Using Optical Tracking System Data to Measure Team Synergic Behavior: Synchronization of Player-Ball-Goal Angles in a...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Ecological Dynamics
• Kinematics

Background:

• Ecological dynamics theory supports using kinematic data from sensor-based systems to analyze interpersonal relationships in team sports.
• Team players are primarily linked through information from the performance environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To capture synergic behavior properties in football using spatiotemporal data.
• To explore the application of player-ball-goal angles in cluster phase analysis.
• To identify indicators of critical performance changes in team dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized spatiotemporal data from a 2018 FIFA World Cup match.
• Applied player-ball-goal angles for cluster phase analysis.
• Employed linear mixed effects models to assess statistical significance of factors like team, half, role, and pitch zones.

Main Results:

• Home teams showed significantly higher synchronization (cluster phase values) than away teams.
• Player synchronization increased substantially when transitioning from an 'without ball' to a 'with ball' role.
• Significant interactions between effects were observed, indicating complex dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Variations in synchronization, analyzed through relative phase and angles, may signal critical performance shifts like possession changes or goals.
• Sensor-based data computations can yield valuable indicators for tactical analysis in sports.
• The study highlights the continuous player-environment link and team synergic behavior properties.