Monthly Archives: November 2014
Unit 11 Task 2. Referral. Harmony Driver
My client, Caroline Hodgson has spent most of her sporting life as a footballer, playing at performance level but has recently moved, in the last year, to rugby union in which she is currently at participation level. I met with my client of the 14th November 2014 where we decided to focus on analysis of her performance in rugby. Caroline only plays rugby in college and therefore my research was suited to sevens in which she excels on the wing.
Age: 18
Height: 156.5cm
Weight: 55.4kg
After I have conducted the necessary research I have chosen three specific sports performance priorities for each of the six performance areas. These include:
Technical
- Tackling
- Evasive skills, beating the defender.
- The ability to ‘finish’ and score a try under pressure.
Tactical
- Keeping wide on the pitch to spread defence.
- The decision to either pass or to get on the outside of the defender.
- ‘Pulling out’ to create another line of attack.
Psychological
- Confidence
- Aggression
- Concentration
Biomechanical
- Speed
- Linear acceleration
- Linear displacement
Physical
- Agility
- Power
- Anaerobic endurance
Physiological
- Warm up
- Lung function
- Heart rate
My client was then asked to rate their level of performance in each factor and also their perceived view of the importance. By using the calculation (10 – ASA) x API, I was able to work out the largest discrepancies, in which these will be used for further testing. These include:
Technical: Tackling
Tactical: The decision to either pass or beat the defender on the outside.
Psychological: Concentration
Biomechanical: Linear displacement
Physical: Power
Physiological: Warm up
After highlighting the largest discrepancies, the next stage was to test each factor. Before any tests were conducted, a Par Q has to be completed to check if my client was capable of taking part without causing harm to themselves.
The first test completed focused on the technical discrepancy, tackle completion which was tested using video analysis. By watching the footage, I recorded that Caroline attempted 10 tackles, with 8 of the attempts being successful. I calculated the percentage completion rate, which equalled the value of 80% success. The two unsuccessful tackles were one completely missed tackle and the other, the player offloaded before completion of tackle. By analysing the footage, I have concluded that missing two tackles in three games if 7’s, shows that tackling is not one of Caroline’s weaknesses of the 6 focus discrepancies.
By using the same video footage of the 7’s tournament on 19/10/2014, pass completion rate was measured and also accuracy of the pass through observations. Caroline attempted 6 passes with a 100% completion rate as none of her passes were dropped or went to the floor. However, analysis of the passes showed that technique could be improved. On some occasions the passes were slow and high, resulting in the defence putting pressure on the receiver. In my opinion, Caroline will need to take part in some training to improve her passes.
Before, the warm up test, I have calculated that Caroline’s maximum heart rate could potentially be 202 bpm. This means that during a warm up, Caroline’s heart rate should be at least 121bpm up to 162bpm to effectively prepare her body for exercise. During Caroline’s warm up, I recorded that her heart rate reached 106 bpm, comparing this to the normative data, Caroline’s warm ups are insufficient and therefore the warm up will be another training priority.
After conducting the Sargent jump test, I calculated that Caroline jumped 48cm from a static start. By using the Brian Mac website and the equation (Average Power (Watts) = √4.9 x mass (kg) x √VJ (m) x 9.81), the power of Caroline to jump was calculated (834 watts). By taking in height and weight, Caroline is above average in the 16-18 year old female category, meaning this is not a training priority.
The final test was the psychological element; in this case, Caroline needed to be tested on concentration with a focus test. In this test, with only two distracting blue boxes, Caroline answered 92% of the questions correctly. With 6 distracting blue boxes, Caroline answered 70% of the questions correctly. According to the data, Caroline is a high performer and therefore does not struggle with concentration. This will relay on to the rugby pitch as from observations during a match and training she is always focused on the play.
Throughout this task there were some challenges, the focus discrepancies of my client did not have many tests which had normative dat. This means I struggled creating bespoke tests which could be measured and also be repeated.
TRAINING
unit 11 task 2 improvements number 2
Unit 11 – Task 1 Referral – Scott Goodman
Unit 11 Task 1 referral
Sports profiling – Football
Central midfielder box to box
The athlete I am profiling and analysing is a box to box central midfielder. The type of game a box to box midfielder consists of is the ability to exercise at an intense level for the full ninety minutes of a football match. Running the length of the pitch from one eighteen yard box to the other means this player will cover the most distance out of all the players whilst performing at a performance level in the match. This means that this player must require specific priorities in each of the following areas; physical, physiological, psychological, biomechanical, technical and tactical.
