding s of the engineering of sport 6, 385-390.
Choppin, S., Whyld, N.M., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2005). . In Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Congress on Sports Technology, (pp. 385-390). Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo Institute of Technology
Kelley, J., Goodwill, S., Capel-Davies, J., & Haake, S. Ball Spin Generation at the 2007 Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament (P110). In The Engineering of Sport 7, (pp. 571-578). Springer Paris:
Allen, T., Goodwill, S., & Haake, S. Experimental Validation of a Tennis Ball Finite-element Model for Different Temperatures (P22). In The Engineering of Sport 7, (pp. 125-133). Springer Paris:
Goodwill, S., Haake, S., Spurr, J., & Capel-Davies, J. Development of a New System for Measuring Tennis Court Pace (P126). In The Engineering of Sport 7, (pp. 649-657). Springer Paris:
Naemi, R., Aritan, S., Goodwill, S., Haake, S., & Sanders, R. Development of Immediate Feedback Software for Optimising Glide Performance and Time of Initiating Post-Glide Actions (P56). In The Engineering of Sport 7, (pp. 291-300). Springer Paris:
Book chapters
Goodwill, S., Haake, S., Spurr, J., & Capel-Davies, J. (2008). . In Estivalet, M., & Brisson, P. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 7. (pp. 649-657). Springer:
Allen, T., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2008). . In Estivalet, M., & Brisson, P. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 7. (pp. 125-133). Springer:
Allen, T., Goodwill, S., & Haake, S. (2007). . In Miller, S., & Capel-Davies, J. (Eds.) Tennis science and technology 3. (pp. 23-30). International Tennis Federation
Goodwill, S.R., Haake, S., & Miller, S. (2007). . In Tennis science and technology 3. (pp. 113-118). International Tennis Federation:
Goodwill, S.R., Capel-Davies, J., Haake, S., & Miller, S. (2007). . In Miller, S., & Capel-Davies, J. (Eds.) Tennis science and technology 3. (pp. 349-356). International Tennis Federation
Goodwill, S.R., Douglas, J., Miller, S., & Haake, S. (2006). . In Moritz, E.F., & Haake, S. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 6. (pp. 379-384). Springer:
Goodwill, S.R. (2006). . In Bartlett, R., Gratton, C., & Rolf, C.G. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies. Routledge
Goodwill, S.R. (2006). . In Bartlett, R., Gratton, C., & Rolf, C. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies. Routledge
Goodwill, S.R. (2006). . In Bartlett, R., Gratton, C., & Rolf, C. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies. Routledge
Goodwill, S.R. (2006). . In Bartlett, R., Gratton, C., & Rolf, C. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies. Routledge
Goodwill, S.R. (2006). . In Bartlett, R., Gratton, C., & Rolf, C. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies. Routledge
Goodwill, S.R. (2006). . In Bartlett, R., Gratton, C., & Rolf, C. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies. Routledge
Carre, M.J., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2004). . In Hubbard, M., Mehta, R.D., & Pallis, J.M. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 5. (pp. 70-76). International sports engineering assocation
Dignall, R.J., Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2004). . In Hubbard, M., Mehta, R.D., & Pallis, J.M. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 5. (pp. 382-388). International sports engineering assocation
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2004). . In Hubbard, M., Mehta, R.D., & Pallis, J.M. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 5. (pp. 35-41). International sports engineering assocation
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2004). . In Hubbard, M., Mehta, R.D., & Pallis, J.M. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 5. (pp. 3-9). International sports engineering assocation
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2003). . In Miller, S. (Ed.) Tennis science and technology 2. (pp. 79-86). International tennis federation
Haake, S., Carre, M., & Goodwill, S.R. (2003). . In Miller, S. (Ed.) Tennis science and technology 2. (pp. 133-137). International tennis federation
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2002). In Ujihashi, S., & Haake, S.J. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 4. (pp. 231-237). Blackwell
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2002). . In Ujihashi, S., & Haake, S.J. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 4. (pp. 215-222). Blackwell
Haake, S., & Goodwill, S.R. (2002). . In Ujihashi, S., & Haake, S.J. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 4. (pp. 168-175). Blackwell
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2001). . In Froes, F.H., & Haake, S. (Eds.) Materials and science in sport: materials and science in sports symposium, Coronado, California USA, 22-25 April 2001. (pp. 223-236). Pennsylvania, USA: The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2000). . In Haake, S.J., & Coe, A.O. (Eds.) Tennis science and technology. (pp. 49-58). Blackwell Science
Goodwill, S.R., & Haake, S. (2000). . In Subic, A., & Haake, S. (Eds.) The engineering of sport - research development and innovation. (pp. 221-228). Blackwell
Theses / Dissertations
Karditsas, H.E. (2020). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Goodwill, S., Choppin, S., & Kelley, J.
Sotheran, A.W. (2020). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Goodwill, S., & Kelley, J.
Hext, A. (2019). Measuring relay exchange kinematics in short-track speed skating using a multi-camera network. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Goodwill, S.
Higham, D.W. (2018). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Goodwill, S., Kelley, J., & Hudson, C.
Spurr, J.C. (2017). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Goodwill, S.
Mcinerney, C. (2017). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Goodwill, S.
Dunn, M.D. (2014). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Goodwill, S., Wheat, J., & Haake, S.
Kelley, J. (2011). Measuring ball spin rates in match play tennis. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Haake, S., & Goodwill, S.
Allen, T.B. (2009). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Goodwill, S., & Haake, S.
