Bridging the Gap: Investigating the Professional Landscape of Applied Performance Analysts in Sports Performance Analysis

About the Project

As the discipline of sports performance analysis experiences unprecedented growth and diversification, the role of the applied performance analysts emerges as a key component to aid coaches, athletes and stakeholders’ decision making (Martin et al., 2023). This expansion has led to the emergence of new roles and responsibilities, highlighting the dynamic nature of the discipline (Butterworth, 2023; Francis et al., 2023). However, despite this period of change, a notable gap exists, the absence of a dedicated professional body to support the discipline and the development of its partitioners (Martin et al., 2021). This applied performance analyst-focused approach is pivotal in addressing practical challenges encountered by the professionals in the field.

Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the development pathways and experiences of applied performance analysts (McKenna et al. 2018), particularly in navigating the intricate realties of working in elite sport environments. Many of these experiences remain hidden or are limited to small sample sizes (Mulvenna and Viner 2024). However, within this landscape, aspects of relationships, trust, power, politics along with dealing with technical challenges emerge as critical factors influencing the professional journey of applied performance analysts (Nelson et al. 2023; Francis et al, 2015). Therefore, gaining more in-depth account of applied performance analysts experiences would not only shed light on its occupational culture within the discipline but also highlight and educate how to navigate its complexities.

In light of the challenges facing sports performance analysis, we seek PhD students with a keen interest in exploring the intricate ecosystem of the discipline and the role of the applied sports performance analysts. Moreover, through examining the developmental pathways of these practitioners, we aim to shed light on broader trends and implications for the discipline as a whole. Understanding how these analysts acquire and refine their skills offers insights into emerging industry standards, informs educational initiatives, and contributes to the overall enhancement of sports performance analysis practices.

Specially, we aim to investigate how applied sports performance analysts develop the skills, competencies, and experiences necessary to navigate working in elite sports. Guided by an experienced supervisory team, successful candidates will adopt a mixed methods research design with an interdisciplinary focus, blending insights from sport, education, and business. Together, we will work towards establishing a best practice resource that informs effective strategies and methodologies in sports performance analysis.

Supervisory team:

• Director of Studies: Dr John Francis, School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Worcester
• Supervisors: Prof Don Vinson, School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Worcester

Research Group: Coach Developer and Performance Analyst Research Group