Games Analysis
• Collecting Data to improve performance
Purpose
• To gather information about the physical,
mental, tactical and technical requirements
of an activity or sport so that training and
game performance can be improved.
• Our focus is principally on the physical
aspect (physiological fitness
requirements); however, all areas have an
impact on all the other areas.
• GA is a method of observing, recording
and analysing the physiological aspects
involved in an activity or sport
• Provides information regarding the
physical requirements of a particular sport
that can then be used to design an
appropriate training program
• It reveals what is required of the players
GAMES ANALYSIS
Can analyse five areas in particular:
1. Individual skill analysis
2. Team skill analysis
3. Fitness analysis
4. Decision making
analysis
5. Energy systems analysis
What information do we need?
• When assessing fitness requirements, we
are particularly interested in which:
– energy systems
– fitness components
– muscle groups are involved.
Purpose
• The purpose of analysis is to identify
patterns in data, recognise relationships,
make connections and draw inferences.
• The better the quality of the data and the
more skilled the analyst, the more useful
the analysis will be to the coach and
player(s).
How do we analyse a game?
• A range of data collection methods are
available including:
• observation;
• observation with statistical data collection;
• video recording and statistical data
collection.
Observation only
• Easy (no equipment needed),
• quick/immediate
• Arguments against using observation only
as a method of data collection: No data to
take away and analyse, very subjective,
totally reliant upon observer’s memory and
powers of observation, can’t be checked
by another person
Observation with statistics &
data
• This sees the ease of observation mixed
with the accuracy of statistics and data
that can be referred to. This is more
accurate than observation alone however
preference would be for digital recording of
game.
Digital recording & data
• By digitally recording the game to conduct
an analysis, more precise information
about what has taken place will be
obtained. Additionally, the information can
be taken away and time spent replaying it
to extract all the valuable data.
Skill Analysis - Individual
• Used to determine how
often and how effectively
a particular player uses
particular skills
• Statisticians are required
and skills (possessions
and disposals) have to be
listed
• Can be used to highlight
strengths and
weaknesses
Skill Analysis - team
• Gathering information
about tactical play and
style
• Analysis of defensive
and offensive
strategies (possession
patterns)
Decision Making Analysis
• Available options when deciding what to
do prior to execution can be responsible
for success and failure, these decisions
are not normally the result of a lack of skill
or fitness
• Establishing team rules can take out some
of the decisions to be made
Fitness analysis
• To develop an accurate fitness-training
program you must conduct an individual
analysis of a competent performer, playing
in the specific position in which you are
interested, during a competitive game.
• After a detailed fitness analysis you can
then: (see next slide)
• Understand the demands of a competitive
game, including energy systems and
relevant fitness components
• Suggest training methods appropriate to
improve specific areas by observing an
elite performer you can train to their fitness
levels
• Test your fitness in various components
(identify strengths and weaknesses so that
you can train to your weaknesses and
play to your strengths)
Technology
• Each of these methods has advantages and
disadvantages; however, with new computer technology,
video recording is seen to be the way of the future (at
least at the elite level) as this type of data is much more
reliable.
• Analysis can take the form of immediate observations
that inform decisions on game day, through to detailed
computer analysis of data collected over a whole season
or more that can inform and guide training and forward
planning of factors such as diet; training methods;
training cycles – micro and macro; pre-game warm-up;
and post-game recovery.
AFL - GPS
GPS
Energy Systems Analysis
(Contribution of each energy system)
• This relies on:
– Time
– Intensity (how busy you are in the activity)
– Fitness (how well developed your oxygen
delivery system is)
Several techniques are available to discover
the involvement of each of the energy
systems:
• Analysing movement patterns (tracking field movements of a player
– direct observation or video tape)
high number of short sprints = ATP/PC
efforts intense but longer with little rest = Lactic Acid System
continuous (sub maximal) work, long efforts, few rests = Aerobic
System
• Calculating work to rest ratios (W:R) – involves comparing the
amount of time a player is active to the amount of time recovering.
Definitions of work and rest must be first established. The higher the
work : rest ratio the more aerobic the nature of the activity.
• Monitoring heart rates. Heart rate monitors are generally worn, with
player calling out their heart rate to the recorder every 30 to 60
seconds.
• Heart Rate Zones: Aerobic work – 65% - 80% MHR Anaerobic
work – greater than 85% MHR Recovery – lower than 70% MHR
• Testing blood lactate levels
Additional Movements
• To determine which fitness components need
attending to we need to obtain statistics on all
the relevant essential physical actions:
• Direction changes (including body position and orientation) =
Agility
• Stretches or lunges (actions involving large ranges of motion) =
Flexibility
• Contacts (collisions) = Strength or Power
• Skill frequency (depends on how fast and how often) = Local
muscular Endurance or Power
• Jumps = Power
Data collection
•
•
•
•
•
skill frequency
movement patterns
intensity charts
workrest ratios
heart rate.
Movement Patterns
Speed - Accelerometry
Ironman data (heart rate)
Acceleration data
Heart rate and distance data
• Once you analyse a game the you can
plan and write a training program, pre test
the athlete, and ultimately train for the
specific requirements that you have
ascertained. Finally you can post test the
athlete after a specified period of training
to gauge if any improvements have been
achieved.