Essentials of Performance Analysis in Sport

The coaching process is about enhancing performance by providing feedback about the performance to the athlete or team. Researchers have shown that human observation and memory are not reliable enough to provide accurate and objective information for high-performance athletes. Objective measuring tools are necessary to enable the feedback process. These can take the form of video analysis systems post-event, both biomechanical and computerised notation systems, or the use of in-event systems.

Essentials of Performance Analysis in Sport 3rd Edition is fully revised with updated existing chapters and the addition of 12 new chapters. It is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to this core discipline of contemporary sport science. The book offers a full description of the fundamental theory of match and performance analysis, using real-world illustrative examples and data throughout. It also explores the applied contexts in which analysis can have a significant influence on performance. To this end the book has been defined by five sections.

In Section 1 the background of performance analysis is explained and Section 2 discusses methodologies used in notating sport performance. Current issues of performance analysis applied research, such as chance, momentum theory, perturbations and dynamic systems are explored in Section 3. Profiling, the essential output skill in performance analysis, is examined in depth in Section 4. The book’s final section offers invaluable applied information on careers available for performance analysts.

With extended coverage of contemporary issues in performance analysis and contributions from leading performance analysis researchers and practitioners, Essentials of Performance Analysis in Sport 3rd Edition is a complete textbook for any performance analysis course, as well as an invaluable reference for sport science or sport coaching students and researchers, and any coach, analyst or athlete looking to develop their professional insight.

Mike Hughes is Emeritus Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. He is the founder and now President of ISPAS (International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport); President of the International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport Asia; Member of the Coordination Council, and Chair of the Performance Analysis Group for the International Network of Sport and Health Science. He has four International Journal Editorial Board positions. He has published over 200 papers, over 24 books, organised 25 international conferences, and is a frequent keynote speaker. He is also a consultant to NGB’s - for squash, rugby, hockey, soccer and badminton - EIS, PGIR. His accreditations include Level 5 by ISPAS; BASES Accredited ‘Sport and Exercise Scientist’. He is a Level IV squash coach, has coached English and Welsh national squads, and GB University squash squad. He founded the International Journal of Performance Analysis of Sport. His research interests include analysis of sports performance, analysis of coaching behaviour, developing methodologies in notational analysis, modelling of sports performance, dynamic systems and momentum in sport and Performance profiling.

Ian M. Franks PhD is Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada. He now specializes in the neural control of skillful movement in his Motor Learning and Control Laboratory at the School of Kinesiology, UBC. Since joining UBC in 1980 he has published over 150 refereed research articles, 22 book chapters and five books in the areas of Sport Analysis, Skill Acquisition and Movement Control.

Henriette Dancs is a Professor in the Institute of Sport Sciences at Szombathely, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary. Professor Dancs has more than 30 years' academic experience involved in wide range of different academic activities in Hungary and in abroad (Founder/Coordinator and now General Secretary of the International Network on Sport and Health Sciences). She has developed and designed courses and also was involved in the organization of a number of international academic projects (e.g. IPPAS 2000- 2003, an international ISPAS courses) and study programs on the field of Performance Analysis in Sport. Her related lecturing subjects are Perfomance Analysis in Sport, Notational Anaylsis, and Project Management.