ESTABLISHING PERFORMANCE PROFILING IN LACROSSE

Abstract

Aiming to produce a system whereby performance profiles could be produced the investigation compared winning and losing performances in National Collegiate Athletics Association Men’s Lacrosse Championships. A dearth of previous research in lacrosse led to understanding and adapting research and literature from similar sports in the preparation, development and implementation phases culminating in an understanding of what makes winning and losing performances in lacrosse.

An auditing process involving key stakeholders assisted in the development of a system, which was piloted and the results of which were analysed using weighted kappa statistics prior to match analysis. Non-parametric testing was conducted on final results in order to produce descriptive and inferential statistics used to compile the associated performance profiles.

Results from the sample chosen showed that showed a difference present between the percentages of face-offs won and positive turnovers achieved alongside overall possession and offensive possession. Practical significance of the results was considered equally alongside the statistical significance in order to contextualise the results more thoroughly. The investigation provided a successful system for producing performance profiles which could be applied in a coaching context, developed further and allied to individualised performance profiles capable of being produced through altering the system produced