Abstract
Principal components analysis is a data reduction technique that can be used within the process of identifying key performance indicators for sports analysis systems, especially real-time systems. The smaller set of critical performance indicators is associated with action variables that it is possible to enter into a match analysis system in real-time. A further possible application of principal components analysis is to identify higher order performance indicators based on combinations of related performance indicators. These higher order performance indicators allow the feedback provided to players to be more concise avoiding the presentation of redundant information.