Assessments and Data: Different ways to show value

QUOTE

Data doesn’t replace coaching—it sharpens it.

OBSERVATION

It’s important to diversify assessment usage

I still remember my time with my last military contract and how excited the upper brass were to show off our TOPS (Test of Performance Strategies) scores. And yet - I couldn’t help feel frustrated as every cycle the data would roll in.

• TOPS scores always improved

• General consensus was the cognitive performance program was a waste of time and they would rather spend time on actual mission work

• Personnel consistently stated, “We believe in you two, but we don’t believe in the program”

  
  

It was an experience that always stuck with me and carried back into sports. How can I better show value through assessment work? That is a great opportunity for us in the field. To diversify how we view and use them.

AN ACTIONABLE IDEA

Focus on monitoring and supporting key factors

Quick example here for reference. I may be teaching certain skills and routines with a football team. Supporting key elements of their performance - so I want to put an assessment tool together that reflects that. We created a post game eval, conducted via qualtrics that reflect the game and week. Below are a couple examples:

• Pre-Snap, my focus was clear from distractions (1-5 likert scale)

• Between drives, I was able to reset energy and focus (1-5 likert scale)

• During the week, I was able to memorize my opponent and responsibilities without confusion (1-5 likert scale)

  
  

What these types of questions allowed us to do as a staff was to adjust support from game to game. If focus was distracted, we could easily identify if it was due to an inability to self-regulate or was it due to poor film study and lack of memorizing responsivities? This in turn influenced the routine we would emphasize for the following week. What this does is help coaches see our value as intertwined within an athletes performance - not as a separate set of mental skills that may or may not be relevant.

Assessment usage can be a great way to showcase that value - as long as we do it in a creative way.