ABSTRACT
Notational analysis in sport is used to investigate teams’ and players’ performance across different sports. Research in this area, especially when focussing on the determinants of success, has grown rapidly in the last few years. During this time, the role of a new concept, ‘situational variables’, has emerged. This term includes the different game/situational conditions that may influence performance at a behavioural level. These situational variables need to be analysed in depth to understand their influence in team sports. In order to do so, we have included the main situational conditions that may affect the team’s or player’s performance. These are game location, match status, quality of opposition, game quarter or game period and type of competition. We also address the importance of a combination of these situational variables and their interactive effects. Finally, we suggest directions for further research within this topic and how improved knowledge of situational variables can be used to refine the impact of notational analysis on sports performance.
