Abstract
The ecological dynamics approach to interpersonal relationships provides theoretical support to the use of kinematic data, obtained with sensor-based systems, in which players of a team are linked mainly by information from the performance environment. Our goal was to capture the properties of synergic behavior in football, using spatiotemporal data from one match of the 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA, to explore the application of player-ball-goal angles in cluster phase analysis. Linear mixed effects models were used to test the statistical significance of different effects, such as: team, half(-time), role and pitch zones. Results showed that the cluster phase values (synchronization) for the home team, had a increase with respect to the away team () and that changing the role from with ball to without ball increased synchronization by (). The interaction between effects was also significant. The player-team relative phase, the player-ball-goal angles relative frequency and the team configurations, showed that variations of synchronization might indicate critical performance changes (ball possession changes, goals scored, etc.). This study captured the ongoing player-environment link and the properties of team synergic behavior, supporting the use of sensor-based data computations in the development of relevant indicators for tactical analysis in sports.
Highlights
The results of this study showed a high connection between players and the performance environment
Introducing the player-ball-goal angles (PBGA) in cluster phase analysis (CPA) enabled the direct measurement of the player–environment link, as the measures were directly influenced by the positioning of players in relation to key ecological variables
It allowed the properties of team synergic behavior to be captured coherently using the synchrony measures
Summary
The use of electronic performance-tracking systems to obtain spatiotemporal data in association football (football, for simplicity) is becoming a generalized practice for performance analysis. These systems include global positioning systems, radio-based local positioning systems and video. Optical-based camera systems have the advantage of being non-invasive to players, using multicamera units and monocular systems around the pitch. These systems are able to provide high rate and high spatial resolution data from the position of the players and the ball, opening a door for the increasing development of football analytics [1,4]. Football clubs and national teams are increasingly investing in sports analytics departments, specialized in processing the data, computing compound variables and performance indicators, and visually presenting them to coaches, players and others
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