EIoU-distance loss: an automated team-wise player detection and tracking with jersey colour recognition in soccer

Abstract

The surge in demand for advanced operations in sports video analysis has underscored the crucial role of multiple object tracking. This study addresses the escalating need for efficient and accurate player and referee identification in sports video analysis. The challenge of identity switching among players, especially those with similar appearances, complicates multi-player tracking. Existing algorithms relying on manually labeled data face limitations, particularly with changes in jersey colors. This paper introduces an automated algorithm employing Intersection over Union (IoU) loss and Euclidean Distance (EUD), termed EIoU-Distance Loss, to track players and referees. The method prioritizes identity coherence, aiming to mitigate challenges associated with player and referee recognition. Comprising BackgroundSubtractionMOG2 for player and referee detection and IoU with EUD for connecting nodes across frames, the proposed approach enhances tracking performance, ensuring a clear distinction between different identities. This innovative method addresses critical issues in sports video analysis, offering a robust solution for tracking players and referees in dynamic game scenarios.