Performance Analysis

Prepared by: Christine May, Senior Research Consultant, Clearinghouse for Sport
Reviewed by: Australasian Sport Information Network
Last updated: 13 October 2020
Content disclaimer: See Clearinghouse for Sport disclaimer

Performance analysis seeks to explore how the innovative application of technology may help performance. Practitioners aim to provide systematic and objective feedback to athletes and coaches in order to understand, accelerate, and develop performance, including optimising existing techniques and learning new skills. It may also be used to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of competitors.

The main components of performance analysis include tactical and technical evaluation, analysis of movement, and statistical compilation. These components are often facilitated by the use of technology including computer software and video technology.

Integration into the daily training environment is sport-dependent and individualised for the needs of coaches and athletes. The implementation of a performance analysis system is seen in the daily training environment via technologies (e.g. video feedback systems); in the expanded skill-set of coaching staff (coaches using software to analyse performance); through the provision of human resources (staff recording performance data); or in a combination of these types of services.

Resources

Groups, societies and professional bodies

International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport (ISPAS). ISPAS exists to provide an infrastructure of professionalisation, information and training opportunities for all performance analysts, whether they are interested amateurs, professional consultants, or academics.

Performance analysts with relevant experience supporting sports teams and/or individuals can apply for international accreditation with ISPAS. Individuals who meet the minimum standards for level 1 or 2 accreditation will receive the generic ISPAS accreditation. After these levels there are two pathways, the applied and the scientific routes. For more information visit the ISPAS website.

Vocational education and training

Although there is no clearly defined vocational training path many performance analysts come from a background of coaching and/or sport science and technology. It is typical that experience is first gained with community sports clubs, building skills and exploring the ways in which performance analysis may impact performance. Further work experience opportunities are available within the National Institute Network (NIN) and elite level sports teams, and are often linked with university degrees. To be successful as an applicant for such a placement students need to demonstrate a passion for the area together with a developing skill set relevant to the work.

Several Australian universities (including Open Universities Australia, University of Canberra, Deakin University) offer individual subjects introducing the concepts and techniques of performance analysis for the sport sector.

For those seeking postgraduate study opportunities, Australian Catholic University (ACU) offers a Graduate Certificate in Performance Analysis or students may pursue a research pathway commencing with Honours or Masters.

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) offers postgraduate scholarships in performance analysis on an annual basis. These roles help the AIS provide extra resources for sports and offer the scholars an opportunity to be exposed to the application of performance analysis across a range of elite sports. The scholarships draw significant interest each year and the process to receive a scholarship is highly competitive.

Presently the number of performance analysis positions within the NIN is quite small, however the role is quite prominent within professional codes. All Australian professional football clubs (Australian Football League (AFL), Rugby Super 15, A-League, and National Rugby League (NRL) clubs) have a staff member responsible for performance analysis and many have more than one.

Professional Accreditation

In December 2017 the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) announced the introduction of a national accreditation scheme for sport scientists. The scheme is run in partnership with Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) and the Australian Strength & Conditioning Association (ASCA).

In August 2020 the AIS released the Sports Science Sports Medicine Practitioner Minimum Standards. These standards represent the mandatory minimum standards for SSSM staff and contractors engaged to deliver services in these disciplines of practice (including performance analysis) by National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) that are subject to the AIS SSSM Best Practice Principles via their Sport Investment Agreement. They will also guide the minimum SSSM personnel requirements of the National Institute Network (NIN).

Further resources and reading

Access to resources
Where possible, direct links to full-text and online resources are provided. However, where links are not available, you may be able to access documents directly by searching our licenced full-text databases (note: user access restrictions apply). Alternatively, you can ask your institutional, university, or local library for assistance—or purchase documents directly from the publisher. You may also find the information you’re seeking by searching Google Scholar.

ASC National Sports Research Centre - Performance Analysis 1985-1995

Essentials of Performance Analysis in Sport. 3rd ed. Hughes M, Franks I. Routledge, (2020).
Routledge Handbook of Sports Performance Analysis. McGarry T, O'Donoghue P, Sampaio J., Routledge, (2013).
Research Methods for Sports Performance Analysis. O'Donoghue. Routledge, (2009).

