Data Mining to Select Relevant Variables Influencing External and Internal Workload of Elite Blind 5-a-Side Soccer

Abstract

(1) Background: Data mining has turned essential when exploring a large amount of information in performance analysis in sports. This study aimed to select the most relevant variables influencing the external and internal load in top-elite 5-a-side soccer (Sa5) using a data mining model considering some contextual indicators as match result, body mass index (BMI), scoring rate and age. (2) Methods: A total of 50 top-elite visually impaired soccer players (age 30.86 ± 11.2 years, weight 77.64 ± 9.78 kg, height 178.48 ± 7.9 cm) were monitored using magnetic, angular and rate gyroscope (MARG) sensors during an international Sa5 congested fixture tournament.; (3) Results: Fifteen external and internal load variables were extracted from a total of 49 time-related and peak variables derived from the MARG sensors using a principal component analysis as the most used data mining technique. The principal component analysis (PCA) model explained 80% of total variance using seven principal components. In contrast, the first principal component of the match was defined by jumps, take off by 24.8% of the total variance. Blind players usually performed a higher number of accelerations per min when losing a match. Scoring players execute higher DistanceExplosive and Distance21–24 km/h. And the younger players presented higher HRAVG and AccMax. (4) Conclusions: The influence of some contextual variables on external and internal load during top elite Sa5 official matches should be addressed by coaches, athletes, and medical staff. The PCA seems to be a useful statistical technique to select those relevant variables representing the team’s external and internal load. Besides, as a data reduction method, PCA allows administrating individualized training loads considering those relevant variables defining team load behavior.

Correlations between VO2max and match distance running performance of soccer players with visual impairment

“…At all levels and kinds of soccer matches, the tactical role, individual playing position, the opponent, and the impulse of stimulus degree of motivation can affect the correlation between VO 2max and match running performance. It has been shown that some contextual variables can affect external load like match running distance [7]. However, Gamonales et al, (2020) [8] in a tournament for individuals with visual impairment showed similar match running distance (1,416 to 1,877 m).…”

“…Generally speaking, the improvement of physiological variables can help people with disabilities to be healthier and more satis ed with their life [28]. Furthermore, the physical activity of people with visual impairment improves their social life because in most sports they socialize with other people, especially in team sports [7] which has a positive impact on their life satisfaction.…”

“…There are many sports designed with rules adapted for this particular disability (visual impairment) (judo, wrestling, cycling, and blind soccer 5-a-side) but there are also sports that have their own unique set of rules like goalball, and beep baseball [7,18].…”

“…There is a dearth of literature dedicated to people with visual impairment playing soccer. This is concerning because for a variety of issues such as the occurrence of injuries, the physical pro le of soccer players, cardiorespiratory function, the effect of training on body composition the internal and external workload that soccer players receive and the analysis of technical elements of the sport [7,9,17], there is no speci c data and often generalizations are made by other populations. Nevertheless, the information on the maximum oxygen uptake of soccer players with visual impairment is very limited.…”

Lesiones deportivas en el fútbol en personas con discapacidad visual. Revisión sistemática exploratoria (Sport injuries in football for individuals with visual impairment. Exploratory systematic review)

“…Es una adaptación del fútbol sala convencional, cuyo objetivo es facilitar algunas acciones específicas para personas con discapacidad visual (Gamonales, 2017;Gamonales, Muñoz-Jiménez, León & Ibáñez, 2018b). Además, los deportistas de Fa5 sufren un mayor número de impactos durante los entrenamientos y partidos que los jugadores de fútbol convencional (Gamonales, León, Rojas-Valverde, Sánchez-Ureña & Muñoz-Jiménez, 2021), como consecuencia de jugar de forma diferente y en ausencia de visión (Gamonales, Muñoz-Jiménez, León & Ibáñez, 2021).…”