Book excerpt: What is performance analysis and how does its use benefit sports performance? How can you use performance analysis in your sport? The Essentials of Performance Analysis answers your questions, providing a complete guide to the foundational elements of match and performance analysis for new students and beginners. As well as a basic introduction to the sport science and theory that underlies performance analysis, the book contains many practical examples to show performance analysis in its applied context. It includes discussion of: approaches to analyzing sport performance the use of feedback technologies the use of video and biomechanical analysis interpreting data coaching with notational analysis. The Essentials of Performance Analysis is a straightforward, concise and authoritative guide for students of sport science and sports coaching, as well as for coaches and athletes looking to develop their insight into sports performance analysis.