Integrating physical and tactical factors in football using positional data: a systematic review

Abstract

Background Positional data have been used to capture physical and tactical factors in football, however current research is now looking to apply spatiotemporal parameters from an integrative perspective. Thus, the aim of this article was to systematically review the published articles that integrate physical and tactical variables in football using positional data. Methods and Materials Following the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), a systematic search of relevant English-language articles was performed from earliest record to August 2021. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the modified Downs and Black Quality Index (observational and cross-sectional studies) and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale (intervention studies). Results The literature search returned 982 articles (WoS = 495; PubMed = 232 and SportDiscus = 255). After screening, 26 full-text articles met the inclusion criteria and data extraction was conducted. All studies considered the integration of physical and tactical variables in football using positional data (n = 26). Other dimensions were also reported, such as psychophysiological and technical factors, however the results of these approaches were not the focus of the analysis (n = 5). Quasi-experimental approaches considered training sets (n = 20) and match contexts (n = 6). One study analysed both training and play insights. Small sided-games (SSG) were the most common training task formats in the reviewed studies, with only three articles addressing medium-sided (MSG) (n = 1) and large-sided games (LSG) (n = 2), respectively. Conclusions Among the current systematic review, the physical data can be integrated by player’s movement speed. Positional datasets can be computed by spatial movement, complex indexes, playing areas, intra-team and inter-team dyads. Futures researches should consider applying positional data in women’s football environments and explore the representativeness of the MSG and LSG.

Tactical Knowledge by Decision Making and Motor Efficiency of Young Football Players in Different Playing Positions during a Three-a-Side Small-Sided Game

“…Procedural tactical knowledge may still be influenced by training time [ 58 ]. Players exposed to longer training times and a larger number of training sessions tend to show regularly good performances [ 28 , 57 ]. In the current study, goalkeepers performed specific individualized work and trained with the collective team.…”

“…Sixthly, cumulative effects were not controlled in this research [ 69 , 70 ]. Seventhly, maturational variables that can influence tactical behavior [ 28 , 71 ] and physical performance were not controlled [ 70 ]. Finally, the sample considered three different age categories (i.e., U11, U13 and U15), which have different maturational and cognitive abilities due to the stages of development [ 67 , 68 , 69 ].…”

“…Indeed, previous studies have reported an association between tactical performance, specific motor skills, perceptual–cognitive–motor skills, and decision making effectiveness in athletic development [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Specifically, the small-sided games (SSGs) have contextual dynamics that improve individual and collective technical–tactical expertise in young football players [ 27 , 28 ]. During the game, it can be highlighted that: (i) most of the game’s actions happen without ball; (ii) technical skills may be enhanced or blinded by the tactical understanding or knowledge of each player; (iii) lacking tactical knowledge may limit the execution of technical skills [ 21 ].…”

Examination of the ZXY Arena Tracking System for Association Football Pitches

“…Approaches of analyzing the games may involve analyses of movement of the players [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], tactics, and organization of teams (e.g., [ 9 , 10 ]) or the referees [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. The technical revolution of electronics and informatics over the last decades now allows recording each person’s position at high time resolution.…”

Evaluating Physical and Tactical Performance and Their Connection during Female Soccer Matches Using Global Positioning Systems

“…Therefore, there is a need to jointly consider tactical and physical response for a holistic understanding of game performance in the field of women’s soccer [ 24 ]. Taking this into consideration, the objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate tactical and physical performance during official women’s soccer league matches and (2) to correlate the tactical and physical dimension, considering periods of 15 min.…”