MASA ("Movement and Action Sequence Analysis") software is the first public-domain software made available on the International Association of Computer Science in Sport (IACSS) website. The MASA software was developed in cooperation at the University of Graz and the Technical University of Graz. It is a game analysis software that can be used for scientific analyses or in sports practice in different types of sports.

Proceedings of the 2016 International Association of Computer Science in Sport (IACSS) Conference. The International Association of Computer Science in Sport Conference 2016 took place between July 31– August 3, 2016 in Brasilia, Brazil. The aim of the conference was to promote the inter-disciplinary field of sport science and computer science in order to face challenging problems in sports and exercise sciences, supported by formal models, analytical approaches and computational support. (IACSS)
Winning with analytics: a blog on the use of analytics in sport, Dr Bill Gerrard, (accessed 9 October 2020).

Licencing restrictions apply to some resources listed below.

Public All Clearinghouse members 'Australian' members only
'High Performance' members only Restricted access
Please see Clearinghouse membership categories for further information.

Modelling Movement - The Dive Mechanic Case Study, Dr Paul Cleary, Chief Researcher, CSIRO, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (27 May 2016)
Spatio-temporal Analysis of Team Sports - Michael Horton and Joachim Gudmundsson, The University of Sydney, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (18 May 2016)
Performance Analysis - A case study from the Australian Diamonds, Mitch Mooney, Performance Analyst, Australian Institute of Sport, 2016 Basketball Australia Coaches Conference(4 May 2016)
Improving the Physical Preparation of Female Sevens Players. Anthea Clarke, AIS, UC and ARU PhD Scholar, SmartTalk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (8 February 2016)
Tracking Sporting Talent Using Digital Technologies – Gymnastics Australia Case Study. Alexis Lebedew, Gymnastics Australia, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (7 December 2015)
2020 Road Map - Disruptive Technologies and Opportunities for a Sustainable Competitive Edge. Dr Stuart Morgan, Australian Institute of Sport, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (20 October 2015)
NIN Overview - Australian Institute of Sport - Performance Analysis, Hamish Jeacocke, Senior Performance Analyst, AIS, 2015 Movement Science Forum (29 April 2015)

Group summary - Performance Analysis, Stuart Morgan on behalf of the Performance Analysis breakout group, 2015 Movement Science Forum (30 April 2015)
Performance Analysis - Computer Vision for High Performance Sport. Dr Stuart Morgan, Australian Institute of Sport, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (30 July 2013)
An update on Computational Fluid Dynamics. Raymond Cohen, CSIRO, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (6 December 2013)
Computational modelling for improving swimming performance. Raymond Cohen, CSIRO, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (8 February 2013)
Slalom Canoe/Kayak HD video service. Tamara Kefford, AIS Performance Analysis (24 February 2013)
InMotio Local Positioning Measurement (LPM) monitoring: a demonstration of technology for tracking athletes in training and competition. Edward de Boer, Managing Director InMotio Object Tracking, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (6 November 2012)
VisionKit Player Tracking Demonstration. Stuart Morgan, AIS Performance Research, (21 September 2012)
The Making of Superior Athletes through deliberate practice. Professor K Anders Ericsson, Florida State University, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (6 June 2012)
Cycling Reconnaissance, Dr David T Martin, AIS Senior Physiologist and Hamilton Lee, AIS Senior Physiologist, Smart Talk Seminar Series (20 February 2012)
Sportscode - Where is this video ananlysis software headed?. Landell Archer, Australian account manager, Sportstec, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (3 March 2011)
Collaborating with Coaches in the Daily Training Environment. Alexis Lebedew, AIS Biomechanics and Performance Analysis, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (7 June 2010)

A day in the life of a Performance Analyst, NSW Institute of Sport, YouTube, (27 March 2019). Sam Marshall is a Performance Analyst at the NSW Institute of Sport. Hear from him on how he works with hockey and netball at NSWIS.
What is performance analysis? - Water Polo, Australian Sports Commission, YouTube, (19 May 2016). Tamara Kefford explains the important role of performance analysis in water polo.
AIS Performance Analysis - Innovation in Netball, Australian Sports Commission, YouTube, (13 June 2016). Dr Mitchell Mooney, AIS Senior Performance Analyst is joined by Australian Netball Diamonds Head Coach Lisa Alexander and Athlete Clare McMeniman as they discuss the innovation in their approach to performance analysis.

Performance Analysis

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