Performance Analysis

Introduction

Performance Analysis involves the ability to identify playing/performing strengths and areas where improvements are required by both individuals and teams. It is a source of feedback to the coach, teacher and ultimately the performer.

Content

  • Qualitative and Quantitative appraoches (physical, tactical, technical and behavioual)
  • Intrepetation of data

Diagram of the Coaching Process

Performance analysis plays a key role within the coaching process and informs all aspects of the model.

The Coaching Process

Physical Analysis of Performance

This area deals with the monitoring and evaluation of human performance. This is mainly carried out through fitness testing; within modern elite sport the margins of winning and losing are extremely fine with physical preparation a key element in success. Fitness testing provides coaches with an overall fitness profile of the sportsperson. These profiles will be specific to that sport or even the position they play e.g. A prop in rugby will have a different fitness profile to that of a winger due the differing demands of the position. Modern forms of testing are getting more complex and detailed using highly specialised monitoring and recording equipment. Such specialised tests are deemed Laboratory Tests (hyperlink to video of tests). The coach and the performer to can use this information to: -

  • Identify strengths and weaknesses in fitness
  • Make large or finite changes to a training programme
  • Develop an ongoing fitness profile of the performer
  • Set highly specific goals

Inevitably there are drawbacks with such equipment, mainly centred around cost and the specialist nature of the testers and equipment, this means that only the top elite sportspeople access such continual testing.

Analysing Technical and Tactical Aspects of Performance

How Coaches and Players Use Performance Analysis

Essentially, performance analysis is about creating a reliable record of performance by means of observations that can be analysed, with training programmes and team selection adapted based on these observations.

Tactical and Technical Performance analysis can be broken down into two separate but related disciplines:

  • Notational/match analysis, where you analyse individual or team performance based on a number of different performance indicators. E.g. time in possession, number of shots etc. or individually, number of tackles, successful passes, interceptions etc.
  • Biomechanical Analysis where you analyse the performance of a skill e.g. javelin throw or activity and analyse the performance based on the key points of the skill e.g. Head, arms, legs position at the point of release of the javelin. This often uses highly specialized use of video to measure joint angles, force production, body rotation etc.

The two disciplines use similar methods to collect data, and both rely on IT for the analysis of data.

Notational Analysis

In both individual and team sports, it is difficult, if not impossible, for coaches to notice and remember all the key events occurring within a training session or match, equipped only with their knowledge of sport and their powers of observation. Human observation and memory are not reliable enough to provide the detailed information necessary for performance development. A study by Franks and miller (1986) showed that football coaches were less than 45% accurate in their post game assessment of what occurred during a game. Factors that affect a coach’s perception include: -

  • The vast amount of information in a game/performance is difficult to retain
  • The emotions during the game/performance can cloud judgement
  • Pre-conceived ideas and personal bias of players and opposition
  • Different coaches look at different performance indicators e.g. an attack minded coach would look at different things to a defence minded coach

As a result Notational Analysis systems have been formed to provide far greater objectivity (definite statistics etc.) rather than the coaches subjective analysis. Notational analysis has developed rapidly over the last decade and has been facilitated by advances in IT resources available to coaches. It can take the form of real time hand or computer notation (takes place during the event) or video/computer analysis (post event). Notational analysis is now acknowledged as an aid to performance enhancement at all levels.

Methods of Notational Analysis

Performance can be analysed in a variety of ways using notational analysis:

  • Individual assessment of players within the team, for example strikers in football
  • Assessment of an aspect of performance for the whole team, e.g. monitoring of scoring effectiveness in basketball
  • Assesment of unit performance e.g. Defence in netball

Notational analysis is a process whereby a game is analysed (either live, or after the game) based on a number of performance indicators that have been established.

Real Time Analysis

Live notational analysis previously took place using paper and pen methods, but with the inception of recent technology and specialist performance analysists, computer software is commonly used with high level sport.

A template is devised and performance is noted for each player based on the template. The coach manually records all of the events in the game, presenting summaries to other coaches and players where necessary during the game.

