Key factors are the important individual actions within a skill performance that influence the final outcome. Key factors should always be stated in terms of specific body movements and they must be observable by the coach.

The process of identifying these key factors can be simplified if we divide them into each of the three movement phases. For example, the key factors in the preparatory phase for a softball batter include:

1. The feet being shoulder width apart and parallel to the plate.
2. The knees flexed, and the upper body slightly bent.
3. The shoulders and hips lined up to the pitcher.
4. The hands are held closely together holding the bat at shoulder height so that there is only one pivot point on the bat.

It is important to remember that these key factors are general guidelines only and they may not suit everyone as every player has his/her own unique anatomy and sports history.

Some players can perform to a high level with a technique that is not biomechanically ‘correct’. For example, Michael Johnson (1996 Olympic 200m and 400m champion) performs successfully with a relatively low knee lift and a very upright running stance. It would be a brave, but perhaps foolish coach, who tries to change his running style.

Another consideration in identifying the key factors is the stage of growth and development of the player. In general, younger players cannot be expected to perform a skill the same way an older more experienced player can. Therefore, the key factors of any skill may vary to suit the player’s stage of development.

For example, in the Small Black to All Black player pathway, more complex skills such as kicking and tackling are introduced after players have been playing for two years.

Develop a Plan to Analyse a Skill

To successfully analyse the skill performance the coach needs to plan how he/she will observe the movement. The coach must decide what to look for and how, when, and where to observe the skill performance or movement.

An observation plan consists of:

1. Identifying the purpose of the skill
2. Dividing the skill into the three movement phases
3. Creating a checklist of key factors for each movement phase
4. Choosing observation strategies, for example:
a) What angle(s) to observe from?
b) What to look at?
c) How many observations of the skill?

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