Performance Profile

Fit for Sailing

Andrew Verdon shows how to identify and work on key areas of your sailing.

So another season has passed and you are determined to move up the results table next year at major events. What is the best way to identify what you need to spend your time and efforts on over the winter break?

Performance profiling is a process that assesses the particular skills a competitor deems important to success in their sport. It is derived from a well-known 1992 research study by Butler and Hardy. It can be used to identify  goals as a focus for self improvement and it can help direct training to areas of specific need.

It needs to be stressed that there are no right or wrong answers, just an honest appraisal of your current feelings. This will  help make the process more productive and effective for you.

Step One: Identification

A list of qualities, skills and characteristics are developed that you believe are necessary for better performance in your class. Write down as many qualities as you can come up with, which should cover all aspects of performance including:

• Technique

• Physical requirements

• Mental skills

• Personal qualities

• Characteristics

From this exhaustive list, select the top ten that you think are the most important.

Step Two: Self rating

Now rate your ability levels on each factor on a scale from one to ten. Then construct a chart as shown. This gives you clear indications of your strengths and weaknesses in the areas your have deemed important,

The positive aspect of this procedure is that you alone determine the characteristics that are important and what you are lacking in.  It can be used as an assessment procedure as well as an aid to goal setting, a way of monitoring progress and a tool for establishing good communication between team mates.

After you have identified the areas that need improving, you need to address these concerns by learning the necessary skills and techniques to improve them.

I have found this to be a valuable process. As Butler and Hardy identified, there are many benefits from performance profiling, including:

• It highlights strengths and areas to work on.

• It clarifies vision and direction.

• It highlights discrepancies between current and desired results.

• You are able to monitor progress.

• It assists in the design of a specific training program that addresses areas to focus on.

For Example

Let’s look at an example of a weekend sailor who sails in a single-handed class. Last season he noticed that he gets tired during racing, and his back gets sore and a little heavy. He sails well at club level on  his regular Saturday waterway due to local knowledge, but wants to improve for state championships next season in a large potential fleet of 40 boats.

The Top 10 factors he identified for success in his class were:

1.  Fitness

2.  Core strength

3.  Right body weight

4.  Hiking endurance

5.  Downwind speed

6.  Starting ability

7.  Weather knowledge

8.  Calmness

9.  Determination/persistence

10.Concentration over full days sailing
in regattas

The table shows how his results look.

He scored himself four sevens or higher. So his focus over the off season would be the items he scored six or less on. Investing some time effort and money into these areas will give a larger “return on investment” than the other factors.

Self-analysis Chart

CHARACTERISTICS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Score

Fitness                                               6

Core strength                                      7

Right body weight                                6

Hiking endurance                                5

Downwind speed                                  6

starting ability                                     7

Weather knowledge                             7

Calmness                                           8

Determination/persistence                    5

Concentration over full days sailing        5