Match Analysis in 2020

Abstract

Match analysis of team and racket sports, whether in competition, for opponent preparation, match plan, follow-up, or training (e.g., game philosophy), is nowadays indispensable in many sports at different levels (Memmert & Raabe, 2018; Memmert, Lemmink, & Sampaio, 2017). Four major occupational fields of application (clubs/associations, economics, science, and media) have emerged. This has created an entirely new market, “Sports Analytics”. In recent years, the ever-growing body of knowledge has given rise to summarizing works on video data (“Notational analysis”) and additional new raw data types like event data and position data. In Chapter 1, “Match Analysis in 2020”, a classification of these data types is given by outlining in detail their similarities and differences. It becomes clear that a variety of characteristics such as data material, availability, format, size, cost, objectivity (data collection, analysis), required expertise, or time can characterize video, event, and position data. Different perspectives of modern match analysis are discussed, as well as its limitations. Due to the ever-increasing importance of match analysis, more experimental approaches are now possible next to the development of further substantial performance indicators. They will establish and develop new theories and frameworks. This will lead to Match Analysis, 2020.