1. Transforming Figure Skating: An Insight into the Integration of Data and Statistics
Competing at high levels implies stress, primarily when the skater aims to be in the World's Top 5. It means the training has to be intensive and well-designed to reach this goal. The main idea is to be well-prepared.
As a pragmatic person, what does it mean "Being well-prepared"? How can we measure the progress during the preparation period? By which method? The best answer is to design and put a performance follow-up in action—long-term monitoring of the athletes. It measures the result of the work done to adjust and see if we are heading in the right direction. It's crucial, and it avoids the guessing choice.
When I integrated the Chinese National Team in January 2019 as a High-Performance analyst, one of my roles was to help the head coach, Zhao Hongbo, by tracking the skaters' performance. We monitored the evolution of the jump technique by advanced video analysis.
From a biomechanics point of view, it's an easy task but not enough in a highly competitive environment. So, we integrated data and statistics into the training plan.
During the training, the video analysis offers instant video feedback. With the advanced analysis, you will understand the movement more deeply.
However, advanced video analysis has contributed to more efficient coaching and training of figure skaters by providing impartial input.
"Numbers are not biased."
From my experience, integrating data and statistics has revolutionized the approach towards figure skating.
2. Data-Driven Coaching: The Future of Figure Skating
Collecting data is worth the effort. Why? It gives a scientific perspective. To quote Edwards Deming,
"Without data, you're another person with an opinion."
The most challenging thing for a coach is to forget his skater's background and offer specific solutions. That's why having data-driven coaching is the best option.
How has data-driven coaching started to transform the future of figure skating? We've got many lives. In general, a coach is a former national or international skater. I'm living my fourth life; after my skating career and young coach, becoming a video analysis expert helped me enlarge my skating visions.
Researching an effective jump technique and how skaters move, introducing motor skills preference in optimizing the jump techniques to help them reach their full potential.
You, the reader, are thinking, "I don't have time or tools to collect data; which ones, by the way, are the most interesting?' That's one of the reasons I wrote my first eBook, Figure Skating: Jumps Techniques
The guide to understanding the mechanics of the figure skating jumps.