Physical Education - Unit 4 - Chapter 10

What is an Activity Analysis?

* Main purpose of an activity analysis is to gather physiological data and info, either through viewing or recording.

* Provides info on physiological requirements of the game.

* Can be used to enhance the specificity of a TP to better prepare a person for performance in their sport.

* Enables coaches to make important link b/w training and actual performance.

* Key to successful AA- specificity.

Knowledge/ Info Collected can Include Identifying...

* Energy system contribution, requirements and interplay during diff. parts of the performance.

* Major fitness components that were used/ how they were used.

* Movement patterns that occur.

* Performance intensities.

* Likely factors associated w/ fatigue.

* Skill frequencies- related muscle groups requiring conditioning

* Major muscle groups used.

* Work-to-rest ratio

* Heart rate data.

When is an Activity Analysis Used?

* Team sports and individual sports of an intermittent nature are most suited to an activity analysis.

* Analysis of continuous activities (middle distance running, rowing, swimming) is more limited.

* Where possible, highest level of performance needs to be observed (elite).

* Allows for greater accuracy in data collection - should provide info about how to achieve optimal performance.

Four Key Aspects Related to Activity Analysis

* Physical- physiological requirements of performance and recovery.

* Mental- psychological skills training/ performance under pressure.

* Technical- successful performance under pressure.

* Tactical- coaching for decision making and game sense.

Data Collection

* The process of gathering info.

* First step of an AA.

* Once the data is collected, it can be analysed.

* Observation is the most common way of collecting data- low accuracy.

* Digital recording can be less practical but has higher accuracy.

Simple Direct Observation

* All gathered info is subjective and may include:

- skills frequencies.

- players movement patterns (types of movements being made)

- use of playing area.

- playing intensities and ability to sustain high intensity efforts.

- repeated actions and set team plays, for both the team and opposition.

Simple Direct Observation- Advantages and Disadvantages

ADVANTAGES-

* Immediates changes can be made to the playing set up in response to how the game is progressing.

* Player fatigue is easily viewed and counteracted (benching).

DISADVANTAGES-

* Decisions are subjective.

* No way of showing players how they performed.

* Pace of game too fast to take in everything.

* Difficult to view more than one person at a time.

Digital Recording

* Includes the use of video cameras, tablets, mobile apps, HR monitoring, GPS and aerial sports analysis cameras.

* Statistical data can be recorded live and analysed immediately/ after game.

* Video preferred- replays, slow mo, freeze frames.

Digital Recording- Advantages and Disadvantages

ADVANTAGES-

* Data is readily downloaded to computers- many players summaries to be created.

* Data can be archived and easily accessed / saved data can be replayed at any time.

DISADVANTAGES-

* Can be expensive.

* Technical expertise is needed to operate the equipment.

Analysis of Movement Patterns

* They reveal typical activities completed by a performer during a game/ activity.

* Along w/ the W-R ratio and skill analysis, they provide specific info to develop training programs relevant to the athlete/ team.

* Important- help to determine the distance of efforts.

* Enables the coach/ athlete to determine the fitness components and energy systems used.

Analysis of Movement Patterns- Equipment Required

* Diagram of the playing area (paper/ computer screen).

* Stopwatch.

* Method of recording player movement (manual recording/ electronic (GPS).

* List of skills to be recorded that are relevant to the activity.

Analysis of Skill Frequencies

* Skill frequency tables can be easily completed using direct observation.

* Generally referred to as 'stats'.

* Outline the frequency, and the effectiveness of the skill execution.

Analysis of Muscle Groups

* Skills must be broken down into major associated muscles.

* Specific fitness tests must be chosen to match the way muscles are used during the game.

* Muscles are trained specifically, utilising similar actions as part of a training program.

* AA should reveal the major muscles used during the activity.

* Will influence the fitness tests chosen and specific training activities undertaken.

Analysis of Playing Intensity

* Playing intensity is recorded (L, M, H, VH) in a graph.

* The columns can be colour coded to give an overall picture of changes in intensity.

* HR- measures efforts in PA.

* HR monitors provide important info about the intensity at which an athlete is working.

* Also, info about the role of the energy systems.

Analysis of Work-to-Rest Data

* W:R ratio is used ti access the time spent physically working compared to time spent resting/ recovering.

* Vital to determine an athletes energy system used and intensity of effort.

* Provides info that should underpin decisions about methods of training, work intervals and rest intervals.

* How to record- stopwatch.

* Intensity of work is very important- structure work phase around this.

* Intensity- %HR max.

When Analysing W:R Data Determine...

* Total work time and total rest time.

* Average work time per effort and average rest time.

* Longest work time and longest rest time.

* The work:rest ratio.