Monitoring = throughout your development programme with a view to making changes. Monitoring is about checking for progress and to see if our programme is working. If progress is being made, the PDP will be made harder. Similarly, if we are not seeing progress we may look to make changes and adaptations to make training easier. 

Recording = a snapshot of your PDP progress during a training session. This ususally takes the form of a training diary but it could also be statistics or verbal feedback. 

Evaluating = at the end of your development programme with a view to making a judgement on progress/effectiveness.

• Try to remember Monitor (middle of PDP)

• Evaluating (end of PDP)

Throughout a PDP, it is important to track and understand how performance development process is going for the performer. By recording, monitoring and evaluating the development process the performer can:

• Check to see if the PDP is working effectively for them.

• Gain feedback on the PDP process.

• Identify strengths and areas of development in a performance.

• Gain motivation.

• Create/adjust goals, if required.

• Make changes to a PDP, if required.

Recording

Recording means taking accurate records of progress throughout the performance development process. It is vital that recorded information is accurate so that monitoring can be carried out effectively.

Monitoring

Monitoring refers to the systematic checking and observing of recorded information throughout the performance development process. Comparing this information helps a performer determine if they are improving (or not improving) following the PDP. Monitoring lets a performer know whether they need to make changes to their PDP in order to achieve set goals.

Evaluating

Evaluation happens at the end of a set PDP and is a way of gauging how successful the process has been in improving performance. The performer reflects on the performance development process to evaluate how successful different elements of the process were in helping them improve and meet their set goals. Evaluation helps ensure that future development needs are identified, helping the performer plan effectively for future performance development.

Training Diary

A training diary is a tool that can be used with all of the four factors (Mental, Emotional, Social and Physical). Top athletes use a training diary to plan and importantly to monitor their training.

The types of information that are commonly kept within a training diary include:

• What you plan to do each session

• Information about your food intake and your rest & recovery

• Your thoughts and feelings on the session

• How you felt

• Was the difficulty level correct

• Was the intensity correct

• Changes you made to your session & why

• Quantitative data – scores, times.

• Feedback you received

• Next steps

Describe a method of monitoring your performance for the M/E/S/P factor (4)

To monitor my performance development I used a training diary.  My training diary is in a booklet form and on each page it has a table divided into sections like date, short term goal, description of practice, next steps etc. In my training diary I recorded the following information.  Firstly, I recorded my thoughts and feelings about the training session to see if I found it too easy/difficult.  Secondly, I recorded the training session for that day including the approach I used and how long I trained for. Lastly, I recorded any feedback given to me by my coach on how I can improve my weakness.  My training diary was completed immediately after every session I took part in by myself. 

When Monitor?

It is very important that you monitor your performance during your training programme. It is crucial to your performance development because it ensures that -

During my development Programme I monitored at different times.

1. During sessions.

2. Between stages of learning

3. Before the programme and at the end of the development programme.

1. During sessions and throughout the programme I carried out simple informal tests. An example of this is testing by performing 10 smashes and counting how many were executed properly and accurately.

2. I also monitored between stages, for example between the planning and practice stages and also between the practice and automatic stages. This involved using a video of my performance and an observer to view my performance. A Focussed Observation Schedule would then be completed by the observer which would highlight my strengths and weaknesses within my smash. This is important because as I had to ensure that all of the technical errors were perfected before moving onto the practice stage. Therefore it was essential that I checked to ensure my smash was improving and that there were no technical flaws so that I could cope with this increasing pressure of the practice stage.

3. I also monitored at the end of the development programme. This was carried out in exactly the same conditions as when I gathered data on my performance at the beginning of the programme. I kept the constants the same so that the data could be compared. I used a Video, IOS, FOS and Scattergraph. These highlighted any improvements in my smash by comparing it to the original data and that of a model performer. I collected my data from full context, performance set games with the variables kept constant so that the results are objective. The data also highlighted any improvement in the rest of my game such as my

different shots and how effective they were.

Explain why it is important to monitor your progress (4)

Example answer

'A performer should monitor their progress because it lets them see if their development plan is working. This means they can see if they are meeting each short-term goal and adapt the approaches they are using if they find they are not meeting their targets to make it more relevant to their performance levels.'

'A performer should also monitor their progress because it allows them to identify what approaches works for them. This means they can use these approaches again in future development plans should they be appropriate for developing that new weakness.'

'Another reason why a performer should monitor their progress is because it will allow them to make comparisons between their initial data and re-tests. This means they can measure their progress and gain a confidence boost if they see improvements have been made which can lead to them setting more challenging goals to ensure they do not plateau.'

'Finally, a performer should also monitor their progress because it allows them to identify what approaches work for them. This means they can use these approaches again in future development plans should they be appropriate for developing that new weakness.'

Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of using a Training Diary?

Advantages

After each session you can record your thoughts and feelings on the session and your progress. Being able to look back at the progress you have made will increase motivation and confidence.

It provides a permanent record of your thoughts and feelings so you can look back and reflect on your progress at any stage. This will help you to evaluate both the progress you have made but how effective the approaches you have been using to develop performance have been.

