What is pre-requisite to becoming a category 1 academy performance analyst and perspectives on what the future may resemble

This study investigates the prerequisite skills for becoming a category one academy performance analyst. Additionally, an insight into the future of performance analysis is explored. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, which were conducted with category 1 academy performance analysts, coaches, head of departments and an educator in higher education. The findings from this study suggest that the most important skills for a PA to possess, assume two key aspects. (A) Having effective personal skills, are considered of paramount importance, more specifically the ability to build relationships and communicate. Indeed, research associates good interpersonal skills with work related benefits which impact upon the subsidiary skills. (B) The professional skills, possessing coaching and game knowledge and the capacity to recognise and manipulate relevant data. Results obtained, concluded that underpinning the entire study is the necessity to be a good communicator, possess a good work ethic (personal skills) and understand technology (professional skill). With constant development in technology, the research exposed that PA roles could divide in the future to become specialist roles: technical coaching analyst and data analyst