26  Individual Training (8.1)

26.1 Introduction

This week our focus turns from competitive team sports to individual sports. These present a different set of challenges in terms of data analytics, and the overall goal of the tutorials this week is to ensure that you are familiar with these challenges and are prepared to address them.

26.2 Invited Speaker

Our guest speaker this week is Dr Malcolm Fairweather. Malcolm is Head of Performance Solutions at the sportscotland Institute of Sport. 

Malcolm studied an undergraduate degree in Sports Science prior to completing a PGCE in Physical Education/Science. He taught for seven years and studied part-time for an MSc degree in Movement Science at Liverpool University where he completed a dissertation exploring instructional effectiveness interventions based upon the knowledge of brain functions. Malcolm then completed four years of full-time study in the area of Motor Behaviour at Louisiana State University. The focus of his dissertation further investigated effective learning behaviours when applying neuropsychological principles and related motor learning evidence to his work. Throughout this time period Malcolm also coached track and field at the international and world class level. Since returning to Scotland he has been a catalyst for High Performance Sport Accreditation in Skill Acquisition in the UK.

He is currently the UK’s only accredited assessor of HPSA in this area and he is driving a progressive partnership across BASES (British Association of Sports and Exercise Science), ESAN (Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network), the Home Country Institutes and UK Sport, to accredit HPSA practitioners in Skill Acquisition. Malcolm is an applied ‘translator’ of evidence based principles within the high performance sport sector.

He is currently emphasising and developing key areas of innovation i.e., by developing longitudinal measurement conditions that are underpinned by innovative technologies and continuous support processes within prioritised sport programmes at the SIS. Recently he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University of Stirling for his impact upon applied sports science research and related applications within sports. Within the scope of this award is his work in creating sports science collaborations, partnerships and employment within the Scottish sporting system.

26.3 Preparatory Reading

Prior to this tutorial, you may find it useful to access and review the following papers:

  • B. S. Baumer, G. J. Matthews, and Q. Nguyen, “Big ideas in sports analytics and statistical tools for their investigation,” WIREs Computational Statistics, p. e1612, May 2023. [1]

  • B. Janssens, M. Bogaert, and M. Maton, “Predicting the next Pogačar: A data analytical approach to detect young professional cycling talents,” Annals of Operations Research, vol. 325, no. 1, pp. 557–588, Jun. 2023.[2]

  • W. McNally, E. Henrikson, and J. McPhee, “A continuous analytical shaft model for fast dynamic simulation of the golf swing,” Sports Engineering, vol. 22, no. 3–4, p. 20, Dec. 2019. [3]

  • E. L. Rauff, A. Herman, D. Berninger, S. Machak, and S. P. Shultz, “Using sport science data in collegiate athletics: Coaches’ perspectives,” International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 500–509, Jun. 2022.[4]

There are direct links to these papers via the library reading list.