Performance Analysis in Sport

Performance analysis (PA) in elite sport has become an increasingly important component of the coaching process. However, issues remain with existing approaches to PA, including limitations in the methods, an unclear conceptual base for PA, a gap between research and coaching practice, the reluctance of coaches to adopt novel methods, and guidance on how PA can move forward. This chapter briefly discusses limitations of the current PA methods in football and then introduces and demonstrates novel methods from Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) that can be used to investigate and potentially resolve some of these problems. Given that team sports, and specifically football are characteristic of a complex system, in this chapter we propose that methods used in HFE could enhance football PA, and subsequently the coaching process and ultimately performance. To demonstrate the utility of these methods, the current chapter describes how Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA), Social Network Analysis (SNA), the Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST), and the Critical Decision Method (CDM), can be used for PA in football and sport in general.