Performance Analysis
Postgraduate
MSc
Performance Analysis in Sport
School of Health and Society
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Course
One year
Three year
Next enrolment
September 2024
In a nutshell
The MSc Performance Analysis in Sport degree is a unique programme designed for those wishing to enhance their career in the area of performance analysis and high-performance sports practice. The programme aims to equip students with expert academic knowledge, allied to strong practical skills, in order to deliver a quality service to athletes, coaches and organisations.
You will utilise industry-standard equipment and software to assess, monitor, review and improve performance in athletes and teams. You will critically review and evaluate academic performance analysis articles and assess the contribution to contemporary research.
The degree programme takes a multidisciplinary perspective covering the influence the performance analyst can have within coaching, strength and conditioning, sports injury rehabilitation, amongst other applied scenarios. On the Performance Analysis Module, you will develop a truly integrated approach to the science of performance analysis, resulting in a final research project submission to show your competencies and skills in the most applied setting. You will gain the opportunity to work with other sports practitioners as you appraise the use of movement assessment methods to enhance performance and mitigate injury risk in the Injury Prevention and Performance Measurement module.
You will:
- Have access to industry standard performance analysis equipment and be taught by industry professionals.
- Learn how this exciting discipline is used across sports to enhance performance.
- Generate an understanding of how performance analysis can be utilised in relation to sport injuries and how this can be measured.
- Have the opportunity to conduct some primary research that could lead to publications, which may inform future performance analysis practice.
This is for you if...
1.
You are a sport professional looking to develop your career.
2.
You have excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
3.
You have the initiative to devise creative solutions.
All about the course
The MSc course is offered on both a full-time (one year) and part-time (three-year) basis.
The full-time course runs over three academic semesters (October through to September the following year), whilst giving you the chance to exit with the following awards:
- Postgraduate Certificate: completion of one module
- Postgraduate Diploma: completion of two modules
- Master's: completion of two modules plus a dissertation
In order to achieve an award of MSc Performance Analysis in Sport you must successfully complete the modules Performance Analysis and Injury Prevention and Performance Measurement, along with producing a thesis for the dissertation module.
The part-time course can be studied over two or three years, with the final module of the two-year option taught over the summer.
Year one
You will develop the knowledge and expertise to actively practice the discipline of Performance Analysis within an elite setting. You will utilise industry standard equipment to assess, monitor, review and improve performance in athletes/teams. You will use multiple methods to increase performance productivity in your clients as you cover diverse topics such as computerised notation, video and data analysis, athlete monitoring, performance analysis consultancy and scouting and recruitment.
Injury, Prevention and Performance Management
You will develop the ability to critically evaluate the scientific principles and theories of athletic screening and a clear understanding of the science behind performance measurement and appropriate interpretation of those measurements and learn to apply them in a real-world context. You will experience carrying out a systematic and structured group/individual project. This will further develop your critical evaluation and research skills in relation to your own professional practice and includes dissemination of research and good practice.
Dissertation
You will undertake an in-depth, evidence-based exploration of a key area relevant to your own practice; this is a substantial, independent, research project.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact.
We live in a rapidly changing world, and we’re keen to leave a productive legacy of helping people at all stages of their lives, improving their physical, psychological and social wellbeing.
Meet our students
Hannah is a current student studying MSc Performance Analysis in Sport after studying Equine and Human Sports Science at undergraduate level. Hannah is currently working with British Dressage to develop performance analysis techniques and tells us here how her studies have helped her achieve this.
Facilities
You will have access to some of the best facilities in the UK, including our purpose-built Human Performance Lab, which contains our vast array of performance analysis software and almost every type of physiological and biomechanical equipment including:
- Quintic Biomechanics
- SportsCode Gamebreaker
- Dartfish
- Dartfish Easy Tag (ipads)
- FT700 Ballistic Measurement System
- 9 AMTI Force Plates, 5 of which are situated in a 40m running track
- ProReflex 10 Camera real-time motion analysis system
- KinCom and Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometers for Muscle Strength Testing
- Portable Kistler force plate
- EMG (electromyography) system used to measure the electrical activity of muscles and to gather information about the muscular and nervous systems
- Esaote AU5 Ultrasound used to study skeletal muscles, tendons, ligaments and blood flow
- We have a range of cycle and rowing ergometers, two treadmills, and two online gas analysis systems. We can perform blood analysis with our Analox GM7 Multi-Assay Blood Analyser to measure blood lactate, glucose and a range of other blood substrates
- There is also the Reflotron which is another multi-use system that can measure blood cholesterol and haemoglobin as well as portable blood glucose and lactate analysers.
In addition, we have the usual equipment found in exercise physiology labs.
- Polar heart rate monitors
- Harpenden skinfold callipers
- Nacsport Computerised Notation Software
- Catapult GPS
- Live Video Analysis and Filming Equipment (e.g. Hi-Pod)
- Wyscout for Scouting and Recruitment
- Force Plates (e.g. Hawkin Dynamics)
- Wingate tests
- Hand grip dynamometers
- Height and weight monitors
- Jump mats and timing gates
Staff profiles
Dr Mark Quinn
Programme Leader for the MSc Performance Analysis. Mark has worked in Rugby League as a Performance Analyst and Sports Scientist. He was an integral part of the Wigan Warriors team that had success in winning the Challenge Cup (2011, 2013), League Leaders Shield (2012), Super League Grand Final (2013, 2016) and World Club Challenge (2017). He has previously held an Assistant Coaching role with England Wheelchair Rugby League and has research interests in performance analysis, monitoring athletes and training load.