Advantages of real time analysis

  • Immediate information is provided to the coaches
  • Coaches can act on this information to change players, tactics etc.
  • Opposition can be analysed and again changes can be made accordingly

Disadvantages of real time analysis

  • Limited amount of information can be recorded
  • Difficult to process, so much information for the recorder
  • Computer analysis requires specialist training
  • Detailed hand notation requires a great deal of practice

Post Match/Performance Video/Computer Analysis

Post match notational analysis involves the use of specialised computer software with a recording of the match with the coach or performance analyst noting a number of outcome. After viewing and ‘coding’ matches performance analysts produce video/computer compilations of aspects of play for later use. Furthermore, statistical data is also gained from the matches. Prior to the advancement of computer software coaches used a video or DVD of each game and would provide feedback on the basis of this. With the advent of modern computer software, both players as well as coaches will also review their own and the teams performance. It is a very useful method for players to be responsible for taking ownership of developing their own sporting performance.

Clip 1 - Kick analysis match

Clip 2 - Kick analysis training

Clip 3 - Analysis opposition lineout

Real Time Computer Analysis

Software is used that allows live analysis of games, where the match is recorded directly onto a laptop allowing the coach to record all of the match events and create a video compilation instantly. Such information is often fedback to players at half time or during breaks in –play.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in Sport

GPS systems are now commonplace within elite sport, these systems are used to aquire information about the players in either match or training situations. Modern GPS systems measure distance covered, speed over set distances, heart rate and even the force of any collision or impact. Such information can be used to inform specific strength and conditioning programmes and can be used to formulate changes in tactics, training session length and intensity or even team selection.

Advantages to Post Match Video/Computer Analysis

  • Permanent record of performance, which can be used to compare past and present levels of performance
  • Permanent record of opposition performances
  • Different camera angles can be used to provide different perspectives e.g. birds eye view
  • Slow motion, freeze frame can provide precise analysis
  • Modern computer systems through GPS allow tracking of player for every second of the game. Identifying distance covered, different intensities of work, heart rate and impact forces etc.
  • Training can be far more specific in terms of length of time on the field and the intensity (replicating match situations)
  • Players can use it for self analysis, which is often a more powerful form of analysis than coach feedback

Disadvantages to Post Match Video/Computer Analysis

  • Modern analysis computer programmes can be expensive
  • Specific training is needed to make full use of the equipment
  • Very time consuming. A full match of any sport can take up to 20hrs to analyse fully

General use of performance analysis

Pre-game During-game Short-term post-game Long-term post-game
Education Half time feedback Team de-brief Player audits
Tactical Full time feedback Unit de-brief Team audits
Movtivation Player de-briefs Research
Opposition Trends

Process of Notational Analysis and Deciding on Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

The first step in notational analysis is to outline the possible events in a game and prioritise which to include in the analysis. This means defining the range of possible actions in the game and linking these actions with possible outcomes – for example a goalkeeper’s kick, throw out etc, would constitute an action, whereas maintained possession from defence, midfield, attack are outcomes. In most games there are an almost infinite number of possible actions and outcomes ensuring that the coach must prioritise those, which influence the game most. E.g. In Rugby, defence/denying a gain line from 1st phase situations. Netball, centre pass success rate. Similarly a coach can receive data on either individual players or the team as a whole. Here is an example of the process a football manager may go through when deciding on what he wants analysed: - (see next page)

The Coaching Process

Using these events and outcomes, it is possible to create a paper template – or an electronic template if using a software package – that the coach uses to analyse the game. Each time an action occurs in the game, the analyst notes the action and the outcome e.g. Action = Pass over 5m Outcome = Accurate. By analysing all of the outcomes it may be possible to pinpoint areas that require adjustment within the team. This type of analysis enables the coach to create an objective statistical analysis of the match to use when giving feedback, whether that is during the game or in subsequent coaching sessions or team meetings.

Presentation and Interpretation of Data

It is important to be careful with how the data is presented since, in isolation, these can give a distorted impression of performance.

