data collection methods

Question 1

why do coaches collect training data?

Answer 1

so that coaches can gauge the effectiveness of the training session, monitor how the athlete is coping and minimise injury or illness

Question 2

what are the types of data collection?

Answer 2

you can collect physiological, psychological and sociological information about the athlete

Question 3

methods of data collection

Answer 3

training diary, digital activity trackers and mobile apps

Question 4

what is physiological data

Answer 4

information about the body’s physical functioning and physiological response to the training session through things like energy levels, heart rate, muscle soreness, sleep patterns and nutrition

Question 5

what is psychological data

Answer 5

provides athlete with information about mental readiness and mental capacity to train and perform for example, thoughts, feelings and cognitive characteristics which may affect behaviour. This can be tested by looking at things like, confidence levels, motivation, arousal levels

Question 6

what is sociological data

Answer 6

context about broader social, cultural and environmental factors that may affect athlete’s performance for example temperature, weather, time, place of exercise and teammates

Question 7

what are training diaries

Answer 7

athlete’s personal monitoring tool which can record objective and subjective information such as heart rate, motivation, nutrition and environmental factors

Question 8

what are digital activity trackers

Answer 8

data transmission from increasingly sophisticated sensores provide athlete and teammates with the increased ability to reach peak fitness levels. Include smart watched, accelerometers, GPS devices. Parameters that can be tracked include:
HR, sleep, movement patterns, intensity

Question 9

what are mobile apps

Answer 9

companion and stand alone apps that can measure, monitor and track training data. They are generally able to display, record and provide more information that digital activity trackers can on their own. They allow users to log workouts and record information and also provide access to data sharing, allowing for competition which can increase motivation levels.

Question 10

what are the benefits of data collection

Answer 10

• training sessions can be monitored and evaluated for effectiveness
• can allow coach to identify signs of overtraining
• can be useful to sustain motivation
• provides feedback to coach
• show athletes likelihood of injury
• improve goal setting