Author(s): CHAHAL, A., KONG, P.W., Institution: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION (NIE), NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (NTU), Country: SINGAPORE, Abstract-ID: 1101

INTRODUCTION:
Performance analysis in netball has grown substantially (1,2,3) and is increasingly used to support coaching decision-making and the identification of tactical patterns across a season (4,5,6). However, existing studies and competitions often rely on differing or partial sets of indicators, raising concerns regarding consistency and ecological validity (4,5,6). Given the importance of aligning performance information with coaches’ and players’ real-world decision-making needs, there is a need to establish a contextually relevant and practitioner-informed set of performance indicators to analyse netball performance (7). Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish expert consensus on a comprehensive and valid set of netball performance indicators informed by the perspectives of elite coaches and selectors as well as national players.
METHODS:
This was completed through a modified Delphi process comprising two phases with two rounds each. The expert panel included 4 national team coaches and selection panel members, and 17 current Singapore national players. Phase 1 focused on establishing a shared understanding of the compiled indicators and their definitions, with opportunities for experts to suggest additions or modifications. Phase 2 evaluated the importance of each indicator for inclusion in netball performance analysis through online ratings followed by structured round-table discussions (coaches and players conducted separately), after which indicators with mixed ratings were re-rated. All ratings used a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Consensus was reached when ≥80% of the entire expert panel rated a ‘5’ for the indicator (2).
RESULTS:
Results revealed that in Phase 1 Round 1, experts demonstrated ≥80% agreement on understanding for all but two of the 343 indicators; four additional indicators were also proposed. These six indicators were subsequently evaluated in Phase 1 Round 2, after which all indicators met the ≥80% understanding criterion. In Phase 2 Round 1, 270 indicators met the inclusion threshold (≥80% agreement), while 73 indicators received mixed ratings as to be included in netball performance analysis. These indicators were discussed and re-rated in Phase 2 Round 2, resulting in a final set of 280 indicators confirmed for analysing netball performance.
CONCLUSION:
This study provides a consensus-driven and ecologically valid set of netball performance indicators grounded in the perspectives of elite coaches, selection panellists and national players in Singapore. The agreed indicators offer a practical foundation for consistent match analysis and the examination of playing styles across a competitive season.

[1] Whitehead 2021/ [2] Mackay 2023/ [3] Mclean 2019/ [4] Croft 2021/ [5] Fox 2024/ [6] Ofoghi 2021/ [7] Croft 2023