Comparing performances between teams, team members and within individuals is often easier and more accurate if the performance indicators are expressed in terms of percentage success to failure, such as possession to turnovers, winners to errors, and passes received to passes completed. For example netball Goal Shooter may have scored 50 of the 70 goals during a match, which seems very good. However if the Goal Shooter had 100 attempts on goal her shooting ratio is 50%. While the Goal Attack may have only scored 20 goals but only had 30 attempts, this gives and average of 66% which is a better average. This highlights the importance of having the full statistical data. It would then be up to the coaches as to how this data is used, is it better to have more shots and more misses or fewer shots with a high success rate?

Video footage is usually presented via television, although presentations on a computer enable much more flexibility when presenting information to players. Computer software can be used to enhance the visual information that players are shown, by highlighting key situations in the game and using these for feedback purposes. Often the video itself will be broken down into sections for ease of viewing. E.g. attack and defence, these would then be further subdivided into more segments and so the process would continue until the coach is happy the video footage highlights key points. Statistics from notation analyses can be presented to players or other coaches visually via charts or graphs.

Reducing the total amount of statistics presented to those that highlight the main objectives of the analysis is important for coaches, as large amounts of statistics can often be confusing for players and coaches. As well as this, statistics from categories that are too general may not be very informative (e.g. a chart showing the number of passes is not really relevant to a coach, but the type of pass, where it takes place, pass completion etc are far more useful performance indicators

Bio-mechanical Analysis

Biomechanics is the science concerned with the internal and external forces acting on the human body and the effects produced by these forces. At the highest levels of sports in which techniques play a major role, improvement comes so often from careful attention to detail that no coach can afford to leave these details to chance or guesswork. For such coaches knowledge of biomechanics might be regarded as essential. This area of performance analysis is widespread in predominantly individual sports where complex full body movement is required e.g. gymnastics; athletics field events and sprinting etc. Highly specialized cameras, sensors and computer programmes have been designed to provide exceptional detail and data about a performers technique. This data is then used by the coach and athlete to improve areas such as efficiency of movement, increased force production, and aerodynamics. The margin of winning and losing have become so fine at the highest level of sport that athletes and coaches a seeking every advantage possible. Some of the principle areas Biomechanical analysis deals with are: -

Speed and velocity

Speed and velocity describe the rate at which a body moves from one location to another. These two terms are often thought, incorrectly, to be the same. Average speed of a body is obtained by dividing the distance by the time taken where as the average Velocity is obtained by dividing the displacement by the time taken e.g. consider a swimmer in a 50m race in a 25m length pool who completes the race in 60 seconds - distance is 50m and displacement is 0m (swimmer is back where they started) so speed is 50/60= 0.83m/s and velocity is 0/60=0 m/s

  • Speed and Velocity = distance travelled ÷ time taken

Acceleration

Acceleration is defined as the rate at which velocity changes with respect to time.

  • Average acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) ÷ elapsed time

From Newton's 2nd law:

  • Force = Mass x Acceleration
  • Acceleration = Force ÷ Mass

If the mass of a sprinter is 70kg and the force exerted on the starting blocks is 700N then acceleration = 700 ÷ 70 = 10 msec²

Levers

For your arm, leg or any body part to move the appropriate muscles and bones must work together as a series of levers. A lever comprises of three components -

  • Fulcrum or pivot - the point about which the lever rotates
  • Load - the force applied by the lever system
  • Effort - the force applied by the user of the lever system

The way in which a lever will operate is dependent on the type of lever.

Classification of Levers

Class 1 - The fulcrum lies between the effort and the load

Examples in levers used in weight training

Seated dumbbell triceps extension

Class 2 - The fulcrum is at one end, the effort at the other end and the load lies between the effort and the fulcrum

Examples in levers used in weight training

Standing heel lift

Class 3 - The fulcrum is at one end, the load at the other end and the effort lies between the load and the fulcrum

Examples in levers used in weight training

Seated biceps curl

Analysis in Sport Psychology

Steps of Problem Solving

  • The problem identification (actual vs. anticipated; sensory vs. emotional)
  • Theoretical orientation (hypothetical statement: i.e. "why and how")
  • Psychological assessment / analysis
    1. Initial Interview
    2. Behaviour Observation
    3. Testing
  • Intervention strategies

Initial interview

Definition: Interviewing is face-to -face verbal encounters or exchange which is carefully planned, deliberately and skilfully executed and goal-oriented throughout.

