Media release
3rd April 2008
SPARC brings data analysts together to discuss winning ways
When it comes to sharing information New Zealand’s small size is a real advantage, which is why SPARC invited a range of
sports to Christchurch on Tuesday for a data and video analysis workshop.
Analysts and coach development managers from the Black Caps, Silver Ferns, Crusaders, Tall Blacks, Football Ferns, Tall
Ferns and the Black Sticks attended the workshop.
The purpose of the workshop was to provide sports with the opportunity to discuss some of the ways data and video
analysis can be used successfully for team based sports.
“There’s so many ways data can be used in high performance sport – and if we can collect and share learning across
sports it would be an advantage that New Zealand could have over other countries,” said SPARC’s performance analyst
James Gibson.
Also in attendance was recent SPARC recruit Kerry Spackman who spoke about his experiences working with F1 Team McLaren
and discussed how to take data and video analysis in New Zealand to the next level.
Netball NZ coach development manager Leigh Gibbs and Silver Ferns analyst Bobby Willcox spoke about how data and video
analysis can help improve game strategy.
“The workshop provided us with the opportunity to see how other codes are using data and video analysis, learn from each
other and discuss what best practice is. Analysis is one part of the puzzle and the art of coaching is to decide how and
when to use this information,” said Gibbs.
SPARC is now working with sports to look at how best to share information and ensure that sports are using data and
video analysis to get the best results from their teams.
ENDS