For physical, the first priority is muscular endurance. This is the ability for muscles to repetitively contract over a long period of time without becoming tired. This is important for a box to box midfielder as it would enable him to continue to constantly run from defensive areas to attacking areas of the pitch with the same muscle contractions in his legs for ninety minutes. You can measure muscular endurance by performing the body weight squat test. This test the number of squats an athlete can do in a given time. Repeated contractions in the legs test the endurance of muscles and how long they can keep squatting for. You can train this through circuit training. This involves one exercise after another without rest between stations. This is beneficial as it includes repeated muscle contractions in the legs. When defending, intensity levels decrease meaning when training the endurance in legs decrease allowing focus on other muscle groups.
The second priority for a box to box midfielder would be power. It is most needed in the legs and is important because this player would need to drive with the ball at a fast pace with strength to hold off opponents and shield the ball making it harder for players to tackle them. This can be measured by recording the distance of a standing board jump. This measures the power generated in all the major muscles in the legs into the distance of a standing jump. A method of training for improving power in the legs is plyometrics. The intensity is high like in football and exercises including hurdles and box jumps are game relevant in improving power in the legs.
The third priority is body composition. The ratio of fat compared to muscle and bone needs to be much lower. This is needed as fat is pointless weight in football with no benefit. Muscle is efficient weight giving explosive power in central midfield. This means that fat would only slow down a player and decrease performance. You can measure this by undergoing a hydrostatic test which consists of an individual sitting in a water tank. The more body fat you have, the more the body tends to float. This test is accurate but expensive. It is sued by professional football clubs in the premier league. A method of training to adjust body composition to a football environment as a box to box central midfielder would be resistance training. Building muscle increases lean mass and reduces the mass of fat. Upper body exercises including bicep curls, tricep dips, lateral flies and chest presses are specific exercises to improve power and muscular endurance in centre midfield.
For physiological, the first priority for a box to box midfielder would be to have a high V02 max. This is the maximum amount of oxygen the muscles in the body can utilize during exercise. This is measured in millilitres of oxygen in one minute per kilogram of body weight. This is important for this type of player as they are an endurance athlete in intense exercise. Oxygen is used during aerobic respiration for instance in centre midfield. The higher the VO2 max, the more oxygen can be made available for endurance muscles in the legs. This enables the player to continue to exercise at a high intense level for the full ninety minutes meaning an increased level of fitness over their opponents. You can measure this by performing the treadmill V02 max test. This involves an athlete giving maximum effort in a sports performance lab on a bike. The athlete has breathing utensils for intake of oxygen to measure the oxygen consumption in linear with very intense exercise. A plateau of this occurs once both factors can no longer increase meaning vo2 max levels have been met. A method of training to improve this is interval training. Doing exercise at the highest intensity the body can exercise at with intervals between increases vo2 max. To make the training game relevant, intense running can be the form of exercise to benefit a box to box midfielder.
The second priority would be to have a low heart rate. This is due to a high stroke volume. The more blood pumped from the left ventricle of the heart in one beat would mean heart rate would decrease because the heart would become more efficient in each pump. This is important to a box to box midfielder as they are constantly running from area to area of the pitch meaning their heart would develop into a stronger and more efficient pump for blood. Having a low heart rate would increase stroke volume meaning more blood pumped to working muscles in less beats. You can measure heart rate by a manual radial wrist count. This is measuring the amount of beats in one minute immediately after intense exercise. The lower the count, the more efficient your heart is in pumping blood to working muscles. A method of training for improving heart rate would be continuous training. Cardiac hypertrophy is developed through this type of training. The longer the heart works at intense levels, the stronger it will get. This training would increase efficiency of the heart and lower its heart rate meaning a higher stroke volume per beat. This would enable the muscles to get an increase in supply of oxygenated blood so the player can run from box to box for longer periods of time.
