María Teresa Anguera

Identifying and analyzing motor skill responses in body movement and dance.

The present article analyzes the diversity of motor skills related to three different kinds of instructions: descriptive, metaphoric, and kinesic, with a special emphasis on the detection of temporal patterns (T-patterns). Twelve undergraduates studying sport and physical education, but without experience in dance, were observed during 24 lessons of Body Movement, a discipline based on creative dance, mime dance, and motor skill improvisation. Using observational methodology and technology applied to movement, the aim of this article was to adapt the Observational instrument of Motor Skills (OSMOS) (Castañer, Torrents, Anguera, & Dinušová, 2008) so as to create an instrument capable of analyzing the motor skill responses generated in lessons of Body Movement and Dance. The results, as reflected by the T-patterns detected, show that (1) participants try to generate their own motor skills but copy some fundamental components of the instructions, and (2) the criterion of stability in two configurations (support and axial) is the predominant category. Sequential and coordinated locomotion also appears to be very relevant.

Ball recovery patterns as a performance indicator in elite soccer

In soccer, it seems relevant to understand the relationship between the ball recovering and the subsequent success or failure of attacking play. However, few studies have considered the links between the type of ball recovery in different pitch zones, the competition stages and the overall teams success. The present study aims to analyze the attacks (n = 1619) carried out by the semi-finalist teams in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in order to explore ball recovery patterns as a performance indicator. SoccerEye observational instrument, SoccerEye recording software, Sequential Data Interchange Standard-Generalized Sequential Querier (SDIS-GSEQ) and SPSS analytic software—one-way analysis of variance, two-way analysis of variance and regressions—were applied. Direct ball recovery, in specific by interception and defensive behavior followed by a pass, was the mostly frequent behavior, with the later inducing attacking play efficacy (p<0.017). Differences were detected between the group and play-off stages with regard to the types of direct ball recoveries. The ball was most often regained in defensive and mid-defensive central zones, evidencing differences to all other pitch zones (p≤0.001). Throw-ins were the only type of ball recovery that differentiated the semi-finalists, namely Germany and Spain (p<0.009). It was found that recovering directly the ball possession in mid-defensive central zones increases attacking efficacy. Consequently, coaches should consider this tactical determinant in order to organize the training process. Specifically, it is fundamental to improve the collective defensive organization protecting central strip zones and simultaneously performing high-pitched pressure to constrain the ball carrier.

Sequences of errors in the Judo throw Morote Seoi Nage and their relationship to the learning process

The aim of this study was to identify the most common technical errors, and their behavioural sequences, in the judo throw Morote Seoi Nage. Participants (n = 46; 29 men and 17 women) were physical education students who were systematically observed by means of video recordings taken over a period of five academic years. The results, derived from descriptive statistics and a sequential analysis of T-patterns obtained with the software package THEME v.5, showed that a sub-optimal knee bend produces a throw around the side rather than over and towards the front of the shoulder. Furthermore, an inadequate hip and trunk position, caused by prior incorrect placement of the left foot, leads to a failure of weight bearing, which itself is the cause of the side throw. As regards the teaching and learning of judo, these findings enable us to propose motor drills to correct the errors detected, and movement sequences that will ensure a successful throw. Recommendations are also made about the use of feedback.

A Gesture Recognition System for Detecting Behavioral Patterns of ADHD

We present an application of gesture recognition using an extension of dynamic time warping (DTW) to recognize behavioral patterns of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We propose an extension of DTW using one-class classifiers in order to be able to encode the variability of a gesture category, and thus, perform an alignment between a gesture sample and a gesture class. We model the set of gesture samples of a certain gesture category using either Gaussian mixture models or an approximation of convex hulls. Thus, we add a theoretical contribution to classical warping path in DTW by including local modeling of intraclass gesture variability. This methodology is applied in a clinical context, detecting a group of ADHD behavioral patterns defined by experts in psychology/psychiatry, to provide support to clinicians in the diagnose procedure. The proposed methodology is tested on a novel multimodal dataset (RGB plus depth) of ADHD children recordings with behavioral patterns. We obtain satisfying results when compared to standard state-of-the-art approaches in the DTW context.

Detection and Selection of Behavioral Patterns Using Theme: A Concrete Example in Grassroots Soccer

Observational methodology provides a rigorous yet flexible framework for capturing behaviors over time to allow for the performance of subsequent diachronic analyses of the data captured. Theme is a specialized software program that detects hidden temporal behavioral patterns (T-patterns) within data sets. It is increasingly being used to analyze performance in soccer and other sports. The aim of this study was to show how to select and interpret T-patterns generated by the application of three “quantitative” sort options in Theme and three “qualitative” filters established by the researchers. These will be used to investigate whether 7-a-side (F7) or 8-a-side (F8) soccer is best suited to the learning and skills development needs of 7- and 8-year-old male soccer players. The information contained in the T-patterns generated allowed us to characterize patterns of play in children in this age group. For both formats, we detected technical-tactical behaviors showing that children of this age have difficulty with first-touch actions and controlling the ball after a throw-in. We also found that ball control followed by a pass or a shot at the goal are common in the central corridor of the pitch. Further, depth of play is achieved by ball control, followed by dribbling and a pass or shot. In F8, we saw that depth of play was achieved through ball control, followed by dribbling and passing of one or more opponents leading to a pass or shot. However, in F7, we saw that players succeeded in advancing from their goal area to the rival goal area through a sequence of actions.

OC11 Tactical Analysis Of Three Top Level European Football Teams Counterattack — A Mixed Method Approach

This study aimed to detect and analyse regular patterns of play in the counterattack of football teams, through the combination of the sequential analysis technique and interviews to first League Portuguese coaches. A mixed method design (QUAL/QUAL) was used. In a first stage 36 games (12 per team) of the Barcelona (BA), Inter Milan (IM) and Manchester United (MU) teams were encoded using the observational instrument developed by Sarmento et al. (2010), and the data analysed trough the SDIS-GSEQ software. Based on the detected patterns, semi-structured interviews were carried out to 8 expert high-performance football coaches and data were analysed through the content analysis technique (Nvivo9). In total, 245 counterattack sequences were observed. The MU performed significantly more counterattacks (X2(2) = 36.8; p = 0.00). The analysis of the results concerning the start of the offensive process (OP) through ball recovery possession by the goalkeeper has allowed to verify that there is a similar tendency in the MU and BA teams, that developed these sequences through the central (Z ≥1.96) and right side zones of the defensive midfielder, by the execution (MU) of the forward pass (Z = 2.00), or technical actions (BA) such as dribble (Z = 2.47) and conduction of the ball (Z = 2.71). In BA team, the shot with goal scored is activated by the crossing (Z = 2.82) and by the high (Z = 3.05) diagonal pass. Contrary to what happens with the other teams, the goal tends to be activated by the zones 8 and 11. Through the performed content analysis we could observe that coaches interpret these play patterns based their opinions, mainly, in tactical-strategic and tactical-technical aspects, and in the characteristics of the players on those teams. The potential in the combination of these types of analysis are evident because it allows detecting and analysing regular patterns of play which assume a practical application to coaches, but also because the content analysis which resulted from the interviews, has allowed complementing this approach with the know-how of the experts in the field.