title: Evaluation of tactical training in team handball by means of artificial neural networks.
abstract: While tactical performance in competition has been analysed extensively, the assessment of training processes of tactical behaviour has rather been neglected in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide a methodology to assess the acquisition and implementation of offensive tactical behaviour in team handball. The use of game analysis software combined with an artificial neural network (ANN) software enabled identifying tactical target patterns from high level junior players based on their positions during offensive actions. These patterns were then trained by an amateur junior handball team (n = 14, 17 (0.5) years)). Following 6 weeks of tactical training an exhibition game was performed where the players were advised to use the target patterns as often as possible. Subsequently, the position data of the game was analysed with an ANN. The test revealed that 58% of the played patterns could be related to the trained target patterns. The similarity between executed patterns and target patterns was assessed by calculating the mean distance between key positions of the players in the game and the target pattern which was 0.49 (0.20) m. In summary, the presented method appears to be a valid instrument to assess tactical training.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sport Science , University Graz , Graz , Austria.|b Department of Sports Training, Faculty of Sports Education , Mansoura University , Mansoura , Egypt.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sport Science , University Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schrapf
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sports Training, Faculty of Sports Education , Mansoura University , Mansoura , Egypt.
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sport Science , University Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tilp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054874:Athletic Performance; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012984:Software; D013177:Sports; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Handball analysis; neural network; tactics