Validation of Player and Ball Tracking with a Local Positioning System

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Performance Analysis

Background:

• Accurate player and ball tracking are crucial for sports performance analysis.
• Local Positioning Systems (LPS) offer potential for real-time data collection in team sports.
• Validation of LPS accuracy against reference systems is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the accuracy of Kinexon's LPS for player and ball position measurements in handball and football.
• To compare LPS performance with an infrared camera-based motion capture system.
• To assess tracking errors in various sport-specific scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Eight athletes performed sport-specific courses (SSC) and small-sided games (SSG) in handball and football.
• Simultaneous tracking using Kinexon's LPS and an infrared motion capture system.
• Evaluation of ball tracking accuracy during shots and throws.

Main Results:

• Player position root mean square error (RMSE) was 9 cm for SSCs and 8 cm for SSGs.
• Instantaneous peak speed deviation ranged from 0.7-1.7% compared to the reference system.
• Ball tracking showed higher errors (2D RMSE of 15 cm, 3D impact errors of 17-21 cm) than player tracking.

Conclusions:

• Kinexon's LPS demonstrates state-of-the-art accuracy for player tracking in team sports.
• Ball tracking accuracy requires further investigation, particularly regarding sensor positioning.
• The study highlights the importance of rigorous validation methodologies for sports tracking systems.