Interview is more purposeful and organized than just conversation, but less formalised and standardised than a psychological test.

Types of Initial Interview

  • Case-history interview (concrete facts, dates, events, etc.)
  • Diagnostic interview (expression, posture, mood and emotions, intellect, abnormal mental trends)
  • Pre-test & Post-test Interview (administering personality test)
  • Crisis Interview (deflect potential for disaster and prevent crisis)
  • Pre-therapy interview (elicitation of specific information)

Interviewing Techniques

  • Rapport "When the atmosphere is permissive, reasonable harmonious, and characterized by mutual interest, the interviewing relationship is described as en rapport" Berg, 1954
  • Communication: *language, *silence, *listening, *questions, *non-verbal communication

Non-Verbal Communication

  • It is major determination of meaning in the interpersonal context (i.e. voice, facial expression, body movement)

Behaviour Observation

Behaviour is observable across:

  • Vocal (e.g. sighing, tonality, intensity)
  • Facial expression (e.g. grimacing)
  • Gesture (e.g. rubbing)
  • Posture: *excessive stiffness, *compensatory positioning, referred to bracing or guarding
  • Locomotion (e.g. limping)
  • Specific skilful activity: *smooth vs. erratic patters, *range of motion (i.e. amplitude)

*Obvious asymmetry, *abnormal speed, *accuracy, *whole body vs. localized movement

Strategies for Improving the Observation Reliability

  • Decide on target behaviours that are both relevant and comprehensive.
  • Be familiar with the objective standardized observable format.
  • Strictly specify the unit of analysis, scoring scheme, rating scale etc.
  • Be aware of potential sources of error in the observations as bias and like.
  • Consider the possibilities for reactivity (i.e. influence of awareness that one is being observed)
  • Carefully consider how representative the observation (in terms of generalization)

Personality Testing

  • Eysenck (EPI) - neuroticism & introversion (r = .50)
  • State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Spielberger & Lushene,1970;
  • Profile of Mood State (POMS) - McNair, Lorr & Droppleman,1971;- tension, depression, anger, vigour, fatigue, confusion, total mood disturbance
  • Athletic Motivation Inventory (AMI) - Tutko, Ogilvie (1969);
    • -Ability to cope with emotional stress
    • Dedication to the coach and sport
    • Desire to be successful in athletics
  • Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) - Martens,1977;
    • "Tendency to perceive competitive situation as threatening and to respond with feelings of apprehension or tension" Ludvig, 1981

Interventions would then be undertaken to improve the sportspersons psychological state. E.g. relaxation techniques, mental rehearsal and positive self talk

Quick Check

  • Performance analysis can provide information on Technical, Tactical, Physiscal and Behavioral aspects of sport
  • Physical analysis is mainly carried out through fitness testing and GPS data from training and matches
  • Notational analysis is the method for recording information from a match and can be either real time analysis or post match analysis Coach observation is only 30-45% accurate. There are also other problems associated with coach observation:
    • The vast amount of information in a game/performance is difficult to retain
    • The emotions during the game/performance can cloud judgement
    • Pre-conceived ideas and personal bias of players and opposition
    • Different coaches look at different performance indicators e.g. an attack minded coach would look at different things to a defence minded coach
  • Technical and Tactical data is usually gained from video/computer/GPS analysis. It provides objective data from statistical information
  • Every aspect of a game can be analysed from individual to unit and team performance
  • Biomechanics also provides technical data in terms of forces, joint angles, and aerodynamics to name a few
  • Psychological analysis and profiling can gained via coach observation, questionairres and interviews.