Performance Analysis involves the ability to identify playing strengths and areas where improvements are required and to accept why changes in training, tactics team line out may be required.
In Gaelic games, 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.
That’s where the relatively new discipline of performance analysis comes in. Performance analysis has developed rapidly over the last decade and has been facilitated by advances in IT resources available to coaches. Performance analysis is now acknowledged as an aid to performance enhancement at all levels.
Essentially, performance analysis is about creating a reliable record of performance by means of observations that can be analysed, with training programmes and team line ups adapted based on these observations.
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 indicators
- Skill analysis where you analyse the performance of a skill or activity and analyse the performance based on the key points of the skill
The two disciplines use similar methods to collect data and both rely on IT for the analysis of data.
Notational/Match Analysis
Performance can be analysed in two 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, eg monitoring of scoring effectiveness in basketball.
Notational analysis is a process whereby a game is analysed (either live, or after the game) based on a number of indicators that have been established.
Live notational analysis often takes place using paper and pen methods – 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.
Post match notational analysis involves the use of specialised computer software with a recording of the match with the coach tagging a number of outcomes, producing video compilations for later use. In this way a video or dvd of each game, or of each players performance can be created and used to formulate changes in tactics, training programmes or team selection. The major advantage here is that the recording of the game can be slowed down or rewound to ensure that the information gathered is accurate.
Software has been developed 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.
Process of Notational Analysis
The first step in notational analysis is to outline the possible events in a game and prioritisewhich 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 goalkeepers puck/kick out would constitute an action, with Won Clean, Lost Clean, Won Break, Lost Break, Free Won, Free Conceded the possible outcomes. In Gaelic games there are an almost infinite number of possible actions and outcomes ensuring that the coach must prioritise those which influence the game most.
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 coach notes the action and the outcome. 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 be during the game or in subsequent coaching sessions or team meetings.
Presentation 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 ratios, such as possession to turnovers, winners to errors, and passes taken to passes completed. For example, player A may have registered only 1 wide from 2 attempts at goal, with player B registering 3 wides from 10 attempts. On first glance it appears that player B accounted for 3 times the number of wides as player A. However, when expressed as a ratio, player A returned a 1:2 wides ratio – or 50% (wides:attempts) with player B recording a 3:10 wides ratio – of 70%.
Video footage is usually presented via television, although presentations on a computer enable much more flexibility when presenting information to players. Computer software (e.g. Power Point) 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.
Statistics from notation analyses can be presented to players or other coaches visually via charts, and line graphs.
Reducing the total amount of statistics presented to those that highlight the main objectives of the analysis is recommended, 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 (eg a chart showing the number of passes).