Dr Paul Comfort, CSCS*D, ASCC
Dr Comfort is a Reader in Strength and Conditioning and the programme leader for the MSc Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford. Paul is also an adjunct professor at Edith Cowan University (Western Australia), a founder member and accredited member of the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association, and a board member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (July 2020-July 2023). Dr Comfort regularly consults with numerous professional sports teams in the UK and USA and has co-authored >150 peer-reviewed journal articles. Paul is also co-editor of the textbooks, ‘Advanced Strength and Conditioning: an evidence-based approach’ and ‘Performance Assessment for Strength and Conditioning.’
Dr Lee Herrington PhD MSc MCSP
Lee is a physiotherapist, senior lecturer in Sports Rehabilitation and programme leader for the MSc Sports Injury Rehabilitation at the University of Salford. Dr Herrington is also a consultant physiotherapist to Premiership & Championship Football and Rugby Union clubs, along with a number of Olympic sports. He worked as part of Team GB medical team at London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Lee has previously worked with British Swimming, Great Britain Basketball team, Wigan Warriors and Great Britain Rugby League teams along with England Table Tennis and Netball. He is the lead clinical researcher in the Knee Biomechanics and Injury at the University of Salford, with over 200 published research articles. His specific research interests are anterior knee pain and rehabilitation following knee surgery (principally Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction). Lee is also the Editor in Chief of Physical Therapy in Sport and on the editorial board of The Knee Journal and Journal of Sports Rehabilitation. Dr Herrington leads the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation module on the MSc Sports Injury Rehabilitation.
Dr Paul A. Jones MSc, BSc (Hons), FBASES, BASES Accredited, CSCS*D, CSci
Paul is a Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics / Strength and Conditioning (S&C). Dr Jones earned a BSc (Hons) and MSc in Sports Science from Liverpool John Moores University and a PhD in Sports Biomechanics at the University of Salford. He has over 20 years’ experience in Biomechanics and S&C support to athletes and teams, primarily in athletics, football and rugby and was a former sports science co-ordinator for UK disability athletics. Paul is a BASES Fellow, has been BASES Accredited for >17 years and is currently a member of the BASES accreditation committee. Paul has also been a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) with the NSCA for >18 years. He has authored / co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles mainly in change of direction biomechanics and strength diagnostics and has co-edited a book ‘Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning’ published by Routledge. Paul leads the Injury Prevention and Performance Measurement module which is shared by the MSc Strength and Conditioning, MSc Sports Injury Rehabilitation and MSc Performance Analysis in Sports.
Dr Steve Atkins, BASES Accredited, CSci
Steve is a BASES-accredited sport scientist who has a long-standing interest in how best to optimize human performance. With >100 publications in peer-reviewed journals, his primary research areas relate to the determinants of performance, including use of technologies to optimize performance profiling. Dr Atkins has worked with many elite and amateur athletes and supports clients via the School's Physiology testing service. He has lectured for over 25 years and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy; seeking to create optimal learning environments for students.
What about after uni?
With the skills you'll learn in this course, you could take a lead role in performance analysis and make a difference to the performance of your clients. This course could help significantly increase your chances of getting a high-profile role in top-flight sport.
Upon successful completion of the course, it would be possible to progress on to a PhD, or a PhD via publication. We offer a range of research degrees relevant to your area of practice.
Career Links
This programme has strong links with several premierships and football league clubs, as well as local rugby and basketball teams.
As part of this programme, you would be expected to assess athlete performance and put forward suggestions for improvement. Upon successful completion of this programme, you will be equipped with the required skills to apply for ISPAS (International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport) accreditation.
What you need to know
APPLICANT PROFILE
This course is aimed at a wide range of sports professionals including practising performance analysts, sports scientist graduates, sports coaches, strength and conditioning coaches and physical education teachers.
This course has been developed to be accessible to individuals already working within the field of performance analysis, or those that are aiming to work towards full-time employment within the field. It would be advantageous (but not essential) to have access to athletes so that you can effectively evaluate their training and performance, and implement appropriate interventions as this forms part of the assessments for some modules.
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
English language requirements
International applicants will be required to show proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 (no element below 5.5) is proof of this.
Please note: Due to the structure of this programme, it is not available to applicants who require a Student Visa.
Standard entry requirements
Undergraduate degree
BSc/BA (Hons) graduates with an appropriate sports or exercise-related subject area (Sports Science, Sports Rehabilitation, Sports Coaching). Prospective students will normally be required to have achieved a 2:1 Honours degree, but consideration will be given to students with a 2:2 Honours degree with appropriate experience and satisfactory references.
CV
You will need to provide a professional CV that shows skills and experience relevant to the degree programme.
Alternative entry requirements
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
Additional costs
You should consider additional costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
All Set? Let's Apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545