Pre-match communication

By the end of this section, participants should be able to understand the different roles of the analyst pre, during and post-match, the importance of having a clear focus during the match, and how effective a 'hot debrief' can be post-match.

Developing the relationship and understanding with coach is key to providing effective performance analysis on match days. Understanding what, and how much, information a coach wants on match day is critical. Knowing which elements of the game model will be measured and fed back to players before and during the match is vital.

As the working relationship with the coach develops over time, the performance analyst will gain a greater understanding of the needs of the coach, and an effective workflow will be created. Elements of a workflow pre-match would include:

• Team meetings (what needs to be delivered and when)
• Individual or unit specific information and video
• Setting up at the ground
• Knowing what is important to measure during the game.

Depending on the set up of the ground and the technology available, the performance analyst may be able to code the match live or may need to film the match themselves. Either way, it is important to communicate with the coach about what information is required during the game and what is realistic to achieve.