The NSW Swifts' determined mid-court dynamo, Paige Hadley, leads the charge in the physical performance metrics – a reflection of her hard work, smart play, and consistent effort in every training session.
As Adam Wylie, the Swifts’ sport scientist, observes, "Paige is a classic example of a player who gives her all, not only in her tactical game but also in her physical performance."
Wylie, who has previously worked at the NSW Waratahs and NSW Women’s State of Origin Team, highlights that his main role revolves around tracking player performance and maintaining their overall wellness, including monitoring their sleep.
"My main responsibilities are our GPS loading – so looking at how far the girls travel, how hard they work on court, and those sorts of things, and then looking at their wellness," he explains.
To collect data on these performance metrics, Wylie relies on advanced technology like Catapult GPS units. "Each player has a GPS unit assigned to them, which they wear during training. This allows us to monitor how they move on court and how hard they’re pushing during each session."
Wylie also conducts a variety of tests, including force plates to measure jump height and speed gates to track how fast the players move over five and ten metres. "We also assess their change of direction ability, which is crucial in netball."
While the entire team works hard, Wylie points out that the mid-court players – including Hadley – are consistently the top performers. "Our mid-court girls are usually the highest performers, especially in terms of how much ground they cover and how quickly they move. Paige is a standout for her work ethic, and younger players like Lili Gorman-Brown also cover a lot of ground in sessions."
But it’s not all about physical performance. As the Swifts Sports Scientist, Wylie also focuses on player wellness, tracking sleep, soreness, motivation to train, and any markers that may affect their ability to perform. "I monitor wellness in terms of sleep duration and quality, as well as any soreness or fatigue," he says. "If there are any concerns, it becomes a discussion between myself, strength and conditioning, and the physio team to ensure we’re addressing any issues early."
One area that Wylie places particular emphasis on is sleep. "There is a lot of research about the importance of sleep, especially when it comes to performance," Wylie explains. "We track sleep carefully because there’s a clear correlation between good sleep and better performance."
For the Swifts, the goal is to ensure players get at least eight hours of sleep, with the ideal being even longer. "We also use tactics like sleep mapping, which helps players prepare their bodies for optimal performance before games."
Wylie points to research in other sports, particularly basketball, where players who sleep for 10+ hours or nap before a game tend to see significant improvements in performance – including higher free throw shooting percentages.
To collect all this valuable data, Wylie uses a program that allows players to self-report their wellness every day by 10am. "The program helps us track trends over time, so we can spot any significant changes in wellness or performance that need attention," he says.
As Wylie continues to support the Swifts behind the scenes, his expertise in sport science plays a critical role in ensuring the team operates at the highest levels of performance. From GPS data and testing to sleep tracking, his work helps maximise the players' potential, keeping them physically prepared and mentally sharp as they pursue their goal of an eighth premiership.
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