The third priority would be an increase in venous return. This is the process of deoxygenated blood returning from working muscles to the heart. This is important as the quicker and more efficiently blood is returned to the heart to be oxygenated, the more oxygenated blood is made available to the player during a game of football for them to run further distances. Venous return can be measured by performing the V02 max test on a treadmill. Although the test is designed specifically to measure V02 max, through this calculations can be made on how successful the venous return mechanisms are in supplying the muscles with oxygenated blood which then can be extracted for aerobic energy (V02 max). The more efficient the venous return mechanisms are in returning blood back to the heart, the longer the body will be able to exercise to maximum capabilities. This means that the heart can receive blood back from muscles quicker and re-oxygenate it and supply it to muscles to be re-energised. Higher V02 max can be achieved due to more efficient venous return with supply of blood to muscles. A method of training to improve venous return is continuous training. Once the efficiency of the venous return is calculated in the Vo2 max test, continuous training can then be used to improve that capability. Continuous training involves long distance exercise using aerobic energy. The more long distance exercise the body does, the stronger the heart will get. Cardiac hypertrophy will be developed due to the constant use of the cardiovascular system. This will mean more oxygenated blood being pumped out of the heart per beat (stroke volume) and per minute (cardiac output). Venous return; the return of deoxygenated blood from the muscles back to the heart to be re-oxygenated must increase because of this. As the heart sends out higher volumes of oxygenated blood due to its increased strength, venous return must return blood back to the heart at a higher demand and at a quicker rate for the heart to send to alveoli to be oxygenated again. Continuous training leads to all these factors in the cardiovascular system to improve in linear with one another.
For psychological, the first priority would be effective decision making. This is important for a box to box midfielder as they come across situations on whether to pass or shoot carry on dribbling instead of pass or maintain their attacking position over their defensive position. Having effective decision making would help the player to maintain this mental form throughout the entire ninety minutes and reduce the amount of mistakes they make. This can be measured by sports analyst where they analyse the effectiveness of players’ decisions and whether they paid off. In addition, they can record how quickly the decisions are made and whether the time taken for the decision to be made affects the outcome. A training method for this can be increase the amount of stimuli in training in game situations. Increasing the stimuli e.g. number of players to pass to, the amount of space to dribble into or the angle of shot would influence the player to calculate the best option and create the best outcome for his team.
The second priority would be positive mental attitude. This is important for a box to box central midfielder because the longer the game goes on, the more physically and psychologically tired the player gets. The player begins to lose energy therefore lose mental focus. Having a positive mental attitude would encourage the player to burst into areas to receive the ball and make something happen for his team. Also it would help to maintain effective decision making as well positive feedback or constructive criticism to teammates. This can be measured by undergoing Cattell’s 16pf questionnaire. This is effective as it records how mentally stable or unstable you are during exercise. Furthermore, it records how intrinsic or extrinsic you are. This means that it can determine your mental attitude during games when you are tired or not winning. A training method for this would be whenever you are training whether it is to improve a skill or prepare for a match, set high standards and never cede control of what you are doing. No matter how hard the task, always aim to work to achieve the best you can with 100% positive attitude.
The third priority would be positive group cohesion and have positive relationships with your teammates and the players you link up with on the pitch. For a box to box central midfielder, his centre midfield partnership needs to have high chemistry along with the striker and the wingers. The centre midfield is the engine room in football and requires support to other surrounding players in the team. Giving good support would encourage group cohesion and team performance. You can measure this by going on a training camp in difficult decisions. For example, hot weather on a difficult playing surface would frustrate the players and could lead to team disjointment. The levels of team cohesion would determine how well they get through the training camp. A method of training this is socialising as a team. The more time spent together as a team, the more understanding they would have. This would lead to an increase in performance for the centre midfielder and the connection between his teammates would be greater.
For biomechanical, the first priority would be speed. This is important for a box to box central midfielder as he needs pace to burst into the box to make a shot and also burst back from those attacking positions back into defensive shape. You can measure this by recording how fast they can run a 30metre dash. This would determine a player’s speed over a short distance. A method of training for this is sets of high knees with high reps. this improves stride length and core muscles in the legs enabling the player to cover more distance quickly in fewer steps.
The second priority would be linear acceleration. This is important for a box to box midfielder as they would need acceleration to lose their marker when bursting into the box to make a shot. In addition, it is needed when defending to dash and stay with their marker whilst not in possession of the ball. A test to measure this would be the 30metre acceleration test. This test measures how fast an athlete can run over 30meters. Linear acceleration is speed over immediate short distance so 30meters is a specific distance. It is conducted by an assistant making a start signal and recording with a stopwatch the accurate time taken for the athlete to sprint 30meters. A training method would be during intervals in interval training, do incline sprints to improve the leg power in major muscles to increase acceleration.
The third priority would be linear displacement. This is important as a box to box midfielder would need to strike the ball well with power and accuracy when shooting or playing a long distance pass across the pitch. A method for measuring linear displacement would be to strike the ball at a target and measure the time taken for how long it takes for the ball to leave the players foot to the target. A method of training to improve linear displacement is resistance training in the legs. This improves power in the legs therefore making contact with the ball more effective leading to a better outcome.
