What is Performance Analysis? How does it Help Athletes?

Performance analysis is a form of systematic observation used by athletes and coaches. It involves varying forms of analysis on both athletes and their competitors, to provide valid, reliable and detailed information relating to performance. This is used to inform future training methods, and positional play and patterns of movement in both offensive and defensive strategies/tactics. An example of this can be seen in Sport Film Study which you will be utilizing in your first assessment task. 

Benefits for Athletes

• Develop strategies and skills in direct response to performance 

• Develop and improve leadership and positional responsibilities

• Inform design of appropriate offensive and defensive strategies 

• Develop gameplaty tactics and tactical knowledge 

• Improve decision making 

• Improve confidence

Benefits for Coaches

• Informs design of coaching sessions 

• Informs gameplay tactics and positioning of athletes 

• Assists in understanding athletes strengths and weaknesses

• Enhances their own development and coaching practice

• Enables in-depth review of performance

Examples:

Where can performance analysis add value?

Performance analysis can be used in the following areas to add value to a sports programme:

Example 1: Competition Support

Performance analysis is used to capture performances of our athletes, and where relevant, competitors. During competition, footage can be analysed whilst athletes compete, to provide coaches with immediate information to inform coaching decisions during the competition, and give coaches video and accurate data for feedback to athletes as soon as they have finished competing. Having a performance analyst gives coaches time to focus their attention on the athlete, knowing they will be given accurate data and video of the event to refer back to. This footage/ data is used for further purposes outside of the immediate competition event.

• We can provide footage and data on the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses to facilitate strategic thinking.

• We have evidence of how our athletes performed and we can then plan strategies to bridge gaps between our athletes and worlds best.

• Data helps us to measure the demands of competition so we have a better understanding of what it takes to be successful, and the performance strategies the best in the world are using.

• Data is used to inform future training interventions.

Example 1:

 Live coding during competition: providing coaches with accurate data to inform coaching decisions