Multivariate Analysis of the Offensive Phase in High-Performance Women’s Soccer: A Mixed Methods Study

Antonio Ardá,José L Losada,Rubén Maneiro,Iyán Iván-Baragaño

doi:10.3390/su13116379

Abstract

Currently, there are still few studies on the tactical and contextual criteria that determine offensive success in women’s soccer. The objectives of this study were to discover contextual and tactical criteria that show an association with success in elite women’s soccer and to establish a multivariate predictive model for the offensive phase. For this, 2323 ball possessions were analyzed in FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 via direct observation. In addition, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with women’s soccer coaches and players. For direct observation, a bivariate analysis between the analysed criteria and possession’s outcome was suggested. Additionally, a multivariate predictive analysis was proposed via a decision tree method. To analyze the interviews, a sequential analysis of delays and polar coordinates analysis were carried out. It was established a multi-variant model of offensive success based on possession zone (middle offensive), initial offensive intention (progress) and start zone (preoffensive or offensive) criteria. The probability of offensive success was 75.2% interactively between those criteria. In addition, the analysis of the interviews allowed us to conclude that criteria related to technical–tactical performance, decision-making and physical capacities of the players will be decisive in increasing the probabilities of success.

Highlights

A total of 2323 actions were analysed in 16 matches. This produced an average value of 145.2 actions per match, very close to the 147.66 actions observed by Jones et al [12] in the English Premier League or the 135 observed by Barreira et al [20] when they analysed the matches of the four semi-finalists in the FIFA World Cup 2010
According to the results obtained in the current research, it can be concluded that the greatest probability of finishing ball possession successfully in women’s soccer occurs when: (i) most of the possession time takes place in the opponent’s half, (ii) there is an initial offensive intention to progress quickly towards the rival goal once possession of the ball has been recovered and (iii) the start zone of the possession is pre-offensive or offensive
Based on the analysis carried out on the transcripts of the interviews with coaches and players, criteria related to technical–tactical performance, decision-making and physical capacities of the players will be decisive in increasing the probabilities of success

Summary

Introduction

Soccer is the most played sport in the world. For this reason, it is the sport that has awakened the most interest in the field of research [1]. It is only since the beginning of this century that scientific publications about women’s soccer have begun to increase [2]. This lack of publication has conditioned the sporting development of this modality, forcing trainers and researchers to resort to using the results taken from the male equivalent, despite the differences in the development of the game between the two sexes [2,3]

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Discussion

Conclusion