Passing Networks and Tactical Action in Football: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the most significant literature on network analyses and factors associated with tactical action in football. A systematic review was conducted on Web of Science, taking into account the PRISMA guidelines using the keyword “network”, associated with “football” or “soccer”. The search yielded 162 articles, 24 of which met the inclusion criteria. Significant results: (a) 50% of the studies ratify the importance of network structures, quantifying and comparing properties to determine the applicability of the results instead of analyzing them separately; (b) 12.5% analyze the process of offensive sequences and communication between teammates by means of goals scored; (c) the studies mainly identify a balance in the processes of passing networks; (d) the variables allowed for the interpretation of analyses of grouping metrics, centralization, density and heterogeneity in connections between players of the same team. Finally, a systematic analysis provides a functional understanding of knowledge that will help improve the performance of players and choose the most appropriate response within the circumstances of the game.

Macro and micro network metrics as indicators of training tasks adjustment to players’ tactical level

“…However, information of teams’ interaction patterns and players’ prominence, analyzed in this study through social network measures, can be used by coaches as important indicators for a better adjustment of training tasks to players’ skills. In a recent systematic review, 31 researchers highlighted the most significant studies on network analyses and important factors associated with tactical actions, only two papers that met the inclusion criteria used network measures in SSCG. However, even though other researches used such analyzes to understand teams’ tactical performance in SSCG, 17 , 30 it is important to highlight that the present study differs from the others in seeking to understand how these network measures are affected both by players’ tactical level and by the pedagogical strategy used to adjust the task difficulty to players’ skills.…”

The effect of bio-banding on academy soccer player passing networks: Implications of relative pitch size

“…However, over the last decade, network analysis has become one of the most active fields in quantitative analysis and the creation of passing networks is increasingly being applied in soccer to better capture the complex dynamics present [ 31 ]. While analysis of passing data can give rise to multiple types of networks comprising players and regions of the pitch [ 31 ], passing networks have mostly been restricted to successful passes between players in each team [ 32 ]. A passing network is constructed such that each player is considered a node in the network and visually a graph can be identified where successful passes link players such that the graph can be directed (passer and receiver) and weighted (more passes create stronger links).…”

“…A passing network is constructed such that each player is considered a node in the network and visually a graph can be identified where successful passes link players such that the graph can be directed (passer and receiver) and weighted (more passes create stronger links). Both team (macro) and individual-based (micro) metrics can be extracted from passing networks to quantify performance and cooperation at the macro level (structure of the network), with centrality metrics commonly used to quantify the importance and prominence of individual players [ 32 , 33 ]. Passing networks have been used to assess performance in both elite competition and in training comprising SSGs [ 33 , 34 ], with analyses found to provide coaches with meaningful information on player performance and the collective behaviours of the team [ 32 ].…”

“…Both team (macro) and individual-based (micro) metrics can be extracted from passing networks to quantify performance and cooperation at the macro level (structure of the network), with centrality metrics commonly used to quantify the importance and prominence of individual players [ 32 , 33 ]. Passing networks have been used to assess performance in both elite competition and in training comprising SSGs [ 33 , 34 ], with analyses found to provide coaches with meaningful information on player performance and the collective behaviours of the team [ 32 ]. This information can be used to adjust behaviours on the field in both attack and defence to enhance synergy between players and overall team synchronization [ 32 ].…”

“…Passing networks have been used to assess performance in both elite competition and in training comprising SSGs [ 33 , 34 ], with analyses found to provide coaches with meaningful information on player performance and the collective behaviours of the team [ 32 ]. This information can be used to adjust behaviours on the field in both attack and defence to enhance synergy between players and overall team synchronization [ 32 ].…”