Peter O’Donoghue

The reliability of ProZone MatchViewer: a video-based technical performance analysis system

The aim of the present study was to determine the inter-observer reliability of ProZone’s MatchViewer system. Two groups of trained observers independently analysed an English FA Premier League soccer match. In total, 2552 events were recorded by both observers with 12 events being recorded only by the first observer and 37 events being recorded only by the second observer. The mean absolute error of event time was 0.007 s with very good strengths of inter-observer agreement found for event type (κ = 0.990), player (κ = 0.995) and second player involved in the event (κ = 0.979). The mean absolute error in pitch location of event was 3.6 m with the location of 95% of events being agreed by the two observers to within 8.5 m. The results suggest that ProZone’s MatchViewer system is reliable when operated by observers that have undergone the recommended quantity of end-user training.

Reliability Issues in Performance Analysis

There are beliefs that have come to be accepted by many in performance analysis. This paper challenges some of these beliefs. The presence of precise operational definitions does not guarantee good reliability nor does their absence guarantee poor reliability. Intra-operator reliability studies cannot show a system to be objective. Some reliability statistics give values considered to reflect good reliability even when observations are not even looking at the same match! The value of a reliability statistic considered to be acceptable needs to be justified. Limited reliability can introduce variability into data that reduces the chance of finding a significant difference. Reliability is at least as important when performance analysis is used in coaching and judging contexts as when it is used for academic research. There is a trade off between reliability and the precision of measurement.

Performance indicators that distinguish winning and losing teams in basketball

To prepare a team for basketball games, to build up the best tactics, to make good decisions during a game, coaches need to know which elements of matches are the most crucial ones. Especially at close games where there is small difference between the performances of two teams. The main purpose of this study was to identify those critical performance indicators that most distinguish between winning and losing performances within matches. The statistical analysis of basketball games can lead to the identification of many significant performance indicators, not all of which can be analysed in real time. Therefore, a smaller subset of critical performance indicators can be identified by analysing close matches only. Data from 54 matches were gathered from the official score sheets of the European Basketball Championship 2007. Cluster analysis was used to classify the matches into three types such as tight games, balanced games and unbalanced games. There were 28 of these matches that were close matches where the differences between the two teams were 9 points or less. Wilcoxon signed ranks tests were used to compare 18 performance indicators between the winning and losing teams within each type of match. There were 13 significant performance indicators for the full set of matches. This was reduced to 6 critical performance indicators when only the close matches were considered. The analysis of tight matches explored that the winning teams had significantly less 3 point attempts (p<0.05) with higher shooting percentage (p<0.01). The number of successful free throws (p<0.01), the free throw percentage (p<0.001) and the number of defensive rebounds (p<0.01) also contributed to achieve a higher number of scored points and consequently determined success.

A case study into the effectiveness of computerised match analysis and motivational videos within the coaching of a league netball team

The purpose of the current investigation was to study the effectiveness of match analysis within the coaching process. A match analysis process used by a university netball team was monitored over 4 months with performances in 8 matches being evaluated. The match analysis process involved providing motivational videos to the team and providing the coach with quantitative match statistics and related video sequences of areas for improvement. Field notes were made during the 7 match-to-match cycles regarding the extent to which the match analysis process identified areas of performance requiring attention, whether these were addressed during squad training and whether there were improvements in these areas in subsequent matches. The 12 players of the squad completed a questionnaire about their views of the motivational videos, the open responses of which were analysed using qualitative techniques. The field notes revealed evidence that providing match analysis support was beneficial to the coach’s decision making. The questionnaire survey revealed that the players found the motivational videos helped to increase their understanding of their performance, increase self confidence and team confidence and motivate players for forthcoming matches. However, the players also stated that watching motivational videos should not interfere with warm up for matches.

Activity profile during action time in national silat competition

The requirement and prescription of training programmes for sport requires an understanding of the physiological re quirements of the match. Various forms of time motion analyses have been used widely to estimate the nature of specific intermittent high intensity and low intensity activities as they relate to the energy requirements of team sports [1,2,3]. Previous research notated the technique used in defensive and offensive movements such as in mixed-martial arts [4], boxing [5] and Muay Thai [6]. However, there is no research that specifically describes the activity involved in silat that specifically describes the activity that contributes to the physiological demands of this combat sport. The nature of work periods within any combat sports depends on the frequency, volume and type of the activity being performed. The distribution of fight time and break time has been determined in international silat competition in the previous research [7], which indicated that 62.6% of the match is spent in fight time. In addition, a single match contains 30.0 mean action periods with on average 15.3 s being performed with break periods averaging 8.4 s. The work to rest ratio of 2:1 in silat might be misinterpreted if people count the action periods performed in silat in the same way as work periods in field games and racket sports are interpreted. The nature of “purposeful movement” in team games [8], rallies in racket sports [9] and action periods in martial arts are very different. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to describe the detail activity that occurs during the fight time of a silat match, especially the profile of technical events.

