Corner Kicks Research Articles

On the time of corner kicks in soccer: an analysis of event history data

On the time of corner kicks in soccer: an analysis of event history data

Home-Field Advantage in Soccer: UEFA Champions League and Europa League Evaluation on the 2021-2022 Season

Competition analysis in football is an important method to evaluate the success and failure of teams. Home advantage is considered as an important factor in achieving success in competitions. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of home advantage on technical criteria in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, which are organised at club level, played in the 2021-2022 season. In the data collection phase, descriptive survey method was used. Within the scope of the research, a total of 262 football matches, excluding the final matches played at neutral grounds and total of 744 goals scored in these matches were analysed in terms of home and away teams in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. The goals scored were categorised as the goal minutes intervals, the goal scoring areas (Inside the Penalty Area: IPA; Outside the Penalty Area: OPA), the ways goals were scored (Head Kick; Foot Kick), the number of touches on the ball before the goal (1 Touch: 1T; 2 Touches: 2T; 3 Touches: 3T; 4 Touches + >4T), the direction of attack before the goal and the goals scored from set-pieces (Corner Kick; Penalty Kick and Free Kick) for the home and away teams. The images of the analysed goals were accessed on the UEFA official website with open access permission. Frequency (f) and percentage (%) were calculated for the evaluation of the data obtained, and since the data did not show normal distribution according to the Shapiro-Wilk test results, Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to look at the difference between the groups and the significance level was accepted as p

Analysis of attacking corner kick strategies in the Chinese Women’s Super League 2019

To determine the effective attacking patterns of corner kicks in women’s football, this study used associate rule to analyse the corner kicks in the Chinese Women’s Super League 2019. A total of 343 corner kicks from 56 matches were studied to examine the effective characteristics of corner kicks and strategies of strong and weak teams using associate rule analysis. In total, 17 goals were scored via corner kicks, accounting for 9.4% of the total goals (180) of the Women’s Super League in 2019. The result of associate rule analysis showed that the pattern of indirect, outside the box and eight attackers was more likely to create shots when a strong team (top 4 teams) faced a weak team (bottom 4 teams; Lift: 2.9). When a weak team faced a strong team, it was easier to create a shot by delivering the corner kick through an outswing ball directly to the near post (Lift: 6.091). These findings can help coaches to understand the key successful patterns of corner kicks in women’s football and choose a more effective attacking strategy of corner kicks according to the quality of both teams.

Understanding the visual search strategies of expert and novice coaches in futsal set pieces.

This study aimed to describe the fixation location and the time of the longer fixation of expert and novice futsal coaches before the ball was in play in futsal set pieces. A total of 10 experts (ages 48 ± 5) and 10 novice coaches (ages 40 ± 7) participated in the study. They observed that 38 video clips were created to mimic the attack and defensive set-piece moments of the game. Data were collected in a standardized video analysis task using the pupil invisible eye tracker and processed through the pupil cloud platform. The Mann-Whitney test was conducted to evaluate differences in gaze duration between game moments (attack and defense set pieces) and groups (expert vs. novice). Gaze duration was also compared for gaze location between groups. For further comparisons, the game moments (attack and defense set pieces) and the gaze location were summarized in two-dimensional graphics using correspondence analysis. The results revealed higher values of gaze duration for attack and defense set pieces for the group of experts than for novices. When considering gaze duration, expert coaches had higher values than novices for the attacker 3, defender 3, barrier 1st, and barrier 2nd gaze locations. The correspondence analysis showed different strategies of visual search and, consequently, gaze locations for attack and defense set pieces. In particular, there was different correspondence for free kicks between the level of expertise and gaze location, while corner and sideline kicks revealed some correspondence between the groups and the gaze location. In free kicks, coaches should be particularly concerned about the relationship between attacker and defender three and the barrier 1st and 2nd line positions. In corner and sideline kicks, coaches should be particularly aware of the relationship between attackers' and defenders' positions.

Zones where corner kicks are most effective in the penalty box: Is there a sweet spot?

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of corner kicks, analyze the goal patterns resulting from corner kicks, and develop a model for the implementation of optimal corner kick strategies. The study used a descriptive retrospective design, and the data consisted of 455.898 corner kicks from matches played by 768 teams in 33 different leagues and an international tournament (UEFA). Six different models based on logistic regression were developed and analyzed. The results showed that more goals were scored from certain zones (1c, 2b, and 2c) inside the penalty area than from others ( p < 0.001). According to logistic regression, zones 1c and 2c increased the probability of scoring a goal by 1.12 and 1.08 times, respectively, compared to other regions. In addition, it is noticeable that the probability of scoring from the zones varies considerably depending on the type of kick. Further results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between goals scored from in-swing and out-swing corners, but significant differences were found for the other types of corners. Finally, 3.1% of all corners resulted in goals, and 69% of those goals resulted in a draw or the team taking the lead in the match. For these reasons, it is important to develop new corner-kick strategies in order to score goals and win matches.

