.png)
The End of the 2012/13 Season
THE END OF THE 2012/13 SEASON
So the 2013/13 season has finished a while ago but it’s not officially finished until I complete a couple of SideOut videos. Since it’s finished, I will go ahead with my end of season review.
It was a long and exhausting season. However, when I look back I’m amazed at the number of things I’ve seen and done all season. I am also happy to complete four of the five goals I had this season. I undertook three positions and each one advanced or broaden my work in some way. Find out how below.
POLONIA IMKA LONDON
This was a fantastic experience because it catapulted me into the highest level of volleyball in England with one of the best woman’s teams in the country. I got to work with some great players and coaches. Getting to the Play-Off Finals was a definite highlight.
What did I learn?
* : previously, I have rated the serve and reception on a five and four point scale, respectively. I thought why not the other skills, especially attack as its the most important skill in volleyball, critical to success (see academic research, Olympic Games data, Super 8s data). So I expanded the analysis system where I rated all six technical skills (serve, reception, setting, attack, block and dig) on a five point scale. I also created a new skill of coverage (picking up a blocked ball) and overpass/free-ball dig (digging an overpass or free-ball). With so much data, I was able to create new performance indicators.
* : I did have some accuracy checks that would come up false if it was wrong, e.g. service aces has to be equal to opposition reception errors. New accuracy checks was possible with the expanded analysis system and I designed an data accuracy matrix (see link). This was great because more confidence can be gained that the statistics are correct and it also gives me feedback on where I generally make mistakes. It is not perfect because two errors cancel each other out and it doesn’t check whether the data is correctly attributed to the right player.
: I did do some live statistics for Team South Wales in the Play-Off and Shield Cup Finals. However, with Polonia, I learnt to use the live statistics in two distinct ways. The first was telling the coach who is not playing well and make suggestions for who to sub on. The second was taking the setters aside during time-outs to tell them who their best hitters was and they can use that information to make informed decisions on who to set to.
SUPER 8S STATISTICS (SP8S)
Doing this for a second season was great simply because it was the first time I didn’t need to start from scratch. It certainly made things easier, e.g. the analysis system was already in place and I already had contact with clubs and coaches to get match videos off. Perhaps the best thing that happened this year was being at the Super 8s Men’s Finals when London Polonia beat Team Northumbria against all the volleyball statistics odds.
What did I learn?
* : the countless hours I spent in statting 51 matches this season will no doubt enhance my statting efficiency.* : I thought publishing the best 12 players based on statistics was an innovative way to use the statistics. It sparked a debate which was good to get people involved and opinionated. I also edited the SP8S Top 25 Plays and SP8S End of Season Highlights videos which was another good opportunity to practice and improve my video editing skills.
* : on my CV, I stated I was the SP8S Head Statistician. I realised that I did so much more than that. I co-created the SP8S and I practically run the whole thing. There are many skills I use which doesn’t relate to performance analysis that include building the relationships to clubs and coaches, promoting the SP8S, updating the website etc.
SIDEOUT
Being with SideOut was amazing. It was my first paid analyst job, got a foothold in the beach volleyball world and I got to meet some great people.
What did I learn?
* : I simply had to do everything needed to be able to do individual analysis for 57 players in Rhodes 2013. There was a lot of organising that needed to be done and it was a learning experience that you cannot get from theory work.
* : when I watched the same training session seven times, you get a compounded lesson on the key basics in beach volleyball.
AND WHAT’S NEXT?
For the summer, my focus is completing my dissertation. I put it off for a year but now it’s time to get my distinction. I am really excited because it’s a question I came up with (the most important volleyball skill critical to success) and it’s an answer I really want answered. More of that to come…
Comments