For technical, the first priority for a box to box midfielder would be having effective shooting accuracy. This is important as this type of midfielder needs to have an accurate shot to at least get it on target. As they are box to box, they have travelled a long distance to get into a shooting position so they will want to be as effective as they can be. A method of measuring this would be to strike a ball at a difficult target 10 times and measure how many times they hit the target and how close they were to the target if it was missed. A method of training for this is to repetitively try and hit a slim target or area of the goal net whilst moving at game pace. This would autonomously set a target in the players mind to hit and area of the goal when shooting in a game.
The second priority would be to have a high pass completion stat. Central midfield is the focal point of the team which all the play goes through. Those players need to keep possession of the ball and pass it on to an effective area. Being box to box means pass completion stat would be considerably higher than others as they receive and give the ball in both attacking and defensive areas. This can be measured by a sports analyst during a game. They can calculate the amount of passes made and the amount of passes completed successfully. This can then be calculated into a percentage. A method of training could involve as a team, always make sure that the player always has a minimum of two options to pass to. An increase in decision making would then decide the best option to pass to.
The third priority would be the effective use of both feet. This is important as a box to box player is central and can pass to either winger either side of them. This makes them unpredictable as defenders won’t know which flank the player is going to pass to or which way they are going to direct in, before they have even received the ball. A method of measuring this is for a sports analyst to record the amount of times the player in a game completes a left footed pass and a right footed pass as separate data. They can also record the efficiency of each pass on whether it was a comfortable pass or nearly got intercepted. A method of training for a player to try and avoid using their strongest foot to pass the ball and only use their weak foot. Drills on opposite flanks would encourage a player to use their weakest foot.
For tactical, the first priority would be correct timing of attacking runs into the box to make a shot. This is important as the box to box midfielder has bust a gut to get into an attacking position to make a shot. However if he arrives too early, he would get marked by an opposition and the chance would have passed by. On the other hand, arriving too late would encourage the player on the ball to avoid laying of the box to box midfielder for a shot and choose a different option. A test to measure timing of run is to perform the bleep test. An athlete has a certain amount of time to travel 20 yards before they hear a bleep. The more runs they achieve in time the quicker the bleeps will sound. A method of training for this would be continuous training as the longer the game goes on, the player will find it even more difficult to get into the shooting areas in time. Continuous training would raise fitness levels to enable the player to get into more shooting opportunities in time.
The second priority is when to make the attacking runs into the box. This is important as a player doesn’t want to get into a position where they will not receive the ball. Also if the player makes the wrong run and their team get caught in possession, he would be out of position and would have to recover ground to get back and defend. A method of measuring this is for a sports analyst to record the amount times the player makes a shot from the run they have made compared to when they hasn’t received the ball. This would determine a percentage of successful attacking runs. A method of training for this would be learning passages of play in team training so the box to box midfielder has a trigger of when to make the runs and receive the ball to shoot when every other teammate knows their roles too.
The third priority would be getting back into the correct defensive positioning after the first priority. This is important as your team lose the ball, shape is key to defending. The player must recover into getting behind the ball and in the correct position. This enables them to read the game and know where his opponent he is marking is, and the ball. A test to measure this would be for a sport analyst to singularly watch that player and record how many times that player get back to defend as opposed to attacking. The distance run for a box to box midfielder is long due to their jobs both attacking and defending. If this distance travelled is not as high as expected, they aren’t doing their defensive work. A method of training for this would be continuous training as they would need high levels of fitness to get back into their defensive position straight after they have fun up the pitch to attack.
Intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence performance
Age of a player in football is very important for a footballer, especially in the box to box role of the midfield. Football players can be in their peak performance levels between the ages of 26-30 years old. A player must be able to have the correct high levels of stamina in terms of VO2 max levels to play that role at such a high demand. This would mean reaching their VO2 max in certain parts of a game. Although the position requires experience through age in terms of decision making, high levels of stamina is needed which can be more beneficial with a younger, fresher athlete. On the other hand, any player with an age that exceeds that peak performance bracket is more prone to injury and fatigue with less stamina to someone in their peak or below that age. Recovery from injury would be slower for an older individual with increased chance of it re-occurring.
http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/A-Ba-and-timeline/Aging-and-Athletic-Performance.html
Diet is another important factor that influences the performance of a box to box midfielder. A high carbohydrate and protein diet is essential for them to perform at a high intensity for a long duration. Carbohydrates is the main energy source in foods. However, the correct nutrition after the game is just important as they would need to consume fats and protein for extra energy supply after and growth and repair of muscles to reduce fatigue and injury. Plenty of water must be consumed in addition to this to keep hydration levels constant. They are constantly playing at a high intensity therefore water will be lost through sweat. This is then replaced to consistently to reduce any further concerns.
http://truesport.org/athlete-nutrition-peak-performance/
Group cohesion is also important as the box to box midfielder needs to have a good understanding with their team-mates due to them being in the heart of everything the team does. Being at the heart of everything enables this player to knit play together and be the dynamics of the team. This results in having a good chemistry between players and as a team. For example, a team will play better if they all know each other’s roles and instincts. Specifically, this would be beneficial to a box to box player when making attacking runs into the box for a shot. When the winger gets the ball, his first thought should be to dribble forward and look up for the box to box midfielder to assist him. In addition, the box to box midfielder should anticipate this and make the run to receive the ball. The player doesn’t necessarily need to be a leader, but when the going gets tough, they need to drive their team on and remain as the engine when either losing or chasing a game.
http://www.sportplan.net/drills/blog/teamCohesion-14-01-2014.jsp#.VHe8WRhFDIU
Previous training is key for a box to box player in terms of the tactical aspect of their game. They would have been playing in that position long enough at a high level to have a strong understanding and level of knowledge for the position. To know what to with the ball and have knowledge of their surroundings is a specific attribute needed in this position. Having a good enough first touch and getting into the correct positions to receive the ball would benefit this attribute considerably. This type of midfielder should autonomously know when to attack or defend, when to pass or shot and when to keep defensive shape or close down the opponent. As much as attacking is good for the team, defensive shape both individually and as a team would balance these to tactics and encourage the team to win the ball back and keep it from the opposition. A player with less experience wouldn’t know this and therefore effect their succession of decision making throughout the game.
http://performance.fourfourtwo.com/technique/jack-wilshere-how-to-keep-possession
Temperature is the last important factor that influences a box to box midfielder’s game. With the demands and intensity of the position being very high, playing in a hot condition or country would be difficult. This is because the body would accelerate its heat regulation and the loss of fluids through sweat would be high. On the other hand, in cold conditions, muscular injuries can occur if a warm-up is not long enough or intense enough. Warm up would need to increase if the player aims to have any major influence on the game to prepare them the correct way.
http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/effects-temperature-muscular-contraction-11504.html
Unit 11 – Task 3 – P5 – Cameron McIvor
Scientific support and equipment
Foundation level performer- At foundation level I feel high quality scientific equipment is defiantly not needed, the most advanced piece of equipment I feel you would need at foundation level would be the stopwatch, other than that no scientific staff would be required. Only people such as physiotherapist and doctors would be called upon if the performer was injured during training.
Elite level performer- It’s very important to have a very high standard of quality scientific equipment and support when necessary, at this level it’s mandatory in order for an athlete to succeed and not fall behind competitors, who may have access to fantastic training facilities and equipment. If any issues were top occur with the athlete’s health highly specialised companies such as the, ‘institute of sport exercise and health’ would be needed for scientific/health support.
Monitoring current fitness levels
Foundation level performer- the purpose of monitoring your fitness levels is so that you can find out what training sessions are the most beneficial for the performer and their overall development in basketball, Just about any training program will work to improve fitness levels to an extent, however if you create a basketball training program which is tailored specifically for the performer and there weakest discrepancies, improving and making the performer push themselves in this training program will improve overall fitness levels for sure. Then all you have to do is monitor the progress made and test results throughout, this will give you a clear indication of the performer’s fitness level and how/when it changes.
Elite level performer- By the purpose of monitoring your fitness levels is so that you can find out what training sessions are the most beneficial for the performer and their overall development in basketball. They also allow you to view each session on, has enough effort been put into training and do the results of your fitness level show it’s been worthwhile. A good way of monitoring the performer’s fitness level is by using fitness tests, for example have a set of tests to run though every 6 training sessions, it will help you keep an understanding of your fitness level on a regular basis. Results can then be compared to see if any changes can be noted of motivation levels, fitness level and effort put in when training.
Performance assessment
Foundation level performer- performance assessments are to recorded and then assess the performer development within the skills and fundamentals of basketball, it is done so that ability level in all aspects of the game can be noted down and targets can be set for future improvement. Performance assessment could be done for free by simply using observational techniques and recording what you notice down on a checklist document such as this, you can list all the skills that need improvement and give number ratings and comments on how the coach feels the performer is doing in each skill. If you wanted to be more accurate about nailing down the main discrepancies you would run simple tests measuring and timing the athletes performance, so that you have results you can trust.
Elite level performer- The purpose of performance assessment is to recorded down the results and then look into the development of elite athels within the game of basketball, so that the weakest areas can be picked out and focused on throughout future training sessions. Observation skills can be used to asses the performer’s ability level throughout an intense high level basketball game, this would give you a very good indication of how well the athlete is performing. Another way of performance assessment at a high level would be to look over the last 5-10 games to see what statistics the athlete was able to achieve. For example if no rebounds were achieved in multiple games, then that would be recorded down as an area in need of improvement.
Assessment of health status
Foundation level performer- the main purpose of assessing the persons health status when working with foundation level is to make sure they are in a healthy injury free state, where they are free to exercise at different intensity levels without running the visible risk of injury. Both performance levels would require a PAR-Q document to be filled out by both athletes before training begins; they cover all the major health related issues you would need to be aware of before any exercise starts. At foundation level the performer wont be pushing there body at high levels of intensity when playing basketball, they will be working on fundamentals meaning they wont be straining their bodies over the limit. Dependant on the health risks possibly noted on the PAR-Q test or any age related factors, blood pressure should be taken to make sure the performer is in a stable healthy condition when playing basketball.
Elite level performer- Assessing the health status when working with an elite level performer is vital, the purpose is to make sure the athlete is in a healthy and physically fit state where performance at elite level is possible. Both performance levels would require a PAR-Q document to be filled out by both athletes before training begins; they cover all the major health related issues you would need to be aware of before any exercise starts. An elite level athlete should already be having regular health checks by medical staff to make sure they are in a healthy state when performing at high intensity’s for long periods of time. Age related factors within basketball wouldn’t be an issue for an elite athlete because they wouldn’t be able to compete at such a high standard if age was an issue. This means for a young athlete they are far less likely to have any major health problems when exercising at high intensity levels.
Squad selection
Foundation level performer- the purpose of squad selection is to accurately place sports performers into a team that fits their current performance level; in this case foundation level, local league teams would be required for realistic squad selection. Squad selection at foundation level would be for the performer to join a local basketball team and get trained up to a higher performance standard, they will then be capable to compete in high intensity matches. When thinking about squad selection within a training program you would keep training the foundation level athlete all the fundamentals, once the performer is showing decent improvement they should be placed into game situations with other people who are at the same performance level as them.
Elite level performer- the purpose of squad selection is to accurately place an athlete within a club or group that fits the athlete’s current performance level, its key to put groups of players together who get along with each other and have strong team cohesion with. As an elite athlete many possibilities for squad selection in basketball are available, being scouted to professional club that which sits within the, ‘British basketball Association’ is one option, being drafted to an American college team or even the NBA is a very viable option. When thinking about squad selection within a training program you would get very high level competitors so that the elite performer can be pushed to play at top of their game, this is a good way of improvement because putting in high level players as opponents will force the elite athlete to perform at maximum capacity, they will be motivated and driven to succeed within the game situation.
Identifying strengths and areas for improvement
Foundation level performer-at foundation level you want to run a set of test that will single out the weakest and strongest areas of the performer’s game. To do this simply set up many small low budget tests which focus on different basic basketball skills such as passing, shooting, dribbling and so on. Record the results of the test and then analyse them to see what was and wasn’t successful. Other than that simple observation techniques can be used by putting the performer into a game situation, you could see the main pros and cons of there game you would then be able to see what is good about there game and also what needs the most improvement.
Elite level performer- for an elite level performer testing for strengths and areas for improvement is a lot trickier than it would be for a foundation level would be. At an elite level you want to make sure all the tests are as accurate as possible so that no errors are made when judging how good the athlete is in certain aspects of basketball. For example equipment such as time-gates would be smarter to use than a stopwatch at elite level this is because it’s far more precise than a human held stopwatch would be. Once you have got all the proper testing equipment you should set out many tests to find out the strongest and weakest areas of the athlete performance, the next step is to then set up a training plan focusing on the weakest discrepancies.
Talent ID
Foundation level performer-At foundation level in a basketball it is very possible for any person to become a possible candidate for ‘Tall and talented’, if they fall into these categories.
Aged between 15 and 22 years old
Exceptionally tall (men over 190cm and women over 180cm)
Competing in any sport at a minimum of county/regional level
Quick, agile and skilful and/or fit, powerful and strong
Mentally tough and competitive
This is the use of Talent ID, organisations and groups such as, ‘UK sport’ select above average athletes who tick all the boxes. They will then set out on training them in a particular sport to an elite level so that they can they play as a professional athlete once all the skills have been fully developed.
