The Post-Season Evaluation Process: A Roadmap for Success
An article written by Sophie Herzog, Øyvind Sandbakk, Trond Nystad and Rune Talsnes
As the competitive season in many winter sports comes to an end, a well-structured post-season evaluation process is crucial for setting up athletes and teams for future success. This period is not just about recovering from a long season – it’s a time to reflect, analyze, learn from what has been done and pro-actively map out the future. The insights gained from this process lay the foundation for planning the upcoming season.
The analysis and planning process is a multifaceted process which covers a lot of topics and areas beyond just the training and development process. A thorough analysis must be holistic, encompassing all aspects, people and systems that influence performance. Great coaches also use this time to reflect on their own coaching and leadership development, ensuring they continue to evolve alongside their athletes. Accordingly, it is crucial to prioritize significant time and attention to this process.
Below, we propose a structured approach for such an analysis, starting with the individual athlete (Step 1), before expanding to the team, federation or organization (Step 2). This process ultimately leads to a joint meeting (Step 3) to align key takeaways and plan for the season ahead.
Step 1: Individual Athlete Analysis
After the season, the athlete, coach and relevant performance staff should conduct a structured assessment of the athletes’ training and development process. The goal is to evaluate what was done, how well it aligned with the season plan, and where improvements can be made. Be careful not to rush to conclusions – take the time to analyze everything thoroughly. A GAP analysis can be a valuable tool for identifying strengths, weaknesses, and key areas for development in the upcoming season.
“Remember that change is only possible if you change something!”
Key Areas of Evaluation
1. Goals and Performance:
A natural starting point is evaluating whether the athlete achieved the various goals set for the season. This is not only limited to results in competitions but also includes process and training goals leading up to key competitions. It may also involve analyzing different laboratory and field-based tests to assess the training process and progress and identify strengths and weaknesses through a GAP-analysis.
Keep in mind that failing to meet performance/results goals in competitions does not necessarily mean that everything was wrong, just as exceeding expectations does not imply that everything was perfect. Below are suggested questions to guide this assessment.
What competition (result) goals were set? To what extent were they achieved?
What process/training goals were set? To what extent were they achieved?
How did performance tests (lab and/or field) evolve throughout the season compared to previous years?
What adjustments in the training and development process were made/planned before this season? To what extent were they executed according to plan?
2. Training process:
The next step in the evaluation is a detailed retrospective analysis of the training performed throughout the season. This review should examine key aspects of the training process, considering factors such as structure, execution, and effectiveness. The questions below can help guide this analysis.
Training volume: How did the annual and monthly training volume compare to previous seasons and your planned volume?
Intensity distribution: How was intensity distribution structured across different phases of the annual training cycle?
Periodization: How was the training volume/load structured across different phases (macro, meso-, and micro-cycles) of the annual training cycle?
Consistency: How did injuries, sickness, or other interruptions affect training consistency?
Adaptability: To what extent were in-season training adjustments done in an effective way?
Load management: To what extent was there a good balance between listening to the body/checking objective data and following the plan? How was the overall load-recovery balance?
Intensity Control: To what extent was training executed according to the goal of the session and at the right intensity?
Quality assurance/systematic testing: Was the training process consistently monitored and evaluated to ensure its effectiveness? Were systematic testing methods used to assess progress and make corresponding adjustments?
Training Quality: To what extent was training-execution quality (in sessions and the training process as a whole) optimal?
Training Modality: Was the balance between different training modes optimal?
Race Readiness: How well did peaking strategies work for key competitions?
Environment: Was altitude and/or heat training incorporated into the annual plan? How was its effectiveness assessed?
3. Other factors:
Training load is not the sole factor influencing the load-recovery balance and subsequent training adaptations; non-training stress also plays a significant role. Therefore, it’s essential to assess sources of stress that impact the athlete’s daily life and overall development. The following questions can help guide this analysis.
Environment: To what extent did the following factors support or hinder the athletes’ training and performance development?
Training environment/infrastructure
Living situation
Family & personal relationships
Coaching relationship
Team dynamics
Organization of daily life
Financial situation & Sponsorships
Media commitments
School/studies/work load
Training camps vs. training at home
Personal Growth: Did the athlete have aspects of life outside of training and performance that required significant attention, time or energy? This could include areas such as education, work, or family life, offering the athlete the opportunity to develop an identity beyond elite sports.
4. Recovery process:
An optimal recovery process is crucial for achieving the desired training adaptations. If the athlete is not recovering optimally, the volume and intensity of training become secondary. Therefore, it’s important to assess all factors that contribute to the athlete’s recovery. The following questions can guide this analysis.
Nutrition: To what extent was fueling or energy intake before, during, and after training adequate?
Medical checks: Did the athlete undergo regular blood tests and health checks to identify any deficiencies? If so, did these tests reveal any issues or challenges?
Mental State & Motivation: To what extent did psychological factors impact performance?
Sleep quantity and quality: How was the athletes’ sleep quality throughout the season? Was the sleep sufficient, consistent and restorative, supporting optimal recovery and performance?
Stress management: Were stress levels monitored and managed effectively?
