Abstract:
In professional sports there are in general three
steps required to improve performance namely task
definition, training and performance assessment. This
process is iteratively repeated and feedback generated
from quantitative performance measurement is in turn
used for task redefinition. Task definition can be
achieved in a number of ways including via video
streaming or indeed and as is more common, by
listening to coaching staff. However non-subjective
performance evaluation is difficult due to the
complexity of the movements involved. When
considering the subset of sports where precision
accuracy and repeatability are a necessity this problem
becomes inherently more difficult to solve. Until
recently sports such as martial arts, fencing and darts,
where the smallest deviation from a prescribed
movement goal can result in large outcome error, were
deemed too difficult to characterise fully. Advances in
technology, as illustrated by this study, now make this
type of physiometry possible.
