TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of an innovative method for evaluating a network of collective defensive interactions in football
AU - Pacheco, Rui
AU - Ribeiro, João
AU - Couceiro, Micael
AU - Davids, Keith
AU - Garganta, Júlio
AU - Marques-Aleixo, Inês
AU - Nakamura, Fábio
AU - Casanova, Filipe
AU - González-Víllora, Sixto
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© IMechE 2022.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Social network analysis (SNA) has been increasingly applied to performance analytics in team sports, seeking to better understand the dynamic properties of competitive interactions. Despite considerable potential to analyze individual (micro) and team (macro) behavioral patterns of play, there are important limitations that can undermine the potential applicability of SNA. One important limitation in existing research is the lack of network analyses of defensive interactions, curtailing understanding of the functionality and adaptability of teams during competitive performance. This study developed an innovative network method for assessing interactions between players in defensive phases of play in football. The networking method was evaluated using a small-sided and conditioned game (SSCG; GK+7v7+GK) of 20 min duration (two halves of 10 min each, interspersed by 5 min intervals of active recovery). The method traced interactions between groups of three players (effective defensive triangulations) as network nodes, weighted according to the number of passes performed by the attacking players. Results showed how this social network analysis method may provide researchers, coaches and performance analysts with relevant information regarding the functional properties of teams in the defensive phase of the game. For instance, coaches and performance analysts can evaluate the geometry of a team’s defense, with players engaged in effective triangular-shaped positioning, that allowed them to provide defensive cover and balance, to protect the goal and recover ball possession.
AB - Social network analysis (SNA) has been increasingly applied to performance analytics in team sports, seeking to better understand the dynamic properties of competitive interactions. Despite considerable potential to analyze individual (micro) and team (macro) behavioral patterns of play, there are important limitations that can undermine the potential applicability of SNA. One important limitation in existing research is the lack of network analyses of defensive interactions, curtailing understanding of the functionality and adaptability of teams during competitive performance. This study developed an innovative network method for assessing interactions between players in defensive phases of play in football. The networking method was evaluated using a small-sided and conditioned game (SSCG; GK+7v7+GK) of 20 min duration (two halves of 10 min each, interspersed by 5 min intervals of active recovery). The method traced interactions between groups of three players (effective defensive triangulations) as network nodes, weighted according to the number of passes performed by the attacking players. Results showed how this social network analysis method may provide researchers, coaches and performance analysts with relevant information regarding the functional properties of teams in the defensive phase of the game. For instance, coaches and performance analysts can evaluate the geometry of a team’s defense, with players engaged in effective triangular-shaped positioning, that allowed them to provide defensive cover and balance, to protect the goal and recover ball possession.
KW - Football
KW - Soccer
KW - Social network methodology
KW - effective defensive triangulations
KW - performance analysis
KW - team defensive networks
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144227529&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/17543371221141584
DO - 10.1177/17543371221141584
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85144227529
SN - 1754-3371
JO - Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology
JF - Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology
ER -