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What is a Performance Indicator in Sport? And Why You Should Use Them in Your Analyses
What is a Performance Indicator?
Performance indicators in sports are a selection or combination of performance variables that describe some or all aspects of sports performance. There should be some form of calculation to normalise the raw performance data into averages, percentages, ratios, or differentials (click on this link to find out the various types of performance indicators used in volleyball). This is so it creates a level playing field so we can understand and compare the different levels of performance whether between opponents, previous performances, or peer group performance. In performance analysis terms, we can see how well your players or team can perform the various technical skills the performance indicators measure with all things being equal. With this information, there are numerous ways you can make informed decisions to enhance performance (click on this link for real-life examples of how this can be done).
It’s Not the Same as a Total Count of the Raw Performance Data
You might think that a total count of the raw performance data will allow you to do this anyway, e.g. surely the player with the most kills is the best attacker on the team. This is not necessarily true because players may have a high total count simply because they had more opportunities to do so. Numerous factors can affect the opportunities a player will get to perform a particular skill. For example, you would expect opposites and outside hitters will have much more attack attempts and thus kills, than middle players since they can only attack in optimal setting conditions.
A performance indicator, such as a hitting percentage (H% = (Kills – Errors)/ Total Attack Attempts), would be used to normalise the data so we know what was done per attempt. This will enable us to compare different performances regardless of how many attempts were taken (click on this link for other performance indicators I currently use).
Why Should You Use Them in Your Analyses?
The raw performance data and performance indicators should be viewed together to give a good description of performance. However, if you want to compare performances, whether between other players, previous performances, or peer group performances, i.e. in your analyses, then a performance indicator should be used as it normalises the data. In addition, it is also vitally important that the chosen performance indicators are associated with a successful outcome. Click on these links (here and here) to read my studies on valid performance indicators. One final note, not all performance indicators are made equal, i.e. not all performance indicators will normalise the data properly. I have already blogged about how the per set average and points won-lost differential are poor performance indicators. Click on this link for the pros and cons of using certain types of performance indicators used in volleyball.
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