Prof. Yair Galily

Yair Galily [PhD, CPsychol.] is a Full Professor, behavioral scientist and Social Psychology researcher, founder and head of the Sport, Media and Society (SMS) Research Lab within the Sammy Ofer School of Communications at Reichman University (IDC) Herzliya. He also holds a fellowship at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT). With a prolific career spanning several disciplines, Prof. Galily has authored and edited ten books and contributed over 200 peer-reviewed articles to international academic journals and books, focusing on the behavioral and social dynamics of sports and exercise.

His research on the "Choking under pressure" phenomenon among NBA players in 2018 garnered global attention, notably featured in publications such as The New Yorker and the World Economic Forum. Similarly, his investigations into the media influence and social activism of basketball icon LeBron James, coupled with pioneering studies on "Artificial Intelligence and Sports Journalism" in 2019, have generated significant impact and discussion within scholarly and public spheres alike.

Beyond academia, Prof. Galily holds key positions within the sports community, serving as the founder and head of the research unit at the Israeli Football Association (IFA) and contributing his expertise to the Union of European Football Associations’ (UEFA) club licensing committee. At the Olympic Games in Paris (2024), Galily served as a cognitive/mental advisor for the Olympic soccer team (U23). The team took part in the football tournament as one of the three European teams (in addition to host France) to qualify from the Euro Junior Tournament held in 2023.
Additionally, Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Galily plays a vital role as the chief (Organizational and Instructional) Behavioral Scientist at the Israel Defense Forces Combat Fitness Centre, where his insights inform training methodologies and organizational strategies.

Research and Teaching Expertise