Evaluating strategic periodisation in team sport

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• High-Performance Coaching
• Sports Analytics

Background:

• Planned peaking for high-priority matches is common in elite team sports.
• Limited research exists on the efficacy of strategic periodisation practices.
• Organisations need frameworks to evaluate performance peaking strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a framework for evaluating strategic periodisation in team sports.
• To identify key factors influencing match difficulty and outcome.
• To inform coach programming and long-term planning.

Main Methods:

• Utilised data from the 2014 Australian Football League season.
• Collected data on match location, opposition rank, break duration, and team form.
• Employed binary logistic regression to model match outcome (win/loss) using fixed and dynamic factors.

Main Results:

• Opposition rank from the preceding season was the most significant predictor of match difficulty.
• The impact of playing away from home intensified as the season progressed.
• Both fixed and dynamic factors provided insights into match difficulty.

Conclusions:

• The study offers a practical approach to assess the effectiveness of strategic periodisation.
• Findings can guide coaches in programming training and peaking for optimal performance.
• Understanding match difficulty factors is crucial for successful season planning.