Analysis of Offensive Performance in 5-A-Side Soccer for the Blind: An Exploratory Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Paralympic Sports Analysis

Background:

• Five-a-side soccer for the blind (F5) is a growing Paralympic sport with limited quantitative offensive performance research.
• Understanding offensive dynamics is crucial for improving F5 performance and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the spatiotemporal progression of offensive plays in F5.
• To investigate the decline in intra-match offensive performance.
• To identify factors influencing offensive outcomes (shots on-target, goals).

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 164 offensive plays by the Argentine men's national team in the 2022 IBSA Copa América.
• Reconstruction of plays including progression vector, finishing zone, and game minute.
• Application of multivariate logistic regression and Cochran-Armitage trend analysis.

Main Results:

• Plays recovered under high pressure showed a trend towards shots on-target.
• A non-statistically significant decline in goal rate was observed from 26.1% to 6.7% within matches.
• Offensive progression and effectiveness exhibited asymmetry towards the right side.

Conclusions:

• Offensive performance in F5 shows right-side asymmetry and a potential intra-match decline.
• Key variables influencing performance include offensive progression vector and effectiveness.
• Findings offer metrics for training program design and athlete assessment in visually impaired sports.