All monitoring data can be recorded in one organised place. This means that there is less risk of vital pieces of information being lost. All information is kept in one handy place.

A training diary can be used to plan your training schedule. This is important as it will ensure you know exactly what you are going to be doing when. It is also important to plan what you will do during each session in your training diary. This will ensure that training time is maximised as you will know exactly what you are doing and can get straight on with it.

Information recorded in your diary will help to ensure that each session takes account of your thoughts and feelings about the last sessions. This will help to ensure changes are being made when needed. This will ensure that the quality of each session is as high as possible.

Information on what the performer has found helps them to be successful can be recorded. This ensures this can be reinforced, remembered and used again in the future. For example this will ensure that useful feedback can be looked over again so that this is remembered.

A training diary can be used to track progress made towards goals. This is important as it will motivate you to see the progress you are making and it ensures that you set new challenging goals that inspire you to continue working hard to make further progress. By constantly recording your new goals it ensures that you always have something to aim for in your sessions.

As a training diary is a small book it is easy to take with you to games & training. This is important as you can refer to it easily. This might be important for ensuring you are working on the correct practices or so that you can refer to a piece of feedback you have been given.

By recording your thoughts and feelings in your training diary as well as information about what you ate/drank before during a session you can start to build up a picture of the circumstances you require in order to trainin play to your maximum. This is important as you can then ensure you replicate these circumstances before training sessions and matches so that you either make the maximum amount of progress or play to your best in games.

Disadvantages

Can take time away from practice session in order to complete the diary

You might not place a high enough value on it and rush comments therefore making the data collected less valid and reliable.

If done later your recollection of the information might not be correct as it is not fresh in your mind

You might lose or forget your diary as it is not of high enough importance to you.

You might not recognise the progress you are making – therefore record overly negative comments.

You might not have the experience or knowledge to make valuable comments in your training diary.

Re-testing

When gathering initial data you collect baseline data on your performance using different methods of data collection (General Observation Schedule, Focussed Observation Schedule, Questionnaires, Performance Profile Wheel etc).

To check if you have improved you would simply redo the methods you used to gather data at the beginning of your programme again in the middle and at the end of your training programme and compare the results.

This approach will give you qualitative or quantitative data on your progress depending on the method you use to gather the data. 

When describing the Re-Test, you are essentially going through the same process of describing your data collection method BUT with an added feature: you must make reference to the timing of completion and the fact that you will compare to your baseline scores by giving examples.

Retesting is when a performer completes a test they have previously used to gather information about their performance on a selected factor.

A performer would use a selected method to collect information on their performance before the start of a PDP, giving them initial data on the factor chosen. Retesting generally happens half way through and at the end of a PDP. The retesting data should be compared to the initial data, allowing differences to be found in the data (showing improvement, or lack of improvement). This can highlight to the performer if they need to make changes to their PDP.

Retesting works best with quantitative data collection methods as comparisons between numbers is easier to analyse than qualitative data. Therefore, the following data collection methods are appropriate for retesting:

• Multi Stage Fitness Test (physical factor)

• Initial Observation Schedule (physical factor)

• SCAT (Emotional factor)

• Social facilitation questionnaire (social factor)

• Mental Toughness Questionnaire (mental)

Other quantitative data collection methods are suitable, too.

In order to ensure fair comparisons are made when retesting it is important to ensure the conditions of the test are EXACTLY the same as for the initial data collection.

For example, for a Multi Stage Fitness Test, if the distance between the cones for the initial test is 20 metres and for the retest half way through 25 metres, the data collected for the retest will not give a true reflection of any improvements made to that point in a PDP. The distances should be identical for the retest.

By ensuring conditions are exactly the same when retesting ensures the data collected is reliable and can be used to make valid comparisons.

Describe a method of evaluating your performance for the M/E/S/P factor (4)

I completed my Performance Profile Wheel re-test after I completed my PDP. I did it in the exact same location as my baseline test by doing it at home on my own.  It is an A4 piece of paper with 2 circles on each side of the sheet. Each circle is split up into 8 sections with each section having an emotional sub factor as a heading such as anger, anxiety, fear and happiness. Each section has 10 segments and I would shade in segments based on my score with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. For example if I thought my ability to control my anger was an 8, I coloured in the 8th segment in red. After doing this, I considered my capabilities in this section. If I scored myself a 4 for anger, I coloured in segments 1-4 in blue so i could compare them.. After completing the re-test, I handed it back to my teacher for them to compare my scores to my baseline data and measured if I had made any improvement to my previous results.

Other Example Questions on Monitoring and Evaluating

1) Explain why it is important to monitor and evaluate your progress during and after your training programme. 

2) Explain why it is important to monitor progress when developing Physical (Mental, Emotional, Social) Factors which impact on performance 

3) Describe a method you used to monitor your performance within the Physical (Mental, Emotional, Social) Factor

4) Evaluate  a method you used to monitor your performance within the Physical (Mental, Emotional, Social) Factor