Placements offer Charlotte a fresh perspective
Charlotte Bolton is a second year BSc (Hons) Performance Analysis and Coaching Science student at the University of Derby. During her time on the course, Charlotte has undertaken placements with Burton Albion Academy, Burton Albion first team, and semi-professional Mickleover. Charlotte tells us here how her studies and applied experience has benefitted her development within performance analysis throughout the course so far.
How did you go about getting your first placement with Mickleover?
I had been coaching with them for about five or six years. My brother played in the lower age groups, so I already knew the academy. I already knew the set up and how they play. I had seen the first team play in a few games, so I just thought it would be a very nice introduction to analysis to go into a club that I knew. I began shadowing one of the performance analysis MSc students from Derby. It was my first time working with a video camera, so I learned how to set that up and how to capture effectively. From there I had my first real go at post-match analysis before jumping into feedback with the manager.
How did you find that initial placement experience?
I thought it was a very good eye opening to analysis. Before university, I only had a small insight into what analysis entailed. The placement gave me a good insight on recording the games, being in the gantry, and what it was like to be involved in a semi-professional match day environment.
What have you been doing throughout your second year?
I have been at Burton Albion in the Academy as essentially their lead analyst. This has involved all the pre match and post-match analysis for the U18s, the individual player profiles, as well as little pieces around player education. The education side of it involved the players completing an assignment within their school focusing on individual analysis. I then sat down with each of them to go through and help develop their thinking in this space. Finally, I have been creating all the academy's release profiles, so boys that have been released from the club have profiles and videos to send off to other academies.
Did any of these experiences help you within your assessments?
I would say that providing the post-match analysis back to the coaching team at Mickleover and having to do it at a relatively quick rate was extremely beneficial. I was able to work on my time management skills. Then this year, I have had more work to do at Burton Albion than I did at Mickleover. Balancing university and placement, getting that work back on time so that the players have the information they needed for the next game was vital. That pressure pushed me to be more effective within my university balance and ensuring I could keep on top of my studies. Being able to balance it all out whilst completing a university course as well as leading department in an academy is pretty cool.
What would you say is the main thing that you have learned from each placement?
That I really enjoy it. The analysis is important but at times can be so demanding. The impact of players getting the right information for a game and players getting the wrong information can dictate whether or not they win the game. Understanding this moving forward in my career will be hugely beneficial. At Burton, I have been working with many ex-professional footballers and learning about their experiences first-hand. Being able to speak to them to develop my in depth understanding of the football side of things is an experience you will struggle to get outside of a placement.
What are your biggest highlights from your placement work?
At Burton this year the scholars went on an amazing Youth Cup run. We beat Port Vale (R1), Chester Lee St United (R2), and Aston Villa (R3) before losing to Tottenham in Round 4. Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are Category One clubs so being involved in preparing for matches against higher level teams was extremely interesting. Personally, after the Aston Villa game, I received a message from the coaches saying the information that they got pre-game was absolutely perfect and it really helped them. It felt rewarding to know that I am doing something good, and it is impactful for those who needed it.
What placement advice would you give to someone about to go into second year?
Don't stress. I think I always like to say everything happens for a reason. Enjoy it. You're at university to get the experience of being an analyst and now is the perfect time. Why wait. The placements allow you to apply your in-class skills within the real–world environment, and to me that is the most fun part of learning.
What are the things you want to work on and get better at in your in your final year to compete for a full-time job when you graduate?
I would like to work on my live analysis. I was actually able to do it once when the Academy played Tottenham, but I was not able to properly focus on it with the camera operation too. I have been with Burton Albion's first team since December where I have been able to see what this environment looks like and how it operates. I have been capturing footage, but within this I have been able to watch the first team analyst carry out the coding, seeing what they code, and how they work which has been very valuable for me. So just taking that next step to do it myself I think would be what would make me more compete.
How are you feeling about your career prospect following two placements and two years at university so far?
I feel positive. I think I have got experience at a semi-professional level with Mickleover. I have then gained experience at professional academy level with Burton Albion. I'm gaining experience in different areas which is good. I have also began getting experience with Burton Albion first team as well. I am not finished yet but building experience up in different areas should only benefit me in the long run.