Choppin, S. (2008). Modelling of Tennis Racket Impacts in 3D Using Elite Players. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Haake, S., & Goodwill, S.
Exhibitions
Goodwill, S. (2025). Careers and aspiration fair. [Video]. Oasis Don Valley School.
Media
Kulshreshtha, R. (2025). From Sensors to Screens: The AI Layer That’s Changing How We See Sport podcast. [Podcast]. The Quidich Innovation Labs
Presentations
Goodwill, S. (2025). PIXELS, PRECISION & PLAY: How AI Is Reinventing Sports Storytelling. Presented at: Expert Panel by invitation, BITS Pilani University, Goa, India, 2025
Goodwill, S. (2025). Invited welcome address at the IMechE Sports Engineering Day 2025. Presented at: IMechE Sports Engineering Day 2025, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, 2025
Goodwill, S. (2025). Invited presentation at Rowan School. Presented at: What is a Sports Engineer and what do they do?, Rowan School, Sheffield, UK
Goodwill, S. (2025). Guest lecture at Bradway School. Presented at: Guest lecture, Bradway School, Sheffield, UK
Goodwill, S. (2022). Sports Technology and Innovation. Presented at: Guest Lecture, Atlantic Technological University
Goodwill, S. (2021). Technology in Sport. Presented at: North Star 2021 science school, Gullivers Valley
Goodwill, S. (2021). Guest lecture on Sports Engineering.
Goodwill, S. (2021). Capturing the action - how technology is used to optimise our Olympic athletes. Presented at: IET Surrey (Institution of Engineering and Technology), Zoom
Goodwill, S. (2021). Guest lecture on Sports Technology. Presented at: MSc Sports Performance, Zoom
Goodwill, S. (2021). Sports Technology at the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield. Presented at: Sports Economy - UK Expertise in Sports Technology, Teams
Mcinerney, C., Foster, L., Choppin, S., Stone, J., & Goodwill, S. (2016). . Presented at: XI World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain, 2016
Mcinerney, C., Foster, L., Choppin, S., Stone, J., & Goodwill, S. (2016). . Presented at: XI World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain, 2016
Hext, A., Heller, B., Kelley, J., & Goodwill, S. (2016). . Presented at: The Engineering of Sport 11, Delft, The Netherlands, 2016
Software / Code
Goodwill, S. (2013). Check3d - a freely available toolbox for conducting 3D photogrammetry. SHU.
Goodwill, S. (2010). Check2D - a freely available toolbox for 2D photogrammetry. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Other activities
Director of the International Sports Engineering Association.
Postgraduate supervision
- Barratt, Shaun. Machine learning approaches to detect kick events in elite Taekwondo
- Shafique, Nazish. Machine learning approaches to derive race analysis metrics from swimming competition videos
Completed supervised PhD students:
- Mills, Katie. Modelling the impact between a football and surface, PhD July 2024.
- Arblaster, G. Do patients with strabismus undergoing surgery to improve eye alignment achieve functional benefits., PhD July 2022 (External advisor)
- Karditsas, H. Large-Scale Method for Identifying the Relationships between Racket Properties and Playing Characteristics, PhD January 2021
- Sotheran, A. Real-time Analysis and Feedback of Performance Indicators in Elite Diving, PhD September, 2020
- Hext, A. Measuring Two-dimensional Short-track Speed Skating Kinematics using a Multi-camera Network, PhD August 2019
- Spurr, J., Quantifying tennis racket control, PhD July 2018
- McInerney, C. Understanding the relationships that contribute to successful plays in field hockey, PhD April 2018
- Higham, D., Can patterns of play predict key events in tournament field hockey?, PhD August 2018
- Hudson, C., Automated tracking of swimmers in the clean swimming phase of a race, PhD August 2015
- Elliott, N., Camera calibration and configuration for estimation of tennis racket position in 3D, PhD July 2015
- Dunn, M., Video-based Step Measurement in Sport and Daily Living, PhD June 2014
- Driscoll, H., Understanding shoe-surface interactions in football, PhD January 2012
- Kelley, J., Measuring ball spin rates in match play tennis, PhD January 2011
- Choppin, S., Modelling of oblique tennis racket impacts, PhD July 2008
- Allen, T., FE modelling of tennis rackets, PhD May 2009
Completed postgraduate examinations:
- MPhil Internal - 4
- MPhil External - 0
- PhD Internal - 1
- PhD External - 0
Media
Dr Simon Goodwill is a principal research fellow at the Centre for Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. Simon leads the EIS Innovation Partnership project, and has developed a wide range of systems to help monitor elite athlete’s training and tournament performances. Simon has over 15 years of software programming experience, and has built applications that interface with a variety of hardware devices including machine vision cameras, timing units, force platforms and IP cameras. Simon’s main research area is in the application of novel photogrammetry techniques.
The Centre for Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ (CSER) is led by Dr David James. It is the world's largest academic group in sports engineering and an internationally renowned centre of excellence for research and knowledge transfer. The centre's work is based on four research disciplines; applied computing, biomechanics, design engineering, and skill acquisition. In each area, researchers develop fundamental knowledge and deliver applied solutions to enhance athletic performance, reduce injury and promote physical activity. CSER works in partnership with many sport, health and commercial organisations. We are immensely proud of our work with Team GB Olympic, and Paralympic athletes, and we enjoy research partnerships with global organisations such as the International Tennis Federation, FIFA, and Adidas.
Area of expertise:
- Sports engineering
- Software development
- Elite sport
- Performance analysis
Notable media coverage: