Observation & Analysis

Types of Analysis Athletes rely on feedback to improve their performance. This is often done by their coaches who observe, analysing the strong and the weak aspects performance. Aspects of performance that may be observed by the coach are: Technique & skill execution Application of tactics Influence of competitors & competition The coach may look generally at the whole performance, termed performance analysis, or at a more specific element termed technique analysis.

Types of Analysis Question: What is the most commonly used measure of success within sports performance? Is it how good the techniques were performed or the outcome of the performance? Consider: How important is winning over playing well.

Types of Analysis Analysis often starts from how successful the performance was due to its outcome e.g. win or lose or 3 rd place out of 8 runners. TASK – Read Darren Campbell’s article on pg 49 of Balls Sports Magazine (issue 2). How would his sprint relay coach consider success or failure in this event? What areas of technique might he attribute to the final outcome of the race? Consider a sport that you take part in. Complete the task below. TASK - Using the ‘Opta Sports Data’ Match Analysis on pg42 of Ball Sports Magazine (issue 2) as an example design a performance analysis data collection sheet for a sport of your choice

The Technical Model After a coach analyses the whole performance s/he may highlight a particular area of technique within the performance that have an effect on the outcome. To do this coaches often judge a performance against a ‘technical model.’ These models are what we call the perfect technique. This can be the most efficient or effective way to complete the skill or overcome an opponent. These perfect models give us criteria to judge sports performance by. From this the coach can make decisions for future training and development.

The Technical Model TASK – Read pg 44 & 45 in issue 2 of Balls Sports magazine, The Perfect Swing. Look at the stages of Tiger Woods Golf Swing. Read the specific criteria for each stage. Using the Worksheet on pg 46, find ‘perfect model’ criteria for a specific technique within the sport you considered earlier. Try to highlight a technique which you observed as having an effect on the overall performance. Add the criteria to your worksheet.

Observing Performance Question: After selecting a specific sports technique to analyse you need to think about how you can successfully observe this performance. What techniques / materials / position of view might you use to observe this performance effectively?

Observing Performance Consider: Can you use still pictures or video to help review the technique? Can you split the technique criteria into ‘phases’ to make it easier to focus on specific elements of the technique. How do you know that the criteria you have chosen is the ‘perfect model?’ What sources have you used? How can you justify that it’s a perfect model?

Analysing Performance Once you have observed your performance you can now compare it against the ‘perfect model.’ This is called analysing. By analysing the technique observed against the perfect model criteria you can: Suggest Strengths in the observed performance. Suggest Weaknesses in the observed performance. TASK - Using you worksheet highlight strengths and weaknesses for the technique that you observed.

Improving Performance From your analysis you should now be able to see what particular elements of a technique are performed well and what are performed not so well. To improve the performance we must concentrate on the elements that have been found to be weaker. Question: How can you train specifically to improve this element of the technique? What type of training would generate the best results e.g. visual guidance, agility training etc? What factors might you have to take into consideration when suggesting ways to improve e.g. time limits, facilities etc? How do you test for, and measure to see if you training has improved performance and thus the result?