TacticAI: an AI assistant for football tactics

Identifying key patterns of tactics implemented by rival teams, and developing effective responses, lies at the heart of modern football. However, doing so algorithmically remains an open research challenge. To address this unmet need, we propose TacticAI, an AI football tactics assistant developed and evaluated in close collaboration with domain experts from Liverpool FC. We focus on analysing corner kicks, as they offer coaches the most direct opportunities for interventions and improvements. TacticAI incorporates both a predictive and a generative component, allowing the coaches to effectively sample and explore alternative player setups for each corner kick routine and to select those with the highest predicted likelihood of success. We validate TacticAI on a number of relevant benchmark tasks: predicting receivers and shot attempts and recommending player position adjustments. The utility of TacticAI is validated by a qualitative study conducted with football domain experts at Liverpool FC. We show that TacticAI’s model suggestions are not only indistinguishable from real tactics, but also favoured over existing tactics 90% of the time, and that TacticAI offers an effective corner kick retrieval system. TacticAI achieves these results despite the limited availability of gold-standard data, achieving data efficiency through geometric deep learning.

Corner Kick Characteristics: A Case Study of the 2020/21 Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) Premiership Season

ABSTRACT In the 2020/21 NIFL Premiership regular season, 12% (70) of goals scored came from corner kicks. However, the effectiveness of corner kicks at a club level ranged from 5% to 17.5%. Thus, individual coaches ability to create effective strategies to impact corner kick outcomes justifies investigation. The aim of this study was to describe how corner kicks were taken across the 2020/21 (NIFL) Premiership season, and to assess the effectiveness of offensive and defensive corner kick strategies. From 195 matches, 1988 corner kicks from video recordings were analysed, examining 18 corner kick outcome variables. Results were recorded using a hand notation observation instrument and data analysed through Microsoft Excel v16.59 and IBM SPSS v27. 70 goals were scored (3.5% of corners taken), accounting for 12% of goals scored (581). Defending team quality (p = 0.034), venue (p = 0.005), and path of ball (p = 0.002) significantly affected the likelihood of an attempt at goal. Most goals came from inswinging corners (80%) and were most likely (5.4%) to be scored when the ball was delivered into the central area of the 6-yard box (GA2). To better understand individual corner style and contextual factors, further research should focus at team level.

Automated Discovery of Successful Strategies in Association Football

Using automated data analysis to understand what makes a play successful in football can enable teams to make data-driven decisions that may enhance their performance throughout the season. Analyzing different types of plays (e.g., corner, penalty, free kicks) requires different considerations. This work focuses on the analysis of corner kick plays. However, the central ideas apply to analyzing all types of plays. While prior analyses (univariate, bivariate, multivariate) have explored the link between contextual factors (e.g., match period, type of defensive marking) and the level of success of a corner kick (e.g., shot, shot on goal, goal), there has been no attempt to combine spatiotemporal event data (sequences of ball movements through the field) and contextual information to determine when and how (strategy) a particular type of corner kick play (tactic) is more likely to succeed or not. To address this gap, we propose an approach that (1) transforms spatiotemporal data into an alternative representation suitable for mining sequential patterns, (2) identifies and characterizes the sequential patterns used by offensive teams to move the ball toward the scoring zone (tactics), and (3) extracts contrast patterns to identify under what conditions different tactics result in increased chances of success or failure; we call these conditions strategies. Our results suggest that favorable and unfavorable conditions for tactic application are not the same across different tactics, supporting the argument that there is a benefit in performing an analysis that treats different tactics separately, where spatiotemporal information plays a crucial role. Unlike prior works on the corner kick, our approach can capture how the interaction between multiple contextual factors impacts the outcome of a corner kick. At the same time, the results can be explained to others in natural languages.

Forecasting number of corner kicks taken in association football using compound Poisson distribution

This article presents a holistic compound Poisson regression model framework to forecast number of corner kicks taken in association football. Corner kick taken events are often decisive in the match outcome and inherently arrive in batch with serial clustering pattern. Providing parameter estimates with intuitive interpretation, a class of compound Poisson regression including a Bayesian implementation of geometric-Poisson distribution are introduced. With a varying shape parameter, the corner counts serial correlation between matches is handled naturally within the Bayesian model. In this study, information elicited from cross-market betting odds was used to improve the model predictability. Margin application methods to adjust market inefficiency in raw odds are also discussed.

Risk-taking, loss aversion, and performance feedback in dynamic and heterogeneous tournaments.

