Temporal pattern analysis and its applicability in soccer
G.K. Jonsson1, J. Bloomfield2, R. Bolman2, K. Boulahan3 and P. O’Donoghue3
1Human Behavior
Laboratory, University of Iceland & Department of Psychology, University
of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
2Department of Sport Science, University of Hull, Hull, UK
3School of Sport, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cardiff, UK
It is considered important to employ sound scientific principles of physical
conditioning and coaching in order to enhance sports performance. One
of the most critical of these principles is the rule of speci.city. In
terms of key performance attributes such as physical capabilities, skill
acquisition and cognitive learning a high degree of specificity of competition
is desired in practice situations in order to elicit a high degree of
transfer into competitive scenarios. To this end the speci.c requirements
of the performance must be investigated. One method of investigating the
physical requirements is that of time-motion analysis where various modes
of motion are subjectively or objectively chosen and each are timed throughout
the performance. To date, researchers have often chosen fewer than 8 modes
of motion in their investigations, however it is arguable that this does
not provide enough detail to report the high degree of specificity required
to con.gure the physical demands of the sport. However, the Bloom.eld
Movement Classification is recognized as the most comprehensive time-motion
analysis method which includes a combination of 17 modes of motion, 14
directional categories, 4 intensity types and other specific instantaneous
movement and sport-specific events including turns, swerves and on the
ball activity. Furthermore, time-motion analyses have failed to report
any interaction of movement. T-pattern analysis can be performed with
Theme™ (PatternVision
Ltd., Iceland) to identify hidden sequences of events and has been used
successfully to identify complex playing patterns in soccer. The aim of
the research is, firstly, to review and critique the current research
into the physical demands of soccer and secondly to offer an alternative
method of detailing the movements performed by the players with an objective
of re-producing specific patterns of movement through T-patterns which
can be used to enhance physical conditioning and coaching practices.
Paper presented
at Measuring Behavior 2005
, 5th International Conference on Methods and Techniques
in Behavioral Research, 30 August - 2 September 2005, Wageningen, The
Netherlands.
© 2005 Noldus
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