Recovery strategies: Were valid recovery tools and methods used effectively?
Step 2: Team & Organizational Analysis
Beyond individual training and performance, team coherence, support, culture, organization and environment play a crucial role in an athlete’s development. A dysfunctional team can negatively impact the performance of every athlete associated with the team, while a well-functioning team can significantly enhance development, enjoyment and success. In our experience, building a successful and well-functioning team takes time and effort. As the saying goes, “A well-functioning team takes years to build and can be torn down in seconds”, so it requires careful maintenance.
Therefore, a thorough analysis of the entire performance team is essential to identify strengths, gaps and areas for improvement, ultimately fostering a more effective high-performance environment. A good starting point for this analysis could be: How do we want our team to be perceived by both team members and those outside the team?
Key Areas of Evaluation:
Team Environment: How were team dynamics, culture and the overall support system?
Communication: To what extent was there clear and effective communication between athletes, coaches, and support staff?
Logistics & Operations: To what extent were travel, training camps, and schedules managed efficiently?
Equipment & Development: To what extent were equipment development, testing and implementation sufficient and effective?
Ethics & Integrity: How well did the team uphold high professional and ethical standards?
Collaboration & Learning: How well did the team share and exchange knowledge and support collective growth?
Resources & Staffing: Was there adequate support for coaching, medical care, and performance services?
Policies & Guidelines: Were expectations, rules and structures clear, well-implemented and followed?
Step 3: Strategic Planning for the Next Season
Once the retrospective season analysis is complete, the next step is to develop a structured plan that translates the key learnings into concrete actions for the upcoming season. The focus should be on implementing actionable behavioral changes rather than simply identifying problems. For example:
If an athlete lacks strength, a specific action could be incorporating strength training twice per week, every week.
If punctuality is an issue, the solution might be enforcing a strict policy where everyone must arrive on time, and the bus/car departs as scheduled.
It’s not enough to highlight problems – effective planning requires identifying and implementing practical solutions to drive improvement. The following points can help with the planning.
Key Planning Components:
Athletic Strengths & Weaknesses: Identify key areas for improvement and define specific action points in a GAP analysis.
Expectations & Commitments: Align personal and team goals, ensuring clarity on expectations to foster realistic planning and accountability.
Testing & Monitoring: Implement structured testing routines to quality assure the process, track progress, manage training load and ensure training quality.
Camp Planning: Plan key training and altitude camps in the annual plan to maximize performance gains.
Training Goals: Define training volume, intensity distribution, key sessions and strategies for intensity control for the entire team (team training philosophy). In addition, adjustments to each individual athlete are essential to optimize performance.
Technical, Pacing & Tactical Plans: Develop race-day execution strategies to enhance performance in varying conditions.
Nutrition Strategy: Optimize fueling for training and competition to support performance and recovery.
Mental Preparation: Establish strategies to enhance motivation, focus, and resilience throughout the season.
Medical & Health Plans: Schedule medical check-ups and implement injury prevention strategies.
Quality Improvements: Identify ways to enhance training quality and overall process efficiency.
Meeting & Review Schedule: Set periodic check-ins for progress assessment and course correction.
Team Development: Define roles, responsibilities, and collaboration guidelines for a highly functional team environment.
Race Calendar: Finalize the competition schedule with peak performance priorities.
Incorporating Sport-Specific Trends & Developments
For high-performance athletes, staying informed about the latest developments in their sport is a vital component of planning. Athletes, coaches and staff must proactively assess emerging trends and evaluate whether integrating new strategies could offer a competitive edge. However, it is important to remember that just because something is “new”, or “trending” does not necessarily mean that it is beneficial or superior to what you are currently doing.
Successful teams maintain confidence in their approach while continuously looking for ways to refine and optimize performance without losing sight of the core principles that drive success. Any changes implemented should be carefully measured and evaluated to understand their impact. Introducing too many changes at once can create an interference effect, making it difficult to determine which adjustments really make a positive difference.
Our advice is to start with the “low-hanging fruit”, ensuring the basics are done well before attempting more complex modifications. Trying to be overly innovative can sometimes backfire, leading to unnecessary complications. Key areas to evaluate include:
Demands of the event: Understanding sports and different events’ demands allows optimizing training specificity.
Competitor Analysis: Reviewing rival athletes' performances, strategies and training methods.
Equipment Innovations: Assessing new gear and technology for potential competitive advantages.
Nutritional Advances: Exploring updated fueling and recovery strategies.
Training & Recovery Research: Applying new scientific findings in practice.
Regulatory Changes: Understanding and adapting to rule modifications or policy updates to maintain compliance and ethical standards.
Final Step: Joint Meeting & Alignment
The culmination of this post-season evaluation process should be a structured meeting between the athlete, coach, and relevant performance staff. This discussion serves to:
Summarize key takeaways from the analysis.
Align on strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
Define clear, actionable objectives for the upcoming season.
Ensure athlete and team commitment to the plan moving forward.
By following this structured post-season evaluation approach, athletes and teams can build on their experiences, make informed adjustments, and create a roadmap for a successful next season. Effective reflection and planning set the foundation for long-term development and peak performance.
