Assignment Task 1: Elite Performance Review
Sport: Football (Soccer)
The goal of this activity is to investigate elite performance within your chosen sport in order to set some mid to long-term targets (evidence-based benchmarks) for
specific training program. Based on a short review of performance you then create a list of training factors for inclusion in a periodised annual training plan.
Planning should take a holistic approach to developing the athletes, so all factors included in the five major categories of athletic development need to be included.
Task (a) – 1,000 words – Use tables and lists where possible
Conduct a literature review on performance factors associated with your sport. Identify a list of performance characteristics associated with elite and world class
athletes within your sport. Write a brief literature review on any research conducted on elite performance analysis within your sport. Look to obtain information on
the measurement of performance factors, particularly in terms of the physical, technical, tactical and mental aspects of performance. Many sports incorporate
evaluation programs for the identification of talent as well as to measure the impact of training on athletic performance. That is, many sports have developed
methodologies and identified selection criteria and benchmarks for performance (including physiological evaluation). This can make a great starting point in tracking
down evidence to support your lists of identified characteristics. Note that using personal opinions for including the characteristics that you do, without also
including either references to scientific justification or a personal analysis of a number of athletes to arrive at these skills, is not sufficient. This is a very
important aspect of the course and by gathering as much valid information as you can to form this “image” you will make the planning decision- making easier in later
tutorials. Note: This section should be referenced citing research papers and any data sources associated with performance benchmarks.
Task (b) – create a list of trainable factors
Some of the characteristics of elite performers outlined in your review are likely to be genetic and consequently not trainable (e.g. anthropometric characteristics).
The second task in this assignment is to distil the identified characteristics down into a list of training factors that you would include in a comprehensive and
holistic training program.
Summary of task:
1. Develop a list of the general qualities of elite performers in your sport
2. Distil into a list of “trainable skills” for use in developing your training program (Note: You only need to focus on the sports specific factors at this stage
(Physical, Technical, Tactical and Psychological)
Continued Below

Training Factors
Task (b) sample format list:

This is a sample list (not comprehensive) to demonstrate the 5 skill areas which you will incorporate into the design of your training plan. You only need to complete
the first four sections.