Notational analysis

Notational analysis is an objective way of evaluating performance in a specific skill or task. It is most often used as a way to analyze the physical performance of athletes and dancers, but the techniques have been adapted to use in food service and other activities. Observers watch and record the specific actions made and where the people involved were at the time in relation to the playing field or workspace. This information is compiled and analyzed to look for patterns that can identify how each person’s action impacted the overall outcome of the event. The technique provides an unbiased way to determine performance efficiency and effectiveness and to identify techniques or patterns that can be improved or repeated to increase performance.

Background

Coaches use a variety of ways to help athletes improve their skills and perform better in competitions. This performance analysis takes several forms, including motion analysis, observational analysis, biomechanical analysis, video analysis, and notational analysis. Notational analysis is particularly helpful because it compensates for the inability of a coach to see and remember all aspects of a performance.

The practice of notational analysis has its origins in a technique known as Labanotation. Labanotation was a technique devised by Hungarian dance theorist Rudolf von Laban. Laban was interested in the relationship between dancers and the space in which they danced. He also wanted to record the choreography, or the patterns of dance steps used for specific dances, so it would not be lost to time. By 1926, his efforts resulted in the creation of a system of notations to record a dancer’s movements that were originally called Kinetography Laban and later renamed Labanotation. His system used geometric symbols to represent different body parts and then charted these symbols to reflect the patterns of movement.

Others saw the potential benefits of being able to graphically record and represent movement. The techniques developed by Laban were used in theater as well as other non-performance environments, such as physical therapy, ergonomics (the study of the interaction between the body and objects such as furniture and tools), and some forms of communication. Athletic coaches also saw the advantages of recording and analyzing the movements of their players and teams. There were several adaptations of Laban’s concepts to athletics. One of these was a mechanical device designed in the 1930s that used a tracing wheel and a scale replica of a basketball court to trace the movements of individual players and the distances they covered during play. In contemporary times, notational analysis has become a routine part of the way sports coaches analyze the performance of their players and teams.

Overview

Notational analysis is a method of examining and studying performance that is objective, consistent, and accurate. It allows the coaching staff to assess all the factors that contributed to the outcome of an event, determine why things worked or failed to work, and develop a plan for either repeating successful outcomes or preventing future failures. It also helps to compensate for the limitations humans experience while trying to observe and remember a complicated event such as an athletic competition.

Human coaches are inherently limited in several ways. They can only physically observe so much of the action going on during a game; some sources put the amount of play action a coach can retain as low as 40 percent. While they will likely be watching the play in the vicinity of the action, they may miss something happening outside the primary focus area. For instance, a football coach may see that a receiver was not in position for a pass but may not have noticed that the player slipped on a wet field while attempting to get in position. A second factor that affects a coach during a game is the coach’s personal biases and opinions. If the coach happens to think that a receiver who was not in position is lazy, the coach may assume that the player did not make the proper effort to get into position.

The use of video replays can compensate for some of this and is often used as part of notational analysis. However, charting where all the players were in relation to one another and how they moved as the action began will also uncover patterns of behavior that can be affecting the outcome of play. The technique can be applied to the opponent as well. For instance, a hockey coach studying notational analysis for an upcoming opponent may notice that the team’s goalie is slow to move his glove hand. The coach can then encourage his players to aim their shots to the glove side when possible.

Coaches will look at several specific aspects of player activity when performing notational analysis. They will examine the tactical aspect, or what plays or techniques the players use in different situations. For example, a baseball coach may notice that one of his pitchers throws more fastballs when he is nervous and mixes his pitches better on days when he is feeling confident.

The coach will also look at the technical aspect, or how well the players fulfilled the responsibilities of their position. For instance, basketball coaches will examine the success of players at making free throws. This aspect also includes the players’ demeanor during the game. For example, the coach will note if the players keep their tempers in check when they think a teammate has been deliberately fouled or the officials make a “bad” call, since this can affect how efficiently they play afterward.

Another aspect of notational analysis is movement analysis. The coaching staff will look at how the players complete the various techniques used during play and analyze ways this can be changed or improved. For instance, they may notice that a soccer player is turning her foot out too far, losing accuracy on passes.

The results of this analysis are compiled into databases that can be used to identify overall patterns of movement and play. The information is then analyzed to find consistencies and inconsistencies that are affecting outcomes. Coaches can use it to form feedback and structure educational efforts to improve performance.

Notational analysis has proven successful enough that it is being adapted to other fields. For instance, management in food service sometimes uses it to chart the movements employees make while completing tasks such as making a sandwich. This allows them to identify areas where people are making mistakes, such as forgetting to add mustard, and establish ways to improve the process, such as putting the mustard in a place that makes more sense.

Bibliography

Arastey, Guillermo Martinez. “Notational Analysis: A Synonym of Today’s Performance Analysis.” Sports Performance Analysis, 19 June 2018, www.sportperformanceanalysis.com/article/2018/6/18/notational-analysis-a-synonym-to-performance-analysis. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

“Archives Photograph Collection - Apparatus for Measuring Distance Travelled by Basketball Players.” Indiana University Bloomington, 27 Sept. 2019, webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/archivesphotos/results/item.do?itemId=P0042468. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

Eaves, Simon J. “A History of Sports Notational Analysis: A Journey into the 19th Century.” International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sports, vol. 15, no. 3, Dec. 2015.

Gomez, Miguel A. “Rudolf von Laban’s Labanotation: The Origin of Notational Analysis Methods in Sports Sciences.” Ricyde: Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte, vol. 11, no. 39, Jan. 2015, pp. 96–99.

Hughes, Mike, and Ian M. Franks, editors. Notational Analysis of Sport: Systems for Better Coaching and Performance in Sport. Routledge, 2004.

“What Is Performance Analysis?” Sport Northern Ireland, www.sportni.net/performance/sports-institute-northern-ireland/performance-science/performance-analysis. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.