Elite level performer- also has the opportunity to join Talent ID groups if they fit all the key aspects however the vast majority of elite level athletes will already have a professional team witch they are signed to.
Recovery after injury
Foundation level performer-if a foundation level performer was injured while playing basketball an adequate amount of recovery time would be needed before getting back into to sport, even if the injury is only mild playing on it without recovery time will simply worsen the injury making it more serious, or even weakening the structure of the injured area, making it a re-occurring issue in the future if not dealt with properly. A set out rehabilitation phase would be needed over a set period of time; it would include many activities’ to re-strengthen the damaged area of the body.
Take time out not playing the sport, how much time will dependent on the severity of the injury.
If injury is quite bad and wont heal naturally a physiotherapist may be needed to help with the rehabilitation phase
Elite level performer- if an elite level performer is injured the main aim is to get them back in a healthy state so that they can compete at a high level as soon as possible. However you don’t want to ever rush or push them back into high intensity games before the injury has been resolved, this will often be much more problematic as the recovering injury could become damaged again putting them out of playing basketball for even longer than originally planed. Again we can see that a set out rehabilitation phase would be needed over a set period of time; it would include many activities’ to re-strengthen the damaged area of the body.
Take time out not playing the sport, how much time will dependent on the severity of the injury.
If injury is quite bad and won’t heal naturally a personal physiotherapist may be needed to help with the rehabilitation phase, immediate medical attention at a hospital if the injury is very bad.
Time
Foundation level performer-wouldn’t have loads of time to spend playing basketball everyday to develop their skills, the chances are if they are only a foundation level performer they will have other commitments such as work they would need to abide by. They might not be willing to dedicate large amounts of time into a sport they are relatively new to, the better they get the more time they are likely to spend on the basketball.
Two or three one-hour sessions throughout a week.
Elite level performer- would section out very large amounts of time where they will train, elite level performers will want to stay at the top of there game meaning basketball skills and physical fitness need to remain at a high level. The only way improvements can be made is to put in as much practice/training time as possible.
Chances are the elite athlete will be getting paid as a job to perform at a high level, this means they will have a lot more time to spend focusing on basketball than a foundation performer would have.
Training everyday in a week for multiple hours except one days rest.
Safety
Foundation level performer-for safety reasons you would bring a full medical bag stocked with all the items needed to tackle any on court sudden injury that could occur during a practice session. If the injury was to serious to deal with on court an ambulance would be called, or the trainer would be needed to escort the injured performer to the hospital.
Elite level performer- Same as before with the safety measures, you would bring a full medical bag stocked with all the items needed to tackle any on court sudden injury that could arise. The same would apply as before, if the injury was to serious to deal with on court an ambulance would be called, or the trainer would be needed to escort the injured performer to the hospital. The only main difference with the elite performer is that they would have a personal physiotherapist, who is constantly ready on call to come immediately and help the injured athlete.
Financial
Foundation level performer-for a foundation level performer the cost will be relatively low, no high Tec or expensive equipment is required, and the main cost will go on items such as basketballs, cones and a stopwatch; in total this would not equate too much money. The foundation level athlete doesn’t need large sums of money to improve their game and push their body, just simple funding is needed to purchase the few bits of equipment.
Low cost
Elite level performer- on the other hand would be a lot more expensive to buy all the equipment needed to fully maximize the athlete’s potential, time-gates or stopwatch, cones, bibs, stepping ladders and many other strengthening and conditioning equipment would all be needed. This would defiantly cost a lot of money to stock it all however, it would make significant difference to the athletes overall progress as a professional player.
High cost
Goal setting
Foundation level performer-goal setting for a foundation level performer will be a lot easier, as there will most likely be a wide range of skills that need substantial development. You would run some tests on all of the discrepancies to find out which are the weakest, goal setting would then be easy you would set targets to improve in those main weak areas. You must pick a realistic time frame for all targets to be completed within.
Elite level performer- goal setting for an elite level athlete would be a lot trickier; they would be in fit physical condition finding weak areas for improvement may be a challenge. However using accurate equipment to test and record with you will be able to single out the main targets for the future. The main goal of target getting is to find the weakest areas and set realistic expectations of improvement progress over a period of time.
Human
Foundation level performer-the only thing human resource the foundation performer would need would be a single assistant/coach. They would be in charge of demonstrating the different fundamentals of basketball and directing the performer step by step throughout all of the different skills so that they can fully understand and absorb all the information.
