title: Coordination analysis of players' distribution in football using cross-correlation and vector coding techniques.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the coordination between teams spread during football matches using cross-correlation and vector coding techniques. Using a video-based tracking system, we obtained the trajectories of 257 players during 10 matches. Team spread was calculated as functions of time. For a general coordination description, we calculated the cross-correlation between the signals. Vector coding was used to identify the coordination patterns between teams during offensive sequences that ended in shots on goal or defensive tackles. Cross-correlation showed that opponent teams have a tendency to present in-phase coordination, with a short time lag. During offensive sequences, vector coding results showed that, although in-phase coordination dominated, other patterns were observed. We verified that during the early stages, offensive sequences ending in shots on goal present greater anti-phase and attacking team phase periods, compared to sequences ending in tackles. Results suggest that the attacking team may seek to present a contrary behaviour of its opponent (or may lead the adversary behaviour) in the beginning of the attacking play, regarding to the distribution strategy, to increase the chances of a shot on goal. The techniques allowed detecting the coordination patterns between teams, providing additional information about football dynamics and players' interaction.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Applied Biomechanics, Sport Sciences Department , State University of Londrina , Londrina , Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Arruda
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: b Biomechanics and Motor Control Laboratories, Department of Kinesiology , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Richard E A
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: van Emmerik
authors.affiliation: c Laboratory of Instrumentation for Biomechanics, College of Physical Education , University of Campinas , Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Exel
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.affiliation: d Laboratory of Instrumentation for Physiology, College of Physical Education , University of Campinas , Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo Barreto
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: c Laboratory of Instrumentation for Biomechanics, College of Physical Education , University of Campinas , Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Machado Leite de
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: c Laboratory of Instrumentation for Biomechanics, College of Physical Education , University of Campinas , Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio Augusto
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005538:Football; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D012916:Soccer; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Tactics; computational tracking; match analysis; team spread; time series