MSc Performance Analysis in Football

This module will enable you to develop awareness and understanding of the key fundamentals and principles of football match analysis, integrating theory with practice and sharing knowledge and understanding through discussion and debate. The applied element of football match analysis will allow you to gain experience in and an understanding of match analysis, hardware, software and programmes. You will learn what an analyst requires to function effectively and safely in a variety of situations, developing reflective skills and identifying which theories are most applicable when working in a specific applied performance analysis context. You will learn how to operate contemporary analysis programmes, integrate theory with practice and conduct then deliver performance analysis in the football context.

This module will enable you to develop awareness and analysis of the key fundamentals and principles of football statistics and data, integrating theory with practice and sharing knowledge and understanding through discussion and debate. The applied element of football will allow you to gain experience and develop an understanding of data drawn from both competition and training contexts. You will learn which data is needed to function effectively and safely within a variety of situations, developing reflective skills and identifying which theories are most applicable when working in a specific applied football context. You will learn how to analyse data, integrate theory with practice and work with differing departments within a football club in order to improve practice and performance.

This module will enable you to develop awareness and understanding of the requirements expected within associated roles in relation to Talent Identification and Recruitment. The applied element of Talent Identification and Recruitment will allow you to gain knowledge surrounding the characteristics identified when assessing talent within a football setting and how this then transitions through to recruitment. You will learn what a scout requires to function effectively and safely in a variety of situations, developing reflective skills and identifying which theories are most applicable when working in a specific talent identification and recruitment role. You will learn how to navigate through industry standard recruitment tools to search, identify and select talent within the world of football.

This module will advance your research methods and critical thinking skills, and support you in applying these to the sports industry and its associated environments. This module will prepare you for research, reflective, and evidence-based development in future employment, as well as for higher study if applicable.

Leadership is a fundamental element of both sport and business operating in a dynamic global arena. On this module you will review and conceptualise different approaches to leadership from both an applied and theoretical perspective to allow you to analyse critical incidents in order to judge organisational leadership performance. You will be able to apply leadership theory to examples from industry professionals who have experience of leading teams in a sporting setting. Cross-cultural leadership underpins many of the behaviours and skills discussed within the leadership framework, alongside diversity and inclusion, strategic leadership, communication and reflection. The module allows you to take responsibility for your own leadership development and effectiveness through the development of an eportfolio and skills audit, alongside exposure to sports leaders from the global network of partners contributing to the live case studies.

This module will explore the process of reflection, its role in the development of knowledge and coaching expertise and its subsequent impact on practice. You will examine and critically evaluate the key factors associated with a sound reflective process and what it is to be an effective reflective practitioner. In addition, you will review reflective processes and will develop a model of reflection, informed by a critical evaluation of existing models and current literature in this and other relevant fields.

This module will enable you to develop awareness and understanding of the requirements and interactions behind the scenes within a football setting. The applied element of The Interdisciplinary Approach in Football will allow you to assess your role as a Performance Analyst and integral part this plays within the wider context of working within a professional football environment. You will learn how an analyst interacts with other disciplines and how these differing roles all work together for the benefit of improvement within a club setting. Theoretical underpinning will establish the importance of all the interdisciplinary cogs working together to achieve a shared goal. You will hear from industry professionals working within these differing sectors to share their experiences of how they interact with Performance Analysts and the mutual benefits this can provide.