Network analysis of Portuguese Team on Fifa World Cup 2014

El análisis de partidos ha sido usado en el caso del fútbol para identificar propiedades y patrones en los equipos (Sarmento et al., 2014). Desde el análisis de notación regular hasta las métricas tácticas computacionales más recientes, es posible extraer muchos resultados diferentes de un solo partido (Clemente, Couceiro, Martins y Mendes, 2015). En el caso específico del fútbol, la cooperación entre los miembros del equipo es uno de los principales factores que contribuyen a un mejor rendimiento (Grund, 2012). Por lo tanto, para analizar dicha cooperación, el análisis de redes sociales se ha utilizado para identificar cómo están conectados los miembros del equipo y si hay tendencias de cooperación dentro del equipo (Clemente et al., 2015). Los jugadores destacados también han sido analizados para identificar a los jugadores centrales en el equipo (Clemente, Couceiro, Martins y Mendes, 2014). Objetivos: Por lo tanto, utilizando el enfoque de análisis de redes sociales, el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los niveles de centralidad de los roles posicionales portugueses durante el Mundial de la FIFA 2014 e identificar las posiciones tácticas prominentes que determinaron los momentos de posesión de la pelota.Match analysis has been using in football case to identify properties and patterns of teams (Sarmento et al., 2014). From the regular notational analysis until the most recent computational tactical metrics, a lot of different outcomes can be possible to extract from a single match (Clemente, Couceiro, Martins & Mendes, 2015). In the specific case of football, the cooperation among team-members is one of the main factors that contribute for a better performance (Grund, 2012). Thus, to analyse such cooperation the Social Network Analysis have been used to identify how team-members are connected and if there are cooperation tendencies inside the team (Clemente et al., 2015). The prominent players have been also analysed in order to identify the central players in the team (Clemente, Couceiro, Martins & Mendes, 2014). Objectives: Therefore, using the social network analysis approach the aim of this study was to analyse the centrality levels of Portuguese positional roles during the FIFA World Cup 2014 and to identify the prominent tactical positions that determined the moments with ball.peerReviewe

A systemic overview of football game: The principles behind the game

The football game is a specific system constituted by many players’ interactions. The specific nature of such sport must be properly analyzed and discussed in sport community in order to understand the principles that rules the system organization. As a team sport with specific properties it is truly important to discuss how players’ interactions from the dynamic nature of game. Therefore, the aim of this study is to classify the football game as a team sport and to discuss their specific dynamic that determines the emergence of a tactical behavior and a strategic definition. Such discussion can be important to determine the specific pedagogical and didactical contents to teach at youth football training and even in Physical Education classes

Social network analysis

A cooperação entre companheiros de equipa e a forma como a mesma decorre é de fundamental importância para a compreensão dos processos sociais no interior de um grupo de trabalho no esporte. Para mensurar esta cooperação, métricas recentes baseadas na teoria de grafos tem fornecido uma nova abordagem capaz de potenciar as informações recolhidas quantitativamente. Assim, o presente ensaio tem como objetivo dar a conhecer as técnicas e possibilidades do Social Network Analysis no esporte e como tal abordagem poderá potenciar os estudos sociais. Análise das propriedades da rede de cooperação, bem como, métricas de determinação de dependência entre companheiros e centralidade individual serão apresentados e discutidos neste ensaio

Analysis of scored and conceded goals by a football team throughout a season: a network analysis

Network analysis can provide a new set of important information about players and teams’ behaviour throughout a match. Despite their pertinence, football analysis using network metrics is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the goals scored and goals conceded by a single team during a full season using network methods. Thirty-six games were analysed and from these the data about players’ connectivity in actions preceding 46 goals scored and 15 goals conceded were collected. The results showed that the most used players during the plays that resulted in the goals scored were forward players in the forward regions, mainly in the penalty area. The lateral defenders and midfield players were the players that mostly initiated the attacking plays that resulted in the goals scored. In sum, it was possible to conclude that network metrics can provide a new visualization and understanding of team-members’ behaviour, as well as characterize some patterns of play giving sport’s analysts information complementary to the traditional notational analysis

