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

Background. Five-a-side soccer for the blind (F5) is a Paralympic sport that has been the subject of research aimed at identifying variables that influence performance. However, despite its growing popularity, there is limited scientific literature on quantitative analyses of offensive performance in this sport. Objective. To analyze 164 offensive plays by the Argentine men's national team during the 2022 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Copa América to determine the spatiotemporal progression and the decline in intra-match offensive performance. Materials and Methods. Each play was reconstructed with its progression vector, its finishing zone, and its absolute game minute. Multivariate logistic regression models and weighted trend analysis (Cochran-Armitage) were applied to examine the relationship between these variables and the offensive outcome (shot on-target and goal). Results. Plays originating from high-pressure recovery showed a favorable trend toward shooting on-target. The goal rate showed an empirical decline from 26.1% in the 6th-10th minutes to 6.7% in the final minutes, without reaching statistical significance. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that the magnitude of the offensive progression vector and offensive effectiveness show an asymmetry toward the right side, as well as a pattern consistent with an intra-match decline toward the end of games. These variables appear to influence the offensive performance of the Argentine men's national blind football (F5) in the 2022 Copa América. These findings provide one of the first integrated vector analyses of offensive performance in F5 and propose metrics applicable to coaching staff, the design of specific training programs, and the functional assessment of athletes with visual impairments; therefore, further studies are needed to analyze these metrics in different official competitions and to account for various competitive levels. It is recommended to design training exercises focused on recovery under high pressure near the right side of the offensive zone and maintain the intensity of play in the final minutes of the game.