Experts in Sport - Performance analysis in the Netball Super League

In this episode of the “Experts in Sport” podcast, host Stuart McErlain-Naylor sits down with Dr Andrew Butterworth. As the Head of Performance Analysis for the Loughborough Lightning Netball Super League team, Andrew details his career journey, as well as discussing his three usual routines – pre-match analysis, live-match analysis, and post-match analysis.

He discusses the evolution technology has seen in recent years in order to support performance analysis, sharing his knowledge on how advanced hardware and software, alongside GPS tracking is used in this context. Additionally, he explains the importance of both the sports venue and equipment provided on a match day, as their quality can heavily impact a performance analyst’s data gathering.

Finally, Dr Butterworth describes his process of relaying his findings and post-match feedback to the players, as well as offering advice on pursuing a career in Performance Analysis.

Dr Andrew Butterworth joined Loughborough University in September 2021 as University Teacher in Applied Performance Analysis. Joining to teach various modules on this new and innovative MSc programme, Andrew blends engaging and current research content with his considerable practical expertise to provide a holistic overview of the performance analysis discipline. Andrew is module leader for Coaching Process and Applied Performance Analysis Workflows, whilst also leading the research project module for the programme. In this role, he also contributes to the teaching, assessment and supervision of performance analysis content on undergraduate School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS) programmes.

Prior to joining Loughborough, Andrew was programme leader and senior lecturer at the University of Derby for their BSc Hons in Performance Analysis & Coaching Science, where he spent six years developing and delivering the course. Andrew has also worked extensively in practical performance analysis including roles with England Netball, Badminton England, Team GB, Paralympics GB, Badminton World Federation and many others. He has led the performance analysis for Loughborough Lightning Netball since 2015, reaching the finals in 2017, 2018 & 2022 and winning the title in 2021. This Friday, Lightning play in the semi-final of this years competition, hoping to reach another final on Sunday.

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The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly.

ENDS

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 23/88

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2023 QS World University Rankings – the seventh year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2023, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2023 and 11th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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