Football player dominant region determined by a novel model based on instantaneous kinematics variables

Author(s)

Caetano, Fabio Giuliano ^[1] ; Barbon Junior, Sylvio ^[2] ; Torres, Ricardo da Silva ^[3] ; Cunha, Sergio Augusto ^[4] ; Ruffino, Paulo Regis Caron ^[5] ; Martins, Luiz Eduardo Barreto ^[4] ; Moura, Felipe Arruda ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Londrina, Lab Appl Biomech, Dept Sport Sci, Ctr Phys Educ & Sport, Km 380 Celso Garcia Cid Rd, Univ Campus, BR-86057970 Londrina, Parana - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Londrina, Dept Comp Sci, Londrina, Parana - Brazil

^[3] Norwegian Univ Sci & Technol NTNU, Dept ICT & Nat Sci, Alesund - Norway

^[4] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Sport Sci, Campinas - Brazil

^[5] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Math, Campinas - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 11, n. 1 SEP 14 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Dominant regions are defined as regions of the pitch where a player can reach before any other and are commonly determined without considering the free-spaces in the pitch. We presented an approach to football players' dominant regions analysis, based on movement models created from players' positions, displacement, velocity, and acceleration vectors. 109 Brazilian male professional football players were analysed during official matches, computing over 15 million positional data obtained by video-based tracking system. Movement models were created based on players' instantaneous vectorial kinematics variables, then probabilities models and dominant regions were determined. Accuracy in determining dominant regions by the proposed model was tested for different time-lag windows. We calculated the areas of dominant, free-spaces, and Voronoi regions. Mean correct predictions of dominant region were 96.56%, 88.64%, and 72.31% for one, two, and three seconds, respectively. Dominant regions areas were lower than the ones computed by Voronoi, with median values of 73 and 171 m(2), respectively. A median value of 5537 m(2) was presented for free-space regions, representing a large part of the pitch. The proposed movement model proved to be more realistic, representing the match dynamics and can be a useful method to evaluate the players' tactical behaviours during matches. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/50250-1 - The secret of playing football: Brazil versus the Netherlands
• Grantee: Sergio Augusto Cunha
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/20945-0 - Multi-user equipment approved in great 16/50250-1: local positioning system
• Grantee: Sergio Augusto Cunha
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 18/19007-9 - Find dribbling time series in a physical-tactical-technical scenario during official professional matches
• Grantee: Sergio Augusto Cunha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research