Within the context of professional football, we examined the impact of the interim game state on risk-taking and performance during a dynamic tournament. This study used 9,256 segments from the top five European football leagues as samples. These segments were derived from 1,826 games played during the 2017-2018 season. Poisson regression was employed to analyze the distinct effects of game state and heterogeneity on performance under pressure. The results indicated that stronger teams tended to increase their attack intensity when facing weaker opponents. However, as their lead expanded, they tended to reduce their attack intensity, particularly in matches with heterogeneous characteristics. Moreover, teams trailing in scores tended to intensify their attacks but achieved little. However, leading teams consistently underperformed in terms of blocked shots and corner kicks. Additionally, tied teams systematically exhibited lower performance in shots on target and free kicks compared to leading teams, despite having a higher motivation to excel. These findings extend our understanding of how risk-taking and performance depend on disclosing information regarding relative performance.

Constructing an offensive situations to measure the tactical behavior in corner kick of futsal players using virtual reality technology

Constructing an offensive situations to measure the tactical behavior in corner kick of futsal players using virtual reality technology

MODEL INDICATORS OF EXECUTION OF STANDARD POSITIONS IN THE ATTACK ZONE, THEIR DYNAMICS AND IMPACT ON THE FINAL RESULT IN THE GAMES OF THE 2022 FOOTBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN QATAR

Successful execution of a standard position near the opponent's goal is a prerequisite for the real completion of the team's offensive actions. Such provisions include: kick-off, penalty kick, free kick, corner kick, eleven-meter kick and throw-in from the sideline, goal kick and, relatively rarely, the draw of a contested ball. Skillfully prepared and suddenly performed ball draws from standard positions are a potential opportunity to realize the gained advantage.

Analysis of corner kicks in FIFA 2022 world cup-Qatar

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7973450 Abstract: This study aimed to analyze corner kicks taken in the matches played in the FIFA world cup 2022-Qatar to provide information to coaches on how to score goals from corner kicks, and the most important tactics used in the implementation of corner kicks, whether in an offensive or defensive situation, and place them in their training programs. The descriptive method in its survey form through scientific observation was used, the researchers used many parameters to analyze data (direction in which corners were taken, the time interval in which the corners were taken, the region where the ball kicked in, the player whom the ball met in the penalty area, which part of the body contacted the ball, corner kicks result, how goals are scored from the corner kicks. (554) corner kicks in (64)matches were analyzed in FIFA world cup 2022,the results showed that (283) corners were taken from right side percentage (51.2%)and (271) percentage (49.8%) from left side, the most interval time corner kicks were taken between (76-90+) from the match( 147) corners, percentage(26.5%),the defenders were the most players met the ball in the penalty area (296) percentage (53.4%) and the head was the most part contacted the ball (341) with percentage (67.5%),ten (10)goals were scored from the corner kicks with percentage of (1.8%)and (4) scored by head and (6 )scored by foot.

MODEL INDICATORS OF EXECUTION OF STANDARD POSITIONS IN THE ATTACK ZONE, THEIR DYNAMICS AND IMPACT ON THE FINAL RESULT IN THE GAMES OF THE 2022 FOOTBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN QATAR

Successful execution of a standard position near the opponent's goal is a prerequisite for the real completion of the team's offensive actions. Such provisions include: kick-off, penalty kick, free kick, corner kick, eleven-meter kick and throw-in from the sideline, goal kick and, relatively rarely, the draw of a contested ball. Skillfully prepared and suddenly performed ball draws from standard positions are a potential opportunity to realize the gained advantage.

The effect of organizing skill exercises with technical instructions (Fit Light) on the accuracy of the skills of kicking the ball (penalty) and the corner kick in football

The effect of organizing skill exercises with technical instructions (Fit Light) on the accuracy of the skills of kicking the ball (penalty) and the corner kick in football

The Effect of the Quadriceps Muscle Fatigue After an ISOTONIC Contraction on Some Kinematic Variables and the Accuracy of Soccer Players’ Performance of the Corner Kick

Fatigue in muscles is a reason for the low skill performance of soccer players so this study sought to find out the effect of the quadriceps muscle fatigue resulting from an isotonic contraction on some kinematic variables and the accuracy of soccer players’ execution of the corner kick. A test for the accuracy of the corner kick and the leg press exercise was used on a sample of 8 international soccer players, and their means were as follows: age: 26.8 ±2.3 years, height: 174 ±12 cm, mass: 71 ±6 kg, training age: 14.6 ±1.8 years. The performance of the corner kick test was videotaped by three cameras and Kinovea program for kinematic analysis was used. The results showed a negative effect of the quadriceps muscle fatigue after isotonic contractions on kinematic variables and on the accuracy of corner kicks. The study results point to the necessity of enhancing the ability of soccer players in terms of endurance of muscle strength in the quadriceps muscle to the highest possible extent due to the importance of that element in their skillful performance, including the accuracy of the implementation of corner kicks.

