​Maties Sport recognises the importance and value of using technology in the training of high-performance (HP) student-athletes and it appointed Christine Barnard, an up-and-coming sport scientist and technologist, to provide administrative support to the Maties Sport HP Unit.

“This includes administrative support, assistance with sport technology, as well as strength and conditioning training," she explains.

“The main chunk of my administrative responsibilities includes monitoring the PACER* programme and keeping track of the HP sport codes' progress throughout the year. I also manage the HP student-athlete database. I am currently assisting with strength and conditioning for Maties Cycling and Maties Netball, as well as doing the video analysis work for the sport technology unit and assisting Grant (van Velden, Sport Technology and Training Innovations Manager) with other tech work as required."

Christine loves her job. “I am continuously learning and being challenged. I hope that by working hard behind the scenes I can make a difference to the various sport teams, management and coaches of Maties Sport."

She is a Stellenbosch University (SU) alumna – she earned both her undergraduate degree in Sport Science with Psychology and her postgraduate BSc Honours degree in Performance Sport at SU. She is also a keen sportswomen who plays tennis, does mountain-biking and played hockey at school and club level.

“I enjoy any physical game that has a competitive edge to it," she says.

This could explain why she was drawn to pursuing a career in sport technology and performance analysis, using tools such as GPS, speed and heart-rate monitoring systems together with video footage to optimise athletes' performance. In 2017, Christine became the first female sport technologist to travel with a high-performance Maties Sport team (hockey) to the USSA tournament.

“I have always been interested in data and what it means. Sport technology gives coaches and management a way to objectively collect data from their athletes. With technology being so dynamic, there is always something new to learn which keeps it challenging and interesting," she says.

Christine believes sport technology has a valuable role to play in sport, specifically in the tertiary sport environment.

“At University, the use of technology not only allows us to measure performance, but also to monitor the training load placed on student-athletes. It gives the athletes the opportunity to engage with data and view the sport in a more tactical and technical way."

There aren't many women in the field of sport technology. “I have, however, had the privilege to learn a lot from Dr Michele van Rooyen, a lecturer at the UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), who is a world-class performance analyst."

Christine has registered for a Master's degree in Sport Science at SU and wants to pursue a career in Performance Analysis.

*PACER is an acronym for Persistence, Authenticity, Commitment, Empathy and Resilience.