Posicionamento angular do atacante em relação ao defensor em futebolistas

O presente estudo objetivou analisar as amplitudes angulares do atacante em relação ao defensor ao longo da série temporal de prática, tentando verificar se tal parâmetro contribui para a quebra da estabilidade da díade atacante-defensor. Participaram 11 futebolistas (17,91 ± 1,04 anos de idade) com 8,6 ± 1,52 de anos de prática. De forma a entender a relação da posição entre o atacante e o defensor, procedeu-se ao cálculo do posicionamento angular entre ambos. Para o efeito, considerou-se o ângulo 0º como sendo o ângulo entre o atacante e o defensor quando estes formam uma linha perpendicular à aresta do campo onde se encontra a baliza estando o defensor mais próximo da mesma. Os resultados indicam uma oscilação regular por parte do atacante no sentido de procurar desequilibrar o oponente sendo que, através dessa ação-reação o atacante procura encontrar novas soluções que resultem da exploração do meio e do adversário.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar las amplitudes angulares del atacante contra el defensor, tratando de ver si este parámetro contribuye a la ruptura de la estabilidad de la pareja atacante-defensor. Participaron 11 jugadores (17,91 ± 1,04 años), con 8,6 ± 1,52 años de práctica. Con el fin de entender la relación de posición entre el atacante y el defensor, procedió al cálculo de la posición angular entre los dos. Con este fin, hemos considerado el ángulo de 0º como el ángulo entre el delantero y el defensor cuando forman una línea perpendicular a la arista del campo donde se encuentra la portería, estando el defensor está más cerca de la misma. Los resultados muestran una oscilación regular del atacante para tratar de desequilibrar al oponente siendo que a través de esta acción-reacción, el atacante trata de encontrar nuevas soluciones que resultan de la exploración del ambiente y del adversario.The aim of this study was to analyze the angular amplitudes of the attacker over the defender along the series of practice, trying to see if this parameter contributes to the breakdown of the stability of the attacker-defender dyad. In the study participated 11 players (17.91 ± 1.04 years old) with 8.6 ± 1.52 years of practice. In order to understand the position relationship between the attacker and defender, we calculate the angular positioning between them. For this purpose we considered the 0º angle as the angle between the striker and the defender when they form a perpendicular line to the edge of the field where staying the goal. The results show a regular oscillation by the attacker to seek to unbalance the opponent and that through this action-reaction the attacker tries to find new solutions resulting from the exploitation of the environment and the opponent

The effects of large-sided soccer training games and pitch size manipulation on time–motion profile, spatial exploration and surface area: Tactical opportunities

Analysis of the physical, technical and physiological variations induced through the use of different soccer game formats have been widely discussed. However, the coaching justification for the specific use of certain game formats based on individual and collective spatial awareness is unclear. As a result, the purpose of this study was to analyze 11 versus 11 game formats conducted across two pitch sizes (half-size: 54 m × 68 m vs full-size: 108 m × 68 m) to identify effects of time–motion profiles, individual exploration behavior and collective organization. A total of 10 amateur soccer players from the same team (23.39 ± 3.91 years old) participated in this study. Data position of the players was used to calculate the spatial exploration index and the surface area. Distances covered in different speeds were used to observe the time–motion profile. The full-size pitch dimensions significantly contributed to greater distances covered via running (3.86–5.52 m s−1) and sprinting (>5.52 m s−1). Total distance and number of sprints were also significantly greater in the full-size pitch as compared to the half-size pitch. The surface area covered by the team (half-size pitch: 431.83 m2 vs full-size pitch: 589.14 m2) was significantly larger in the full-size pitch condition. However, the reduced half-size pitch significantly contributed to a greater individual spatial exploration. Results of this study suggest that running and sprinting activities increase when large, full-size pitch dimensions are utilized. Smaller surface area half-size pitch contributes to a better exploration of the pitch measured by spatial exploration index while maintaining adequate surface area coverage by the team. In conclusion, the authors suggest that the small half-size pitch is more appropriate for low-intensity training sessions and field exploration for players in different positions. Alternatively, the large full-size pitch is more appropriate for greater physically demanding training sessions with players focused on positional tactical behavior.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Network structure and centralization tendencies in professional football teams from Spanish La Liga and English Premier Leagues

