Detection and Selection of Behavioral Patterns Using Theme: A Concrete Example in Grassroots Soccer

Abstract

Observational methodology provides a rigorous yet flexible framework for capturing behaviors over time to allow for the performance of subsequent diachronic analyses of the data captured. Theme is a specialized software program that detects hidden temporal behavioral patterns (T-patterns) within data sets. It is increasingly being used to analyze performance in soccer and other sports. The aim of this study was to show how to select and interpret T-patterns generated by the application of three “quantitative” sort options in Theme and three “qualitative” filters established by the researchers. These will be used to investigate whether 7-a-side (F7) or 8-a-side (F8) soccer is best suited to the learning and skills development needs of 7- and 8-year-old male soccer players. The information contained in the T-patterns generated allowed us to characterize patterns of play in children in this age group. For both formats, we detected technical-tactical behaviors showing that children of this age have difficulty with first-touch actions and controlling the ball after a throw-in. We also found that ball control followed by a pass or a shot at the goal are common in the central corridor of the pitch. Further, depth of play is achieved by ball control, followed by dribbling and a pass or shot. In F8, we saw that depth of play was achieved through ball control, followed by dribbling and passing of one or more opponents leading to a pass or shot. However, in F7, we saw that players succeeded in advancing from their goal area to the rival goal area through a sequence of actions.

Support System for the Assessment and Intervention During the Manual Material Handling Training at the Workplace: Contributions From the Systematic Observation

“…This second approach is the one used on this paper. From that approach it is crucial to be transparent regarding the qualitative and quantitative filters used to select T-patterns to suit the objective of the analysis (Amatria et al, 2017). Considering the purpose of our T-pattern selection, which is to help employees analyze their own MMH in a better way, the filters used were first quantitative and secondly qualitative.…”

Observational Analysis of the Execution of the “Control” Core Technical/Tactical Concept by Sergio Busquets

“…El análisis secuencial de retardos ha permitido establecer la relación de asociación o inhibición estadísticamente significativa entre las variables relacionadas; mientras que los T-patterns detectados constituyen una ejemplificación concreta, con un evidente potencial informativo (Amatria et al, 2017), que permiten tipificar secuencias de juego que incluyen los controles efectuados por Busquets. De esta manera, a partir de los resultados obtenidos en el presente trabajo, se pretende generar referencias reales y eficientes que marquen un hito hacia el que dirigir el desempeño en lo relativo al desarrollo del fundamento técnico-táctico control.…”

Influence of scoring mode and age group on passing actions during small-sided and conditioned soccer games

“…Passing is a key skill underlying successful performance in soccer [4,12,20]. Recently, a couple of studies highlighted the importance of investigating beyond the traditional passing frequencies to analyse performance in game-play environments [21,22]. The simple association between total passing frequencies and performance effectiveness provides coaches with little information to design representative tasks and guide training drills.…”