PFSA Level 1
Performance Analysis In Football
Created by an elite performance analyst

Created and honed by a prominent Head of Performance Analysis from a highly renowned premier league club, the PFSA Level 1 Performance Analysis in Football course serves as an excellent gateway to the market-leading PFSA Level 2 and 3 Performance Analysis in Football.
The PFSA Level 1, which has received official endorsement from a range of top-tier sporting universities and Premier League specialists, provides an in-depth exploration of how professionals maximise player performance.
As the first performance analysis course available on the market, the PFSA Level 1 goes far beyond the surface of the performance analysis profession, establishing itself as the industry’s premier online introduction to performance analysis.
Comprising six modules, this course will equip you with a solid understanding of the performance analysis process and prepare you for the role of a performance analyst, providing a robust foundation for further expansion of your knowledge in this field.
Modules Include:
- What is Performance Analysis?
- The Evolution of Performance Analysis
- Performance Analysis vs. Data Analysis
- Organisation of an Analysis Department
- Technological Processes of Analysis
- Audiovisual Processes
- Introduction to Coding
- Introduction to Telestration
- Data Science and Statistics
- Reliability Testing
- Databasing
- Data Visualisation
- External Data Providers
- Metrics of Performance
- Performance Analysis Workflows
- Training Analysis
- Pre and Post-Match Analysis
- Live-Match Analysis
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the origins and evolution of performance analysis in sports.
- Define the role and responsibilities of a performance analyst in a sports organization.
- Familiarise themselves with the tools and techniques used by performance analysts in their day-to-day work.
- Explore various analysis software options available in the market and their specific applications.
- Learn the basics of coding, including creating and customizing templates for data collection and analysis.
- Discover the use of telestration in enhancing video analysis and communication of insights.
- Gain knowledge about various data types, metrics, and visualization techniques used in performance analysis.
- Comprehend the significance of performance metrics in evaluating players and teams.
- Develop efficient analysis workflows for pre-match, matchday, and post-match scenarios.
- Conduct in-depth opposition analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for tactical advantage.
- Apply data-driven insights to player recruitment workflows for informed decision-making during talent acquisition.
- Evaluate the advantages and limitations of technical data in performance analysis, and adopt a balanced approach to player assessment and development.
- Utilise ranking and benchmarking methods to compare and evaluate players based on performance metrics and potential.
What is performance analysis
Performance analysis is an emerging discipline in football. It uses data science and technological tools to evaluate the performance of players in an objective way. Although it relies primarily on quantitative data, performance analysis also draws on more qualitative methods, such as video analysis of tactics and formations.
The aim of performance analysis is to provide an overarching assessment of performance to help develop an understanding of actions that can inform the decision-making process. Analysis is undertaken to optimize performance, support the coaching process, improve player performance and help deliver tactical insights to help win football matches. Opposition analysis is based around the same principles but focusses on the identification of opposition strengths, weaknesses and tactical approach. Analysis is simply another extension to the coaching arm.
The PFSA Level Performance Analysis In Football course is 100% online and self-paced, meaning you can complete this course in your own time and at your own pace. Expect to spend 4-6 hours completing the course, with additional time spent on assessments and research.
Self-paced including online presentations and interactive tasks, multiple choice, short answer and matching questions, review exercises and private study.
The assessment for this course will consist of satisfactory completion of the online learning tasks and exercises.

"This is an excellent foundational performance analysis course that's packed full of insight, hints and tips. I'd highly recommend this course to anyone who's looking to broaden their football knowledge and take the next steps within their football journey"
Richard Bredice - Ex-Manchester City and Current Burnley FC 1st Team Analyst
Learn with Confidence: University-Endorsed Material
The PFSA Scouting and Analysis portfolio is officially endorsed by several Universities and we have certified most elite football clubs in the UK and overseas, we provide thousands of students with access to our full portfolio, including UCFB | GIS who have campuses across some of the worlds most iconic sporting venues including Wembley, Inter Miami, Red Bull Arena and Australias MCG to name a few. Meaning that you can be confident that our content is trusted and delivered by the experts!

