Apologies for the absence of a blog last week, it has been busier than normal at the Training Ground and I have had difficulties finding the time to sit down and write it.

Last Monday was obviously transfer deadline day and Akpo Sodje left the Club after being with us for two and a half years. He has joined Charlton on a standard half-season loan until June 30, 2010 which is when his contract with Sheffield Wednesday expires. There is no recall clause permitted in a half-season loan and we therefore wish Akpo all the best for the future and thank him for his commitment to Sheffield Wednesday during his time here. Special thanks also needs to go to Akpo for all the community work he has participated in and for the dedication he gave to his ambassadorial role for The Children’s Hospital, Sheffield.

This week I have decided to explain the Prozone System, as I, like many of you, do not fully understand the system and all the benefits it offers to clubs. To get the experts views I have been interviewing Jordan Garbutt from Prozone and also caught up with Alan Irvine to get his perceptions on Prozone.

What is Prozone?

Jordan: Prozone is a coaching tool that was set up in 1998, devised by coaches for coaches and is continually updated and improved through feedback by thought leaders in the game. Prozone is an objective performance analysis tool that delivers validated and accurate performance insights (Prozone’s Stadium technology and unique 360 degree camera system is the most accurate system available to clubs) above the shallow level of statistics commonly attributed to Prozone by those outside of the professional game. Analysing the game at every tenth of a second, the Prozone software provides the managers and coaches with an interactive engaging coaching tool housing over 4,000 levels of data. The use of this data as information acts as an objective method to facilitating better and more informed decisions through the use of analysis.

What are the benefits of Prozone?

Jordan: Firstly the benefits come by way of how the system is used. It will only benefit the teams if they are using it in the correct way to extract the pertinent information based around the core set of objectives the manager and coaching team have implemented. Prozone is also used by clubs in the following ways:

What kind of stats are monitored using Prozone?

Jordan: All technical and physical aspects of a football game, from every single touch of the ball to every movement made on and off it. What is key is that the data is analysed in the correct manner e.g. how do the measurements compare to what was asked of the team and players for the specific match and against the specific set objectives. A common misconception of Prozone is that it is a tool that just tells you how far players run, this is correct in part but it is much deeper than that.

Prozone not only tells you how far players run but at what intensities, how many sprints, runs, jogs etc, over what distance, how many times, and in what areas of the pitch. In addition how much of all the above was when the team had possession of the ball or when the opposition had possession of the ball. Are some players more effective with the ball or not working hard enough when the team loses it etc? What is the recovery time between these important activities? Above all how do all these physical outputs marry up with the technical aspects of the game to make the complete picture of performance e.g. how many assists or successful forward passes, tackles, interceptions, headers etc, how do players work in tandem or as a unit?

It is therefore not to suggest that a player covering 12km is therefore better than one covering 8km as the 8km may have been more effective and answered the objectives set taking into account the whole picture provided above.

What are those stats then used for?

Jordan: The stats are used differently by all clubs, each differing in the key performance indicators they believe fundamentally affect performance and outcomes. Prozone only acts as an objective tool to help substantiate a manager’s thoughts, opinions and intuition. It is the combination of both the objective and subjective that equals success in football.

As Prozone displays a wealth of information it is impossible to assess everything every game, therefore how the manager goes about extracting the key aspects he feels were pertinent to the game is key.

Commonly, Prozone stats are used in the coaching space to better prepare for opponents and also to better evaluate and feedback hoping to shape and affect desired performances. It can therefore assist in the shaping of the training week. In addition to all the positives, the stats can also show when a player is unfit, injured, in need of rest etc as they are benchmarked against their own performances throughout the season. Not only that but they are benchmarked against the league averages for that position.

To what level does Prozone influence players’ coaching?

Alan Irvine: Prozone is a fantastic coaching aid. The system allows us to look in depth at the performance of the team, units within the team and each individual. We can then provide detailed feedback to the players. It also helps us to study the opposition in detail to identify their strengths and weaknesses then highlight these in our presentations to the players.

Do players get to see their Prozone statistics?

Alan: The players are welcome to look at all of their statistics at any time. Some will be more interested in this than others. We provide some general statistics after each match.

Does the manager base his team selection on Prozone statistics?

Alan: Definitely not.

Is Prozone needed? What is wrong with just using traditional coaching methods and watching the players?

Alan: Prozone will never replace traditional coaching methods but it is a great coaching aid and I am delighted that the club has installed the system.

Does Prozone information influence the recruitment of players?

Jordan: Increasingly so in terms of due diligence. Previous methods may have been to scout and recruit a player on a recommendation. Prozone can assist a Chief Scout or Manager by being able to bring in objective facts to make a base decision. For example in years gone by a Chief Scout/Manager would fly to another continent to watch a player at the cost of thousands of pounds and on some occasions realise that the player is either not what they are looking for or not what was portrayed in the recommendation.

Prozone can help in the recruitment process by assisting the Chief Scout to have access to a wider level of player data not only in statistical form but in video. Prozone can assist by way of a search engine returning players from around the world with certain desirable characteristics. The user can then statistically asses and watch a catalogue of footage on players before making decisions to travel or investigate further. At no point does Prozone recommend players to sign or provide valuations of players, those key decisions are made by the football club, Prozone only helps in the process of identification and hopefully adds a bow to the due diligence process.

Do clubs with Prozone have an advantage over clubs that don’t use it?

Jordan: No, not strictly speaking, however there is an advantage for those who use the tool effectively over those whom don’t have the system at all or have it but aren’t using it wisely. There’s no point buying a Ferrari if you’re going to leave it parked in the garage! Now that 20 of the 24 Championship clubs are utilising Prozone, how it’s used is becoming the key differentiator to having it. The search is always on to gaining an edge over competitors and with so much information available through Prozone, I am sure each club have there own secrets and thoughts over which aspects they believe are key or providing them the edge.

Special thanks this week to Jordan Garbutt and Kim Stafford from Prozone Sports Limited for sparing some time to be interviewed.

Up the Owls!

Lindsey Taylor, Club Secretary