The applications of mobile athlete self-report measures in elite Gaelic Games

Advances in athlete monitoring practices are permeating from elite, professional sports to sub-elite and amateur programmes through continuous developments in both the technology itself and the underpinning research. Sports practitioners utilise data in new ways to find a competitive edge, encouraged by an expectation of excellence from athletes who are now more knowledgeable than ever. However, the introduction of technology to a process is not without its challenges, and whilst new methods in sports performance analysis have been game-changing, the use of athlete self-report measures seems yet to realise its potential. As a relatively new progression, there is a dearth of evidence on mobile athlete self-report measures (M-ASRM), particularly in team sports. It remains unclear what the appropriate and inappropriate uses of M-ASRM data are, and how measure design and implementation affect this utility. This programme of research utilised mixed methods to investigate the applications of M-ASRM in elite Gaelic games. Through reviews of the market and the literature, objective analyses of M-ASRM data and exploration of stakeholder experiences, the findings of this thesis have illuminated the concept of M-ASRM in athlete monitoring, by identifying what they are and what they are not, informing their appropriate use cases and the requirements for successful implementation in team sport. Findings from the quantitative methods suggest that rigorous instrument development and implementation in large, controlled studies are required to understand pertinent interpretation of M-ASRM data and use in objective or predictive analysis models. Findings from the qualitative methods suggest established subjective value in communication and information disclosure, remote athlete management, informing decision making and facilitating advanced planning. However, significant barriers to use were identified through an underestimation of the requirements for successful implementation. The challenges related to the measure itself and its limitations, but largely concerned the human factors in recording, reviewing, disseminating and acting on data, in addition to forging stakeholder understanding and engagement. The results of the research are triangulated and underpinned in technology acceptance theory, concluding with the development of considerations for successful M-ASRM implementation in team sport.