APP BOOSTS SPORTS SCIENCE

BY LONWABO MARELE

PHASEPLAY.IO, A MULTIFUNCTIONAL APP DEVELOPED BY UWC RUGBY COACH PAUL TREU, IS MAKING WAVES IN THE SPORTS SCIENCE SECTOR.

PHASEPLAY.IO has emerged as a game-changer in the sports science sector, facilitating data collection, communication and performance analysis for UWC rugby teams and Currie Cup teams.

IN THE EVER-EVOLVING WORLD of sports science and performance analysis, technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency of teams and athletes. PhasePlay.io, a multifunctional app developed by University of the Western Cape (UWC) rugby coach Paul Treu, is making waves in the sector. Not only is it gaining popularity among Currie Cup teams, it has become an invaluable tool for UWC teams, significantly streamlining their operations.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY CHALLENGES in sports science is collecting and managing extensive data, and sports scientist Jenna Morkel says PhasePlay.io has simplified data collection. Metrics such as the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) can be effortlessly collected and saved immediately after a training session, eliminating the need for manual data input, says Morkel.

PHASEPLAY.IO also facilitates communication within a team, and Morkel says daily training reports can be uploaded to a library that everyone can access. Additionally, athletes can interact with coaches by uploading their own training clips, fostering a collaborative and engaging environment. “Since the app started there have been some major additions,” says Morkel, video analyst for the SPAR Protea netball team. “The ones that stood out for me are the load monitoring of athletes, such as RPE data and wellness scores, and the uploading of footage. PhasePlay.io has so much more to offer. It is rapidly improving and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this muchneeded multifunctional app.”

PHYSIOTHERAPIST ROBYN PHILLIPS, who has used PhasePlay.io with UWC teams for the past three seasons, highlights its impact on streamlining communication among coaches, strength and conditioning specialists, as well as physiotherapists.

Phillips says it was difficult to find an app that could handle various functions seamlessly while remaining cost-effective. PhasePlay.io addresses this challenge by providing an integrated platform that caters to the diverse needs of sports professionals, and she says it simplifies administrative aspects of her role.

THE APP ALLOWS her to schedule appointments, upload data and record notes on player injuries. This integrated approach not only benefits the physiotherapy team but ensures coaching staff remain informed about each athlete’s condition, improving team management.

“THE MAIN CONCERN for any physio is how am I going to do admin, report to coaches and schedule appointments for the athletes,” says Phillips. “PhasePlay.io has integrated all those roles into one. There is a medical sheet where a player can be loaded, and their notes can be written to help keep up to date with who is injured as well as the coaching staff seeing where each athlete is in the system.”

ILONA PHILANDER, the wellness manager at Sports Skills for Life Skills, emphasises PhasePlay.io’s role in monitoring player treatments and prioritising recovery sessions. “The app also allows for players to be aware of where they are at,” she says. “That can improve the way they prepare for training, prepare for matches, and allow for optimal performance. And in this instance, allow for them to be exposed to healthcare professionals who could prepare them for the professional set-up.”

PHASEPLAY.IO HAS EMERGED AS A GAMECHANGER in the sports science sector, facilitating data collection, communication and performance analysis for UWC rugby teams and Currie Cup teams. The app’s multifunctionality and costeffectiveness have made it an indispensable tool for sports professionals, allowing them to focus on what matters most – achieving peak performance and player wellbeing. As the app continues to evolve and improve, its future in the world of sports science looks promising.