From Fieldwork to Feedback: Applying Sports Science and Data in Elite Environments

By Berk Caput

Hello, I am Berk Caput. I have a strong passion for contributing to the field of sports science. I hold a Master's degree in Strength and Conditioning from Manchester Metropolitan University. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with athletes at various levels across different sports, particularly at the elite level with players from Fenerbahçe Football Academy and Hull City Football Club Academy in England, which has significantly contributed to my development in this field. Additionally, participating in courses such as EXOS, FMS 1-2, CFSC, and DNS has allowed me to view sports science from different perspectives. Currently, I aim to continue working with professional athletes, contributing to sports science and bringing new perspectives to the field.

Using Power BI to bring clarity to performance

During my time at Hull City FC Academy, I had the privilege of working with elite level athletes and contributing to the team’s data-driven approach. One of my core responsibilities was tracking training load and visualising these metrics in the most effective way possible using Power BI. The Statsports GPS system supported us in gathering comprehensive performance metrics, allowing us to analyse various aspects of athletic performance. In addition to GPS data, visualising the performance tests of athletes within Power BI provided us with detailed insights into their individual performance values and allowed us to see how they were positioned within the team and at the league level. We could obtain the necessary data to personalise training programmes tailored to each athlete's needs. This approach enabled us to develop a customised training strategy that maximised individual performance.

As part of our data analysis process, we evaluated various metrics after each training session, which helped us monitor the training volume and intensity effectively. These metrics were compiled into a daily report, allowing us to assess the athletes' performance consistently. In addition to these metrics, we also utilised performance test values and calculations like the Acute Chronic Ratio on Power BI. This approach enabled us to cross-check the data and ensure that the athletes were training at optimal levels without risking overtraining.

Turning data into real-time feedback

Moreover, thanks to the visualisation capabilities of Power BI, we could make the data more meaningful, providing effective feedback to both athletes and coaches. Real-time feedback allowed us to quickly identify mistakes during training sessions. In this context, maintaining open communication between coaches and athletes was crucial. Defining success criteria and tracking progress against these benchmarks played a significant role in helping the team achieve its goals.

Conclusion

Overall, my experience at Hull City demonstrated the growing importance of data analytics in high performance sports and how the right tools, combined with the right mindset, can elevate a team’s potential. In today’s sports world, while many teams can collect GPS data, the interpretation of that data lies entirely in the hands of the coach. In this regard, adopting a strong data analysis approach helped us optimise performance and reduce injury risks, especially in team sports.