The aim of this study was to analyse the variance of different competitive leagues, score status, and tactical position in the centrality levels of degree prestige, degree centrality and page rank in football players. A total of 20 matches from the Spanish La Liga League (10 matches) and English Premier League (10 matches) were analysed and codified in this study. In this study only the top four teams and their opponents per each competitive league were analysed. A total of 14,738 passes between teammates were recorded and processed. The multivariate MANOVA revealed statistical differences in centrality among tactical positions (λ = 0.958; F(15,1212) = 37.898; p-value = 0.001; η2 = 0.319; Moderate Effect Size). Midfielders had the greatest centrality values, followed by the external and central defenders. The lowest values of centrality were found in goalkeepers and forwards. No statistical differences were found in centrality between different competitive leagues (λ = 0.001; F(3,402) = 0.050; p-value = 0.985; η2 = 0.001; Very Small Effect Size) and score status (λ = 0.003; F(6,806) = 0.175; p-value = 0.983; η2 = 0.001; Very Small Effect Size).This study was carried out in the scope of R&D Unit 50008, financed by UID/EEA/50008/2013

A network approach to characterize the teammates’ interactions on football: A single match analysis

*e aim of this case study was to apply a set of network metrics inorder to characterize the teammates’ cooperation in a football team. *esemetrics were applied in three levels of analysis: i) micro (individual analysis);ii) meso (players’ contribution for the team); and iii) macro (global interactionof the team). One-single case study match was observed and fromsuch procedure were analysed 131 attacking plays. Results from the macroanalysis showed a moderate heterogeneity between teammates, thus suggestingthe emergence of clusters within the team. *e players with highestconnections with their teammates were the right defender, central defenderfrom the left side, defensive mid+elder, right mid+elder and the forwardplayer. Finally, in the micro analysis was observed that right defender, centraldefender, right mid+elder and the forward can be considered the centroidplayers during attacking plays, thus being the most prominent in theattacking building. In sum, the network metrics allowed to characterize theteammates’ interaction during the attacking plays, providing an importantand di<erent information that can be useful for the future of match analysi

Effects of the sports level, format of the game and task condition on heart rate responses, technical and tactical performance of youth basketball players

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of different small-sided and conditioning games (SSCG) with different tactical contents on heart rate responses, technical performance and collective organization of youth basketball players of different performance levels. Twenty male basketball players from U14 (13.7 ± 0.8 years old; 4.2 ± 1.4 years of practice) and U16 (15.3 ± 1.1 years old; 6.4 ± 2.1 years of practice) participated in this research study. The two-way MANOVA revealed that the sports level (p = 0.009; = 0.151), format (p = 0.001; = 0.246) and task condition (p = 0.023; = 0.104; small effect size) had significant main effects on heart rate responses. It was also found that the format (p = 0.001; = 0.182) had significant main effects on technical performance. A smaller format significantly increased the heart rate, volume of play, efficiency index and collective density during attacking plays. The SSCG with attacking content statistically increased the heart rate, efficiency index and performance score. Therefore, this study revealed that different SSCGs with tactical content influenced the physiological responses of youth players

Caracterização dos passes realizados entre jogadores brasileiros no FIFA World Cup 2014: uma abordagem baseada em network

Uma das formas possíveis de cooperação entre companheiros de equipa no processo de construção atacante pode ser determinada pelo direcionamento dos passes. Considerando o exposto, este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as propriedades de interação presentes na rede de passes dos jogadores da seleção brasileira que disputaram o torneio FIFA World Cup 2014. Para o efeito aplicaram-se métricas para caracterização das propriedades gerais da rede, bem como, para identificação da centralidade do posicionamento tático dos jogadores. Métodos: Um total de 2159 passes distribuídos por 611 unidades de ataque em 7 jogos oficiais disputados pela seleção Brasileira de futebol no FIFA World Cup 2014 foram analisados no presente estudo. Foi possível verificar que os valores mais reduzidos de densidade da rede e total de conexões foram atingidos no 2º jogo (0,673) e os valores mais elevados foram alcançados no 7º jogo (0,791). No caso dos níveis de centralidade (out-degree), constatou-se que os maiores valores foram sempre atingidos por defensores ou pelo volante da equipa (médio defensivo). Quanto aos níveis de prestígio (in-degree) verificou-se que em 5 dos 7 jogos os maiores valores foram atingidos pelos defensores e nos restantes 2 foi o avançado o alvo da equipa. Resumidamente, o presente estudo identificou que os valores gerais da rede de passes foram relativamente estáveis ao longo dos jogos e que os defensores e médios foram determinante no processo de construção ofensiva, sendo que, o atacante foi o alvo principal da equipa para direcionar os passes