Score-line effect on work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer

This paper investigates the effect of score-line on work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer. Player movement data from 110 matches where a goal was scored between 15 minutes and the end of the first half were captured by the ProzoneTM player tracking system. The number of V-cut path changes performed per minute declined more after the first goal in matches that were won by one of the sides than in drawn matches (p < 0.017). V-cut path changes involve players changing direction more than 135° to the left or the right. There was also a significant interaction of match type (won, drawn or lost by the team scoring first), period of the match (before and after the first goal), venue and the relative quality of the teams on the total number of path changes performed (p < 0.05). Players from the scoring and conceding teams spent significantly less time in the middle third of the pitch after the first goal then before (p < 0.017). This suggests that variability in work-rate is influenced by a combination of factors. The results suggest that the first goal has an influence on teams’ tactics and work-rate. However, the study did not find any differences in work-rate between teams achieving different outcomes having scored first.

Addressing turning and direction changes when using the Bloomfield Movement Classification

The Bloomfield Movement Classification (BMC) allows speed agility quickness requirements as well as injury risk of activity in team games to be characterised. A limitation of previous applications of the BMC is that frequencies of movement types can be over-estimated while duration of movement instances can be under-estimated. This is because a movement instance composed of segments performed in different directions and / or turning activity will be presented as separate movement instances even if the same locomotive movement type is being performed. The current paper proposes a method of processing data captured using the BMC to address this. The method not only recognises movement instances composed of multiple segments but also allows movements to be characterised by the number of turns and direction changes performed within the movement instances. The netball movement data used in the current investigation has limited reliability and the results should only be considered in the knowledge that reliability is limited. However, the way in which the results are presented here are a good example of how the BMC can be used in future investigations of movement in different sports where a greater level of reliability is achieved.

Perceptions of Psychological Momentum of Elite Soccer Players

The purpose of this research was to investigate elite soccer players’ perceptions and experiences of psychological momentum (PM) using a mixed methodological approach. Specifically, by comparing responses, the study aimed to provide coaches with a more appropriate method for collecting PM data. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 10 English Academy, elite male soccer players. In addition, 75 professional male soccer players completed a 49-item measure about their experiences of PM. Interviews and focus groups were manually analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches with Chi-square tests used to assess differences between responses to the PM measure. The majority of questionnaire responses were supported by themes highlighted by players interviewed. Scoring and conceding goals were the most frequently reported match variables associated with positive and negative PM, respectively. In addition, “feeling confident”, “having a positive attitude” and “being cohesive as a team” were important aspects of positive PM. A “perceived lack of ability” and “feeling anxious” were the most frequently reported experiences of negative PM. The similarity of results from both methods support the measure as a useful tool for coaches to collect data pertaining to players’ experiences and perceptions of PM. Overall, findings suggest that PM is a complex (dynamic) process whereby triggers, characteristics, and consequences can hardly be separated. By understanding players’ experiences and perceptions of PM, coaches may incorporate specific training methods to help players maximise positive PM, reduce negative PM as well as develop strategies to optimise PM.

The effect of dismissals on work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer

The current paper studies the effect of dismissals on work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer. The study included 28 matches where a team had a player dismissed while they were winning by a single goal or the score was level. Two types of match were compared; matches where the team reduced to 10 players maintained the drawing or winning score-line until the end of the match and matches where they failed to do so. Similar reductions in work-rate variables were observed for teams reduced to 10 players and for their opponents after the dismissal irrespective of the outcome of the match. A significant interaction effect of team (the team reduced to 10 players v the team that played with 11 players throughout the match), match period (before v after the dismissal) and type of match was found on the percentage of time spent in the defending and attacking thirds (p < 0.05). The teams reduced to 10 players tended to spend more time in the defending third and less time in the attacking third after the dismissal. This pattern was observed to a greater extent in matches where the 10 players successfully maintained or improved the score between the dismissal and the end of the match. This suggests that outnumbered teams played strategically to defend the match status, rationing their efforts after the dismissal.

Opposition interaction in creating penetration during match play in elite soccer: evidence from UEFA champions league matches

Abstract The aim of this study is to compare how penetrations were created between the Finalists and Non-finalists by assessing opposition interaction in elite soccer. Sample included data from 12 matches played from the round of 16 to the final of the UEFA Champions League season 2010/2011. Differences in creating dangerous penetrations were found only after controlling for the effects of opponent’s defensive balance. Three way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the interaction of team status and opponent’s defensive balance had a meaningful effect on the percentage of penetrative ball actions into dangerous spaces (F2,20 = 2.9, p = 0.076, partial η2 = 0.227). Finalists performed a higher percentage of dangerous penetrative ball actions per match than Non-finalists when playing against an imbalanced defence (89.2 ± 14.0 vs. 77.6 ± 13.6), while Non-finalists performed a higher percentage when playing against balanced (25.8 ± 10.7 vs. 16.1 ± 12.5) and beginning imbalanced (32.8 ± 10.9 vs. 29.1 ± 9.2) defences. Results suggest that effective exploitation of spaces within and behind the last line of opponent’s defence is an important determinant of successful offensive performance in soccer. The assessment of opposition interaction is of critical importance when analysing elite soccer performance.