Statistical study on the improvement of corner kicks in junior football players through specific means

Statistical study on the improvement of corner kicks in junior football players through specific means

The influence of removing home advantage on the Chinese Football Super League.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season Chinese Super League (CSL) was held in neutral venues, this study aims to analyse the impact of removing home advantage (HA) in CSL. 240 games of the CSL 2019 season (home and away double round-robin system) and 160 games of the 2020 season (in neutral venues) were analysed. 27 technical and tactical performance indicators were involved as dependent variables. A multiple linear regression model was established to analyse the influence of removing HA on the performance indicators. After moving from home stadium to neutral venue in 2020 season, goal, shot, shot on target, shot from outside box, shot from inside box, shot on target from inside box, corner kick, key pass, cross, breakthrough, tackle decreased significantly (p < 0.05), while yellow card and foul increased steeply (p < 0.05). Comparing with playing away match, in neutral venue, free kicks and pass accuracy enhanced radically (p < 0.05), while tackle, clearance and block shot dropped noticeably (p < 0.05). When removing HA and playing in the neutral venue, teams' performance dropped significantly. This study confirmed the positive impact of HA on the teams' performance and may help elite football teams make proper playing strategies regarding different match locations.

The effect of the video assistant referee (VAR) on referees' decisions at FIFA Women's World Cups.

Video assistant referee (VAR) has been implemented in women's football, aiming to improve referees' decision-making, but its impact has not yet been analyzed. This study intended to explore how the VAR affects refereeing decisions at Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women's World Cup competitions. The sample includes all 52 matches played in the 2015 tournament before VAR was introduced and all 52 matches played in the 2019 competition where VAR was deployed. For each match, data on ten variables were collected: first half playing time, second half playing time, total playing time, penalties, offsides, fouls, goals, corner kicks, yellow cards, and red cards. The match variables were compared before and after VAR implementation using a Mann–Whitney U test, a Bayesian analysis, a generalized linear model, and a non-clinical magnitude-based inference. The results demonstrated that after VAR was introduced, playing time during the first half [p < 0.001, BF10 = 547.05, Cohen's d = 1.06, 90%CI (0.71, 1.40)], the second half [p < 0.001, BF10 = 57.09, Cohen's d = 0.91, 90%CI (0.57, 1.25)], and the entire match [p < 0.001, BF10 = 1,120.39, Cohen's d = 1.33, 90%CI (0.97, 1.69)] increased significantly with moderate to large effect sizes, while the number of penalties, offsides, and fouls did not vary significantly neither did the number of goals, corner kicks, yellow cards, and red cards. This study has practical implications for professionals in terms of a better understanding of VAR's impact on elite women's football.

A complete season with attendance restrictions confirms the relevant contribution of spectators to home advantage and referee bias in association football.

BackgroundDue to the unfortunate pandemic situation, the phenomena of home advantage and referee bias in sports have recently received a particular research attention, especially in association football. In this regard, several studies were conducted on the last portion of the 2019–20 season: the majority of them suggests a reduction—but not the elimination—of the two phenomena, with some exceptions in which no reduction was found or, at the other extreme, the phenomena were not observed at all.MethodsThe continuation of the pandemic made it possible to replicate the previous studies considering the complete 2020–21 season, thus with the important added value of having a fully balanced home/away schedule—and a higher number of matches—in the various leagues. In particular, the sample of the present study consisted of 3,898 matches from the first and second divisions of the UEFA top five ranked countries, that is, England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France. For the home advantage, the following variables were examined: distribution of matches outcomes and home advantage for points (also for previous seasons from the 2014–15 one); ball possession; total shots; shots on goal; and corner kicks. Instead, for he referee bias, the following variables were examined: fouls; yellow cards; red cards; penalty kicks; and extra time. Chi-square tests were used to compare the distribution of matches outcomes, and t-tests to compare home vs. away data for the other variables in the 2020–21 season; Bayesian and equivalence analyses were also conducted.ResultsThe main results are as follows: (a) the distribution of matches outcomes in the 2020–21 season was significantly different from that of the last five complete seasons with spectators (Chi-square = 37.42, df = 2, p < 0.001), with fewer home victories and more away victories; the resulting values of the home advantage for points were 54.95% for the 2020–21 season, and 59.36% for the previous seasons; (b) for the other home advantage variables, a statistically significant overall advantage for the home team emerged; nevertheless, the strength of the differences between home and away teams was generally small (0.09 < Cohen’s d < 0.17), and the corresponding means can be considered statistically equivalent for all variables but the total shots; (c) no statistically significant differences emerged between home and away teams for any of the referee bias variables.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that the absence of spectators significantly reduced the home advantage compared to previous seasons with spectators. A slight home advantage persisted in the 2020–21 season, probably due to other factors, namely, learning and travel, according to the model by Courneya & Carron (1992). Conversely, the referee bias was not observed, suggesting that it mainly derives from the pressure normally exerted by spectators.