Elite level performer-on the other hand would have quite a lot more staff needed to help them maximize their full potential. Assistants would be needed for many different things such as timekeeping, recording results, participating in the drills if need be and as basketball collectors and distributers. The coach on the other hand will have a very different focus, they will be used to monitor the player and analyse there performance, picking up on areas from improvement and directing training based drills around the weakest discrepancies. They will also be the one who talks to the athlete most of the time, motivating them and pushing them to there limit.
Two assistants
One coach
Facilities
Foundation level performer-would only need a simple reasonable sized basketball court with a single hoop, (could be at your local park). This is because they will not be cooperating running around with other players in the early stages, a full sized court would not be necessary. The main activities would be based around practicing the basic fundamentals of basketball such as shooting techniques; this would only need one basketball hoop for the performer to practice on.
Elite level performer-would defiantly need a full sized indoor court to practice on, chances are if they will need to practice with multiple players to run though drills and play intense matches with. When doing drills such as the fast break you will need to use the full width of the court, many other drills also require the same amount of space. The court should also be indoors so that conditions are kept similar as to how they would be in a professional basketball game situation.
Equipment
Foundation level performer-for foundation level performance in basketball the only equipment you will need is a couple basketballs, this is because they wont need loads of equipment to set up training drills as the performer will still be learning the fundamentals of the sport, basic passing and dribbling skills are required before they start running higher intensity drills with other players. The aim would be to start slower with small amounts of equipment, as the player’s skills improve you add in more drill-based equipment in.
Elite level performer- For a elite level performer you will need to have a lot of high quality equipment, this will mean that it would be a lot more expensive to stock up on all the equipment you will need for an elite level athlete than it would be at foundation level. Cones would be needed to set up drills and lines for weaving in and out with the basketball. A accurate stopwatch or time-gates would be needed to monitor and record results of speed, elite athletes need to constantly stay at the top of there game always pushing for improvement; recording speed results can help you to then set accurate targets for future improvement. Multiple basketballs will be required to continue the intensity of the drills without stopping; this means if the athlete misses a shot and the basketball goes of court, another one can be quickly passed back in not interrupting the flow of the drill. Bibs would be needed if any game related activities happen and more players are put into the game. Strengthening and conditioning equipment would defiantly be required to develop the elite athlete’s body and its sporting attributes, speed, power etc.
Cones
Stopwatch/time-gates
Multiple basketballs
Bibs
Strengthening and conditioning equipment some of which may include…
Resistance bands
Medicine balls
Unit 11 – Task 2, 1st Referral – Talia Matharu
Couldn’t attach files in the comment section, so had to create a new post.
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4
Technical Test – Inital Dive Test
Tactical Test – Speed of a Touch Turn Test
Task 2- Unit 11-PARQ-Refferal.
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Deadlines – Unit 11, Unit 5 and Unit 27
Unit 11 Task 1 – Referral 2/2 – Friday 28 November at 1600
Unit 11 Task 2 – Referral 1/2 – Friday 28 November at 1600
Unit 11 Task 3 – Referral 1/2 – Friday 5 December at 1600
Unit 27 Task 1 – Submission – Friday 5 December at 1600
Unit 27 Task 2 – Submission – Thursday 18 December at 1600
Unit 5 Task 1 – Submission – Friday 13 February at 1600
Unit 5 Task 1 – Drafts – Discussed during REACH week 1:1 appointments 26-30 January 2015
Thursday 27 November, Tuesday 2 and Thursday 4 December – Unit 27 Task 1
27.11.14: Objective – to understand the role and function of performance profiling in sport.
02.12.14: Objective – explain the role and function of performance profiling in sport. To be supported by individual student objectives written on Twitter.
04.12.14: Objective – explain the different traits required for an individual to achieve excellence in their chosen sport. To be supported by individual student objectives written on Twitter.
Outcome by Friday 5 December – to successfully complete the two pass criteria and demonstrating an excellent understanding of the role and function of sports performance profiling.
This unit builds on your work in Unit 11. This level 4 unit requires you to work at a higher level than in the L3 Unit you have recently completed. The presentation below highlights your task 1 priorities. The other materials allow you to review additional resources and also explore the coach profile wheel.
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/perprofile.htm
http://www.thesportinmind.com/articles/performance-profiling-in-sport/
Click to access mentor_guide_template_e_Coach%20Profile%20Wheel.pdf
Tuesday 25 November – Unit 5 Task 1
This week sees us begin planning for your research project. This project allows you to showcase your talents, research skills and creativity. A high quality research project requires commitment and discipline. Your research project will be documented online. This ‘gallery critique’ method will allow you to seek feedback from your peers and others from across the sports science community.
Worthing College Sport and Exercise Science 